Your Mental Health Rights.
Your Informed Choice.
HelpAnxiety.co.za is a free South African community service. We help you understand your legal rights as a mental health patient, explore balanced and evidence-informed treatment options, and connect with others through peer support.
This is an educational resource, not a medical service. If you are in crisis, please contact SADAG: 0800 456 789 (free, 24/7).
Your Rights as a Mental Health Patient
Section 6 of the National Health Act (Act 61 of 2003) guarantees every South African specific rights when receiving mental health care. These rights are legally enforceable.
Right to informed consent
You must be told about your diagnosis, all treatment options (including non-drug alternatives), risks, and benefits before any treatment begins.
Right to refuse treatment
You have the absolute legal right to refuse any treatment, including medication, without losing access to other care.
Right to a second opinion
You may seek a second professional opinion at any time without penalty.
Right to access your records
You are entitled to access your own medical records and health information.
Right to dignity and privacy
Your mental health information is confidential and you must be treated with dignity at all times.
Right to community-based care
Where possible, you have the right to receive care in your community rather than in an institution.
Mental Health Conditions
Balanced, evidence-informed information on common mental health conditions affecting South Africans. Every page covers symptoms, causes, treatment options, and your rights.
Panic attacks, chronic worry, social anxiety — understanding and managing anxiety in South Africa.
Recognising depression, understanding your options, and finding support that works for you.
Healing after trauma, crime, assault, and the violence that shapes South African lives.
Understanding mood episodes, treatment choices, and living well with bipolar disorder.
Attention, focus, and hyperactivity — what ADHD means for South African adults and children.
Intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours — evidence-based paths to relief.
Addiction, recovery, and the support systems available to South Africans.
Processing loss and finding a path forward after bereavement.
Understanding anger, its triggers, and constructive approaches to managing it.
Breaking the silence on South Africa's male mental health and suicide crisis.
Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating — recognition, rights, and recovery.
Workplace stress, burnout, and restoring balance in a demanding environment.
Balanced Treatment Information
There is no single best treatment for mental health. Different approaches work for different people. We present all options fairly so you can make an informed choice.
Psychiatry, clinical psychology, counselling, and evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
Regulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Support groups, peer counselling, faith-based support, and traditional healing — recognised by WHO as valuable complementary care.
Our forum connects South Africans with lived experience.
Mindfulness, journaling, exercise, structured self-help programmes, and other approaches you can explore independently.
Best used alongside, not instead of, professional support when needed.
Community Peer Support Forum
Connect with other South Africans navigating mental health challenges. Share experiences, ask questions, and offer support in a safe, moderated community space. You are not alone.
Crisis & Emergency Resources
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to one of these free South African services:
Our Legal & Ethical Foundation
This site is grounded in Section 6 of the National Health Act (Act 61 of 2003), which establishes the rights of all South Africans to informed consent, dignity, and access to information about their health care.
We also draw on the WHO/OHCHR (2023) guidance on mental health, human rights and legislation, which calls for person-centred, recovery-oriented mental health systems that respect legal capacity, prohibit coercive practices, and recognise the value of diverse community supports — including faith-based organisations and traditional healers — as part of a holistic care network.
All content on this site is educational in nature. We do not provide medical diagnosis or treatment. We present balanced information to support informed decision-making. Always consult a qualified health professional for personal medical advice.