​People suffering from mental health illness experience problem the rest of us do not even know exist. Every person experience mental distress differently, according to Jabulile Magubane, who is a Health Promoter from Jeppe Clinic in the City of Joburg.

Magubane gave a health talk on depression as the City of Joburg observed Mental Health Day on Wednesday, 10 October 2018. She said depression lowers a person's mood and can make them feel without hope, worthless, not motivated and tired. It can affect sleep, appetite and self-esteem.

She added that anxiety often went hand in hand with depression. It leads to constant and unrealistic worry about aspects of daily life which cause restlessness, sleeping problems and possibly physical symptoms, such as increased heartbeat, stomach upset and muscle tension.

On the subject on panic attacks, Magubane said these were sudden and unexpected terror, leading to a person finding it hard to breathe. It's easy to mistake for the signs of a heart attack. She said phobias were an unreasonable fear of a particular situation or object creates a phobia. It may cause major disruption in life include fear of animals, heights, flying and enclosed spaces.

Magubane said bipolar disorder, which causes people to be hyperactive, reckless and to have scattered ideas, sometimes led to sufferers going through long period of depression. On schizophrenia, she said it can interfere with a person's ability to perform everyday tasks and activities. Symptoms may include hearing voices and seeing things that other people cannot.

She urged people who might have one of these symptoms to seek help early and once they are diagnosed, should take their medication and stick to it.

Jeppe Clinic's Sister Letitia Mcitwa said: “I enjoy working with mental health people because all they need is love, support, to be treated with dignity and respect. The challenge that I'm facing is that most patient they default, and when they come back for their appointment they become aggressive. Another challenge is that some patient they don't get support from their families.

“I would like to encourage everyone who has a family, friend or loved one who is suffering from mental health, to be supportive, have a heart and love. Let's stop discriminating."

Sister Letitia added that in order to improve  mental health, you need to relax, engage in physical activity, learn to assert yourself, set goals, express your feelings and face up to problems or challenges.

David Garlik, a patient who visits the mental health clinic, said: “I am happy with the service I am getting at Jeppe Clinic. I gets my medication on time and Sister Mcitwa is helpful and gives me support. What keep my mind busy is gardening."

All the City of Joburg's clinics offer free mental health screening on a daily basis for residents.