Some people might disagree with this statement because you really dont know anyone suffering from Schizophrenia or Bipolar or even Depression, but know this, and eating disorder is considered a complex medical and psychiatric illness - and you don’t have to be diagnosed with anorexia to have an eating disorder. Being sad all the time, have accessive fears and worries, extreme guilt, mood changes, sleep disturbances and an inability to cope, anger and violence - all considered a mental illness.   Up to 6 million South Africans probably suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, one in three women suffers from postnatal depression, as many as one in six South Africans suffer from anxiety, depression or substance-use problems according to statistics released by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). We all know someone with a mental illness.

Many individuals who develop substance use disorders are also diagnosed with mental disorders, and vice versa. Substance-induced disorders are distinct from independent co-occurring mental disorders but virtually any substance taken in very large quantities over a long enough period can lead to a psychotic state.  The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Psychiatric Association both define addiction as a “brain disease,” and the DSM-V lists criteria for classifying addiction as a mental health condition called “Substance Use Disorder.” 

I will agree that not everyone knows someone who self-harms, or someone with suicidal thoughts, or someone who committed suicide - but I do.  Before working in a therapeutic recovery environment I worked with street kids and people in active addiction for 20 years –   Children who experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect are at least two to three times more likely to attempt suicide in later life, some succeed.   Family breakdown is the most recurrent reason for homelessness, aggravated by poverty and unemployment.  Affective disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and substance abuse disorders are among the most common types of mental illness in the homeless population. 

Treatment for mental dis-ease is possible, effective and available.   For most people it is acceptable to take chronic medication to regulate blood pressure, your heart beat, Cholesterol or glucose levels, but getting Psychiatric treatment gives people a crazy-lable - why is that?  With the Crazy Hat masquerade we are lifting the mask on mental illness  

 My very first experience of death in the family was that of my adored, but very depressed grandfather.  He was an alcoholic who committed suicide. I was 19, a second year nursing student. That day when he put a bullet through his heart and we found him on the floor, I could not help him anymore, but there are others we can help, and maybe I had to experience all these self-harms and suicides because God knew I would do something about it - and here we are creating awareness to let people know there is help - there is hope.  

GOD also knew I could never do it alone and assigned a group of Nelspruit Organizers that I am in total awe of: Tish van Rooy, Rodney Haywood, Karen Potgieter, Jacques Lombaard, Daleen Hillicks, Marcelle Metz, Ilze van Der Merwe.   What we experienced the night of the Crazy Hat Masquerade Ball was their brainstorming, positive energy and collective years of professional experience.  

No matter how much this amazing group of talented organisers wanted to bring mental health awareness, if it wasn’t for the sponsors, the impact would have been less effective, and it doesn't matter how much the sponsors provided, it would have made no difference without each one of the guests attending the Crazy Hat masquerade ball.  Thank You to everyone who contributed to mental health awareness and attended the Crazy hat Masquerade Ball in Nelspruit at Southern Sun's Emnotweni-Arena the 18th of October 2019.