Slavery, racism & crime are to blame for SA's mental health crisis

It is no surprise that South Africans might be predisposed to depression and anxiety because of our troubled past. But could our current state of mind be a result of the past of previous generations?

The science around epigenetic inheritance says yes - the life experiences, traumas and environmental stressors of our ancestors are passed on genetically. Slavery, indoctrination and the guilt and trauma of being an oppressor could result in us feeling the way we do today, you and I.

A study published in the journal Science Advances by European researchers affiliated with the Centre for Genomic Regulation found that certain gene expressions can be inherited - for up to five generations.

For me, that goes back to the arrival of my indentured ancestors. What kind of mental ailments would have arisen from leaving their homeland, getting onto what was essentially a slave ship and surviving a journey that some of their friends and family might not have? Add to that adjusting to a new land, establishing their families and lives in the new environment, getting land, losing land and being segregated.

The scientists found that war trauma on the mental health of future generations was evident in post-traumatic stress disorders among survivors, combatants and exiles.

It's no wonder South Africans are experiencing the levels of anxiety and depression we are in 2018. Our lives have been one long struggle, in one way or the other, no matter who our ancestors were.

Worry, anxiety, alcoholism, obesity - even a predisposition to smoking - could have been passed down at the nano-level.

The thing is, how do we alter the DNA to stop this impact on future generations?

Yuval Noah Harari, the Israeli historian and author of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, explores why human beings might be more powerful than our ancestors, but may not be happier. One method, which he says has helped him focus and be a better author, is daily meditation. He takes silent retreats once a year and practises breathwork.

Harari's take is that everything that happens in our mind is connected to what happens in the body, and by focusing on what is happening in the body, you can better understand what is happening in your brain.

Of course, this isn't being touted as the solution to clinical depression or inherited trauma. So what happens when circumstances are beyond your control and you cannot simply breathe away your mental state?

POVERTY AND MENTAL HEALTH

With October being Mental Health Awareness Month (World Mental Health Day was on October 10), the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) recently released a study titled "Young people and mental health in a changing world: snapshots and solutions". One of the areas it focused on was the effects of inequality and poverty on the mental wellbeing of young South Africans.

Citing the World Health Organisation, the study states that "common mental disorders are about twice as frequent among the poor than among the rich". It continues that "people in the throes of hunger, overcrowded households or debt [are] more likely to encounter mental health issues" and "are eight times more likely to suffer from schizophrenia".

One of the points made in the study is that poor mental health can drive one further into poverty - after all, it can be difficult to be productive and at your best if your mental state doesn't allow it. And let's not ignore that many people in SA do not have access to resources that can better their mental health or, at the very least, help them cope with the cards they've been dealt.

The SAFMH looks into another barrier when it comes to bettering the mental wellbeing of South Africans - conflict between African cultures and Western psychiatry. The authors of the study believe that the two can coexist.

"Diversity in a society is something that should be celebrated and the authors propose that there is room for compatibility between traditional and Western psychiatry … Young people should be supported in accessing the care they need in the absence of stigma and should have the right to choose how they get well, provided the method or treatment is known to be safe."

CRIME AND RACISM

And it's not just about historical trauma or inherited circumstances - another thing that is negatively impacting our mental health as South Africans is crime.

The SAFMH study states: "Crime has a stark effect on the mental health of all that fall victim to it. One can only imagine the devastating impact it has on young people, still in their formative stages, where the development of mental illness or otherwise poor mental health is a real possibility.

"With the culture of violence that has swept SA, it is no wonder that young people often become caught up in a life of crime. Phenomena such as poverty and hostile surroundings are … catalysts for violence and crime."

Another factor affecting our mental health is racism. The study cites the Royal College of Psychiatrists as saying that racism, like other forms of discrimination, "can lead to a profound feeling of pain, harm and humiliation among members of the target group, often leading to despair and exclusion".

So, what are the solutions? The SAFMH report presents a few suggestions, many of them government-related. It also suggests that mental health awareness needs to be pushed and that mental health issues must be destigmatised.

Because how can you seek help if you are too afraid to admit you need it in the first place? 

• Additional reporting by Pearl Boshomane Tsotetsi.