Authored by: Madimetsa Nkoana | SA Rainbow News | 03 Nov 2025
#CCHRAfrica #Brixton #MentalWellness #Expo #Health #Education
Faith, Not Pills, is the Heart of Mental Health Healing:
CCHR Africa Urges Full Integration of Spiritual Leaders into National Mental Wellness Strategies
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – October 28, 2025 — The Citizens Commission on Human Rights Africa (CCHR) delivered a powerful message at the Human Rights and Mental Wellness Expo held at the Brixton Multi-Purpose Centre, challenging the conventional approach to mental health care.
#CCHRAfrica #MentalHealth #HumanRights
CCHR Africa Public Relations Officer, Madimetsa Nkoana, called for a profound shift in the national mental wellness strategy — one that fully integrates faith and spiritual networks as the “beating heart” and first line of support for widespread mental distress.
#FaithHealing #SpiritualWellness #CommunitySupport
In his address titled “The Holistic Healing of Mind, Body, and Soul,” Nkoana emphasized that because human beings are spiritual in nature, mental health solutions must extend beyond clinical treatment to include the soul’s restoration.
“Healing the mind while ignoring the soul is like watering the leaves and forgetting the roots,” said Nkoana. “The biggest difference we can make in global mental health is not by increasing reliance on clinical systems alone, but by empowering the spiritual leaders who are already on the ground — trusted and aligned with the soul of the people.”
#Inspiration #SpiritualLeadership #HealingTheSoul
Spiritual Leaders: The Undocumented Frontline
Nkoana highlighted that clinical systems cannot meet the growing demand for mental health support. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), fewer than one in four people with a mental disorder receive formal assistance. This gap, he said, is being filled by religious and traditional leaders.
- 70% of people in low- and middle-income regions turn first to religious or traditional leaders for emotional support, according to WHO documentation.
- These leaders operate without profit, guided by compassion and conviction, and are already embedded within communities — speaking the language and pain of their congregants.
#WHO #FaithInAction #CommunityCare
Empowerment: The Path to Measurable Compassion
CCHR Africa acknowledged a long-standing philosophical divide — where traditional psychology views man mechanistically, while faith sees man as a soul to be uplifted. Yet, Nkoana presented clear evidence that training faith leaders in basic psychosocial care leads to powerful, measurable outcomes:
- Reduced Anxiety and Depression: In Syria’s refugee camps, training faith leaders led to a 25% reduction in youth anxiety and depression within three months.
- Improved Outcomes: UNICEF reported up to a 40% improvement in community psychosocial outcomes following similar faith-based programs in Uganda and Zambia.
#UNICEF #MentalHealthAwareness #FaithBasedHealing
The Three Pillars of Holistic Resilience
While faith is the mortar of the soul, Nkoana emphasized that a truly resilient mind rests on three simple but essential pillars of wellness, practiced alongside spiritual care:
- Nourishment – Eating healthy, whole foods.
- Movement – Engaging in regular physical activity.
- Rest – Prioritizing adequate, restorative sleep.
#HealthyLiving #MindBodySoul #HolisticHealth
A Call to Unite Mind, Body, and Spirit
Nkoana concluded with a spiritual and policy-driven call to action — urging South Africa and the global community to stop separating the mind, body, and spirit in national health policies. He called for the empowerment of spiritual and faith leaders already trusted by communities to address human suffering holistically.
#WellnessForAll #MentalResilience #FaithAndHealth
About The Citizens Commission on Human Rights Africa (CCHR)
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is a mental health watchdog committed to investigating and exposing human rights violations within the mental health field. It advocates for dignity, informed consent, and the protection of human rights for mental health patients across Africa.
#EducationFirst #Spirituality #InformedConsent #RSA #CCHRAfrica
