At Headroom Mental Health
we imagine
a WORLD in which everyone experiences a sense of self-worth, feels capable of pursuing their dreams, is able
to cope with life’s challenges and can make a positive contribution to society;
a MINDSET which recognises that we develop and acquire these skills throughout our lives,
just like learning our mother tongue or a trade;
and a SOCIETY that supports us in seeking guidance when we need it,
to simply live lives that feel right!
GLOBALLY
The United Nations estimates that before the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy more than $ 1 trillion per year. Depression affects 264 million people in the world, while around half of all mental health conditions start by age 14, with suicide the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15 to 29.
SOUTH AFRICA
Professional mental healthcare is unavailable, unaffordable, or only available after long waiting times, causing sufferers not to seek help. Stigma prevails. The need is not being met.
The current system is failing. The social and economic gains to be reaped from the improved mental health of our nation are enormous.
Research conducted in South Africa by Discovery Ltd and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) over the last few years reveals the state of mental health is nothing short of a crisis:
17 million
People in SA with depression, substance abuse, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
75%
Treatment gap for common mental disorders nationally (needing but not receiving treatment)
R218 billion
Value of lost productivity in South Africa due to depression (only) annually
87%
of the losses attributable to presenteeism (attending work while unwell), not absenteism
42%
Amount by which the cost of depression to SA exceeds the value contributed by tourism
1.5 times
Ratio by which the cost of depression exceeded SA’s 2015 budget for social protection
There is a dire shortage of trained mental health professionals
In 2010, South Africa had 1.58 psychosocial providers for every 100,000 people versus the global average of 9 per 100,000 people. There WHO recommended that South Africa increase its psychosocial professionals by 2937.
There have been no major systemic interventions to date to improve the situation.
Change is slow and the need is only growing.
The treatment gap is widening.
It's time to
rethink mental healthcare!
Affordable, accessible and discreet mental healthcare must be a fundamental part of the mental healthcare industry’s response to the crisis. Traditional face-to-face treatment needs to evolve to support the enormous need for psychosocial support and can harness the advances in technology to do so.
Online psychological interventions have long been studied and recognised as a legitimate therapeutic activity.
Numerous academic and meta studies have confirmed the overwhelmingly positive value of online therapy for clients.
At Headroom
we are the change
We lower the barriers of ACCESS, STIGMA and COST
and harness reliable technology to make it possible for anyone to reach out
to licensed therapists for mental, emotional or social support.
Headroom was built on
our fundamental beliefs that:
Under the prevalent brick-and-mortar practice approach, millions of people who need psychosocial help are excluded from it. Many therapists are compromising on the positive impact they could otherwise have on society.
All of us strive for personal well-being and can benefit from professional support to realize our talents, cope with the normal stresses of life, focus on productive work, and make a contribution to our communities.
Providing access to and normalising positive psychology will unlock an incalculable positive social, economic and developmental impact in South Africa and on the African continent.
The time to act is now.
Our Team
making change possible
We are a team of people with diverse backgrounds and expertise,
driven by a true passion for solving problems and having a positive impact on the world around us.
We combine our strong corporate, operational and strategic experience with world-class technology and
always strive to improve the way we meet your needs.
