A new online platform designed to make mental health support and therapy accessible to as many people as possible has been launched in South Africa at the start of the country’s Mental Illness Awareness Month in July.

Called Obuntu (www.obuntu.co.za), it was developed by IT entrepreneur Pieter Oosthuizen to provide individual and group support for a wide range of conditions and experiences ranging from addiction recovery, grief and trauma counselling to eating disorders and bipolar support. Personal growth, emotional intelligence and life coaching is also provided.

Oosthuizen says the idea for the platform was inspired by the experience of his sister, Anelia, who has long waged a personal battle with depression and anxiety.

“Getting the help and support you need for any mental health condition is never easy, even in the best of times. The benefit of joining a support group has been widely recognised by mental health professionals around the world. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has made joining a support group even more difficult while the need has never been greater,” he says. 

A survey conducted by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in April last year found that depression and anxiety reached record highs during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown with 59% of survey participants previously diagnosed with a mental health condition reporting that the pandemic had exacerbated an existing crisis.

“Working with my sister, we started developing a platform that would enable anyone wanting to join any type of support group for a mental health condition or for life coaching generally to do so in a way that’s convenient, secure and affordable. It has also been designed to protect their privacy by allowing them to hide their identity from the host and other group members should they choose to do so,” Oosthuizen adds.

The credentials of all therapy providers and coaches – hosts – are carefully checked before being onboarded to the platform and allowed to take on group members or individual clients. This includes verifying their qualifications and/or registration with their relevant professional or statutory body such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa. “Deciding to join a therapy session isn’t always an easy decision, albeit a very important one. With our online groups, users can subscribe to a group and join as many of the available sessions as they like. The nature of each group, and the content of each session, and the cost to sign up, is clearly set out on the Obuntu site,” Oosthuizen explains.

The 60-minute sessions are conducted via Zoom or Google Hangouts, with the number of participants for each group session determined by the host and clearly indicted in the group profile.

“We have also made it easy for hosts to focus on what really matters to them – helping clients – with built-in features that enable them to remain in full control of their schedules and to communicate with their groups quickly and easily. Approved hosts simply create their groups, add sessions, and start helping their members.”At present, Obuntu is only available on PC, but apps for iOS and Android are in the process of being developed. 

“While the platform is currently only geared to supporting South African-based therapists and coaches, our goal is to roll it out to the rest of Africa and thus bring mental health support to people across the continent where the need is enormous,” Oosthuizen concludes.  

-- ENDS --

Issued by: Obuntu.co.za
For further information, contact:
Anelia Oosthuizen
Phone: 010 448 1106
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TherapyNow brings accessible, affordable, discreet therapy to anyone located anywhere - online. Traditionally, individual therapy is expensive, requires time and is not accessible to everyone.

TherapyNow online counselling provides a variety of professional mental health services via any internet connection. We make it easy to get help when you need it most -  so that anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can receive assistance anytime, anywhere and at an affordable rate.

TherapyNow's skilled and experienced Therapists have an integrated approach, using a variety of tools, services and evidence-based therapies that are designed specifically to support your personal growth journey as an individual.

At TherapyNow, we are passionate and compassionate professionals who care about your well-being. We're driven by the mission of helping more people to live a better life every day - even after just one session from us.

What is the difference between in-person and online therapy?

In terms of therapeutic benefit - none at all.

Online therapy has the benefit of being more affordable, flexible with scheduling, and accessible to those who live far away. Therapists are able to use chat services or video apps and conferencing websites extremely effectively with anyone located anywhere. Online therapy is more discreet and completely confidential.

A study done by Radcliffe found that both methods were equally effective at treating anxiety disorders and there were no significant differences when it came to depression symptoms or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The most important aspect of either type of treatment will be how many sessions you attend and how much you invest in the process. This may be because research revealed that as an indicator of whether patients felt satisfied with their therapeutic experience afterwards.

What does Counselling help with?

Counselling is a process that helps clients safely address various feelings and issues, ranging from their low self-worth, anxiety and depression to relationships, trauma and substance misuse recovery.

When you're ready to make an appointment with a therapist, there are many ways to connect. Online therapy is done through video calling apps like Google Meet, Skype, Zoom or Whatsapp. Therapists and clients can adjust how appointments are planned and conducted based on their needs, meaning there’s no need to put up with problematic commuting or time out from work or other life obligations.

COVID19 and Remote Online Therapy

The coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has confronted us with an unprecedented global challenge of psychological distress, alongside reduced access to therapeutic services such as the traditional face-to-face format (due to restrictions and self-isolation). This previously unimaginable set of circumstances provides an opportunity for online therapy to fulfil its potential in assisting with mental health needs to anyone located anywhere.

The early studies on the psychological impact of this virus, such as increased stress levels, fear anxiety, strong emotions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders and domestic violence; also have been shown to affect social support from friends or relatives. There is reduced support when people need it most - when they are feeling worried, lonely and afraid and they're not able to see loved ones in person.

TherapyNow online therapy is able to provide support for addictions for these deep issues with the help of skilled and experienced professionals. Therapists are trained to make you feel safe and comfortable from the first session and you will have a confidential space to express yourself, gain a new perspective and find a way forward.

Reach out today: https://www.therapynow.co.za/

TherapyRoute.com, a proudly South African online platform, empowers visitors to find psychologists and other mental health service professionals and providers like social workers, family therapists, counselling services, and community clinics quickly.

This innovative clinician run directory and mental health resource offers free listings to all qualified mental health professionals, organisations, and service providers.

Today, an increasing number of people turn to the internet to find psychologists and other mental health services. Apart from convenience, this frequently helps people overcome any embarrassment they feel by allowing them to learn more about a professional, or service, before making the call.

South Africa continues to struggle with the legacy of apartheid, and mental health services are no exception. It can be challenging to locate a professional who shares your cultural background or language. Similarly, fears of being misunderstood and unfairly discriminated against often act as barriers to entry.

TherapyRoute.com includes features that help address such challenges.

Some Examples: 
Easy to use search. Nearby providers appear automatically
Filter results by identity (Black, LGBT+, Nonbinary, Female...), language (isiZulu, Afrikaans...), issue (depressions, anxiety, relationships...), and more
Find online clinicians when no nearby results are found
Thousands of qualified clinicians and providers to choose from

The following core values guide the direction of the platform.

1. Improve access to mental services
TherapyRoute.com improves access to services by innovating tools to empower visitors to find the help they need.

Thanks to a team of volunteers, the database includes many verified community clinics and hospitals. The intention is to link anyone in search of therapy or help, be they rich or poor, with a service that meets their need and means.

Many of the low/no fee listings are included in the following city-specific 'How to find a therapist' guides.

How to find a therapist in Cape Town
How to find a therapist in Durban
How to find a therapist in Johannesburg
How to find a therapist in Pretoria

2. Promote awareness of mental health and talk therapy
TherapyRoute.com equips professionals to publish mental health and therapy-related writing online. The sites growing library of excellent articles promotes awareness of the value of talk therapies that are proven to be effective, relational, and which respect human complexity.

3. Facilitate professional and service visibility
TherapyRoute.com enables qualified mental-health professionals to create a website and represent the services they provide.

The platform is open to all qualified mental health professionals, clinics, counselling centres, rehabilitation programs, and group practices. Private practice and community services are welcome.

Are you looking for a therapist or a mental health service?
Visit TherapyRoute.com to find your best fit therapist now.

Are you a qualified mental health service provider?
Visit TherapyRoute.com and list your service for free.

Do you run a resource page?
Add TherapyRoute.com and help people find the mental health services they need.

TherapyRoute.com improves access to services by... 

• Including community, private, public, and NGO services.
• Automatically displaying the nearest registered services providers to website visitors.
• Displaying providers who consult online (when no nearby ones are listed).
• Offering a search function designed with the public (not professionals) in mind.
• Enabling providers to accurately, represent their services, create a website, and publish informative content online. 
• Promoting, sourcing, and distributing content that increases public and professional awareness of the benefits of psychotherapy and mental health. 

Visit the home page www.TherapyRoute.com  and click the relevant word on the top of the screen, e.g. 'Therapist' or 'Clinic/Org

Vincenzo Sinisi (Founder) on 0837420114 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

TherapyRoute.com is an ideologically driven platform intent on raising awareness of, and access to, psychotherapy and other mental health services. The service is unmonetized and aims to achieve long term sustainability via advertising sales. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified workplace stress as the greatest health epidemic of the century. Stress can lead to depression and anxiety disorders, something a WHO-led study estimates costs the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity. 

What’s more, entrepreneurs and more specifically, small business owners claimed last year, according to Bank of America, that “managing their business is more than four times more stressful than raising children.” 

There’s no doubt that entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted and that they are more likely to be more stressed compared to the employee workforce, and that they are more likely to worry a lot more. But, stress can lead to depression and other mental health issues. 

When people talk about the challenges of entrepreneurship, they seldom discuss the impact that running a business can have on mental wellbeing, and neglect can take its toll, warns Pieter Scholtz, Co-Master Franchisor in Southern Africa for ActionCOACH. A recent study approved by the UC Berkeley Institutional Review Board, revealed that entrepreneurs were more likely to experience depression, ADHD, addiction and bipolar. 

“The reality is that many entrepreneurs have to invest more hours in their business than salaried workers. At the same time, they face a degree of uncertainty, fatigue and isolation that’s unknown to employed people. This is especially true at the early stages of a startup, when they cannot be sure if all the hours, and capital, they’re investing in their venture will bear fruit. The constant pressure if often compounded by financial stress, which can lead to burnout, i.e., the owner loses sight of what life is truly about,” he says.

Exacerbating the situation further is the fact that the entrepreneur seldom has a colleague with whom to discuss their anxieties. Moreover, social interchange of any sort – one of the most pleasant aspects of the workplace – is in short supply for the entrepreneur: that stereotype of the ambitious business brain working alone from her dining room table is often all too true.  

This isolation can contribute to the depression that arises out of anxiety – plus, there’s the ever-looming spectre of burnout. After all, it’s rare that entrepreneurs have the resources to support a workforce – which means that they carry the brunt of marketing and finance activities, in addition to their core business duties.  

“All of this creates a scenario where the entrepreneur’s sense of identity and purpose is strongly bound to the success of the company. While this is understandable, it can have a negative impact on the individual’s self-esteem if the business goes through a rough patch or even fails,” Scholtz points out. 

He adds that this is where the tools provided by a business coach can prove extremely useful. “It’s not that the business coach fulfils the role of a therapist – although, inevitably, entrepreneurs experience relief from discussing their concerns with an objective party. Rather, it’s about creating balance for the business owner and equipping them with the skills they need to work through particularly challenging times. The start of a coaching programme is what we call the alignment, where we identify exactly what the business owner wants out of life and then we compare that to where the business is and prioritise the business from there.” 

Scholtz refers specifically to the stress experienced by entrepreneurs: as seasoned business owners themselves, business coaches are able to identify with this emotion. They are able to share their own ideas and tips for dealing with stress but, more than this, they are also able to provide practical solutions. For example, the business coach may be able to suggest a resource that can offer the assistance needed to bypass an obstacle; or perhaps they can recommend an alternative approach to tackling the problem that the entrepreneur has not considered because they are too immersed in the situation.  

Business coaches can also lessen the isolation experienced by entrepreneurs by tapping into their own extensive networks to find potential contacts who may be a good fit for the startup owner. They will also be able to suggest appropriate conferences and industry events where the entrepreneur can broaden their knowledge while meeting industry peers who may help further the business. 

“Ultimately, our role is to ensure the health of an enterprise – and the mental strength and wellbeing of the business owner plays no small role in this. By working together with a business coach, the entrepreneur may build the mental resources needed to tackle the business world,” Scholtz concludes.