Mental Wellness Initiative

Mental Wellness Initiative ✨️Positioning mental wellness at the core of a thriving society✨️

27/02/2026

In Edition 8 of Collective Action Magazine, Rayhana Sait-Erasmus explores the hidden cost of masking in professional spaces.

How much of yourself do you leave at the door just to be seen as “professional”?

Read the full article: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/239690737/16/

Gender Links Collective Action Magazine Gender DynamiX The Teddy Bear Foundation South Africa Safer South Africa Foundation Grassroot Soccer South Africa Ambassadors4Change Sonke Gender Justice



“When Silence Upholds the System”This 8th edition of Collective Action Magazine confronts a painful truth many survivors...
11/02/2026

“When Silence Upholds the System”

This 8th edition of Collective Action Magazine confronts a painful truth many survivors have shared with us: the harm did not end with the violence. It deepened in the silence, the stigma and the shame that followed. We’ve heard stories of survivors praised for being strong while quietly carrying anxiety, hypervigilance, burnout and exhaustion. They learned how to function again, but not yet how to heal.

In these pages, survivors, faith leaders, workplace voices and activists speak about what happens after the violence, when systems blame instead of believing and when silence protects harm instead of people.
One truth anchors this edition: silence did not protect survivors. It protected what harmed them. If we are serious about ending gender-based violence and mental health stigma, we must create space for honesty and withdraw the consent to protect harm with silence.

Click link to read or download: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/239690737/

We want to hear from you - “Tell us how you have seen silence protect harm.

Gender Links The South African Depression and Anxiety Group Ambassadors4Change iMatter Foundation MOSAIC: Support Heal Train







Stan, a Pretoria-born community advocate who has dedicated over 27 years to uplifting those on society’s margins, especi...
10/02/2026

Stan, a Pretoria-born community advocate who has dedicated over 27 years to uplifting those on society’s margins, especially older persons, whose voices are often unheard.

Stan works tirelessly to support the elderly, alongside women affected by GBVF, young people and vulnerable communities. His approach focuses on prevention, accountability and strengthening families, ensuring that older adults are respected, included and empowered.

Through collaborations with government departments, schools and civil society organisations, Stan addresses social justice issues, mental health, trauma and the challenges facing older persons. As a mentor, facilitator and advocate, he builds programs that enable dignity, safety and opportunities for all generations.
Join us as Stan shares his journey and sheds light on the lived experiences of older adults navigating marginalisation, stigma and systemic barriers.

Gender Links
Tracey-Lee Kotzen
Solid Gold Podcasts
Heal Your Mind Podcast

06/02/2026

Kgothatso “KG” Montjane reflected on Unheard Voices, Stigma on the Margins, where a single conversation opened up multiple realisations and brought overlooked perspectives into focus, challenging a few long-held assumptions.

Gender Links
Tracey-Lee Kotzen
Solid Gold Podcasts

Meet Kgothatso “KG” MontjaneKgothatso isn’t just a champion on the court, she’s a story of determination and radical pos...
07/01/2026

Meet Kgothatso “KG” Montjane

Kgothatso isn’t just a champion on the court, she’s a story of determination and radical possibility.

Born in Seshego, Polokwane and living with a congenital limb difference, KG has become South Africa’s top wheelchair tennis player and one of the most celebrated figures in global adaptive sport. From picking up a racket at 19 to competing on the world stage, she has shattered the limits that society tried to place on her.

She’s led Team SA at the Invacare World Team Cups, driven the squad to their first-ever top-4 international finish and earned her place among the world’s best. Off the court, she’s the heart behind the Montjane Sports Development NGO, creating opportunities and sporting spaces for young people in rural communities who are often overlooked and under-resourced.

On this episode, KG opens up about stigma, marginalisation, finding your voice and what it truly means to rise with courage.

Gender Links
Tracey-Lee Kotzen
Solid Gold Podcasts
Mental Health and wellness

19/12/2025

Nandi Atteridge - Educational Psychologist looked back on Different Minds, Shared Stories, Understanding Neurodivergence episode, where one conversation turned into several realisations and challenged a few assumptions.

Gender Links
Tracey-Lee Kotzen
Solid Gold Podcasts

19/12/2025

Emile Gouws looking back on Different Minds, Shared Stories, Understanding Neurodivergence episode, where one conversation turned into several realisations and challenged a few assumptions.

Gender Links

Tracey-Lee Kotzen

Solid Gold Podcasts

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Out Now!Different Minds, Shared Stories: Understanding Neurodivergence🔗 Listen here: https://iono...
13/12/2025

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Out Now!

Different Minds, Shared Stories: Understanding Neurodivergence

🔗 Listen here: https://iono.fm/e/1559314

🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gWqwPY_f

📚 Audible: https://lnkd.in/gzvjkGYp

Join the conversation as we explore the diverse landscape of neurodivergence, centering the voices, insights, and stories of neurodivergent people to foster deeper understanding and humanize their everyday experiences.

In this episode, we explore how stigma, misunderstanding, and limited awareness shape the everyday experiences of neurodivergent people. We aim to centre neurodivergent voices by sharing their stories, insights, challenges, and perspectives.

This episode seeks to humanise neurodivergence, highlight the impact of social and structural barriers, and deepen public understanding of the unique strengths and needs of neurodivergent individuals.

This episode invites reflection, dialogue, and collective learning. As a platform committed to demystifying, destigmatising, and prioritising mental health and wellness, we value your voice.

💬 We would love to hear your thoughts:

What resonated with you?
What questions or insights did it spark?

Please send your feedback to media@mwi.org.za and become part of the conversation.

Let’s continue to:

Mental Health and Wellness


Tracey-Lee Kotzen
Hazel Namponya
Solid Gold Podcasts

Guests: Dr. Emile Gouws Gouws, Rayhana Erasmus, Nandi Atteridge - Educational Psychologist

12/12/2025

Dear Stakeholder,

We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude.
We truly couldn’t have advanced the Mental Wellness Initiative this year without your dedication and support. Thank you for being an integral part of our shared mission to demystify, destigmatise, and prioritise mental health and wellness.

We deeply appreciate your energy, insights, and the important work you do every day.
If we don't get a chance to connect again before the year wraps up, please have a restful holiday season. Take care of yourself and your loved ones your mental health matters.

Wishing you all the best for the year ahead!

Regards
Tracey Kotzen
CEO

We hosted a workshop, Train the Trainer, on the 11th December 2025, facilitated by Tracey-Lee Kotzen, for the three orga...
12/12/2025

We hosted a workshop, Train the Trainer, on the 11th December 2025, facilitated by Tracey-Lee Kotzen, for the three organisations that took part in our Wellness Workshop Program. The organisations are Ambassadors4Change, Vuka Enough and Grassroots Soccer. We offered them a manual that provided all the tools and knowledge to help others in their organisations, going through all the notes that were spoken about during the workshop program. They have the knowledge and skills to use what they have learnt on not only their team and their participants, but also themselves. We did a yoga and mediation session with Ristha Sanei, doing stretches and mediations. This workshop was quite an informative and success one✨

We were pleased to have the Rekopane Drop-In Centre for a Wellness Day on the 10th December 2025, at our MWI Office. We ...
12/12/2025

We were pleased to have the Rekopane Drop-In Centre for a Wellness Day on the 10th December 2025, at our MWI Office. We spoke about Trauma Healing and Self-Care Tools, facilitated by Tracey-Lee Kotzen, diving into topics like the types of trauma, how trauma shows up, how we can understand and process it, different somatic tools like grounding, trembling, butterfly hugs, and more. In the afternoon, we hosted a TRE session, facilitated by Nomatter Mthethwa. This workshop was not a success, but the participants walked away with knowing how to address, process and understand trauma and the importance of self-care✨

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