LATELY, mental health illness seems to be the biggest problem that our local celebrities are battling with.
More local stars have opened up about their struggles, with musician Phelo Bala also joining the long list.
The singer, who has reportedly parted ways with his TV presenter husband Moshe Ndiki, revealed that he had been living with severe depression.
In a short post on Instagram, he shared that at some point, he lost his will to live.
“So many times, I thought I wouldn’t see another year,” he wrote, celebrating his birthday.
“So many times, I wished I didn’t. Living with severe depression since I was 16 and somehow, I’m still standing and fighting my way through this thing called life. I’m learning to love myself and be kinder to myself. Though I have many reasons not to celebrate, I have so much more to be grateful for. I guess God is not through with me just yet,” he added.
ALSO READ | Hlengiwe dumps her man
Other celebrities who have spoken up about their battle is actress Pearl Thusi, who often experiences bullying on social media.
She shared that the constant bullying sometimes put her in a dark space.
“When the bullying happens, I for one can say I’ve had seriously dark thoughts. And, I’m still not sure how I survived and overcame them. Mainly, it’s knowing that people who say hurtful things are usually in a darker place where no one matters, including themselves,” she shared.
TV presenter Shamiso Mosaka said people did not understand the depth of mental breakdown that bullying could cause.
“Whether someone has been depressed for a while or not, Twitter and the impact on one’s mental health or how much it can tip the scales should not be taken lightly. This app can really take you into a bad place. I know this.”
She added that depression did not have a cure. It just needed to be constantly managed and when one was trying to do so, they did not need the extra noise.
