There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating depression, Helen Zille says
Western Cape premier Helen Zille opened up about her family’s history of depression on Tuesday. Visiting a new commercial-scale garden for psychiatric patients at Lentegeur Hospital‚ in Mitchells Plain‚ Zille commended doctors for their unconventional and "revolutionary" treatment method. The garden provides historically underprivileged patients with a work opportunity that Zille labelled "therapeutic". "With gardening you see the result of your effort. It’s exciting knowing that you are contributing to this world and showing you can‚" Zille said. The Western Cape government provided nearly R750‚000 after the premier learnt of the project‚ and Zille said her family’s multigenerational battle with depression was behind her desire to develop new methods of care. "The pervasive health disease known as depression has deep roots in my family. My great-grandmother committed suicide‚ my mother suffered bouts with it‚ and my husband had very severe bouts as a young adult‚" Zille said. "I ha...
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