News24 | Almost 4 million people in SA develop depression every year, researchers estimate

​New modelling suggests depression in South Africa may be far more widespread than previously thought, with an estimated 3.84 million new episodes in 2024 and up to 70% of adults experiencing it in their lifetime. Despite this, access to treatment remains deeply unequal, with antidepressant use far higher in the private sector than in the public system, highlighting a vast and persistent mental health care gap.