BetterHelp South Africa. How Does It Work & How Much Is It?

Mental health is defined as the effect of thoughts and emotions. Individuals may require professional assistance to safeguard and recover their mental health, just as they may require assistance to protect and restore their physical health.

Furthermore, mental health can fluctuate over time and in reaction to different circumstances. If you or someone you love is suffering symptoms related to mental health, then you should call a doctor or mental health expert as soon as possible.

To support the work of the people working on TherapyHunter.com, we may receive compensation if you sign up for online counseling through the links provided.

The Mental Health Federation of South Africa states that more than 17 million individuals in South Africa suffer from depression, drug addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, which round up the top five mental health diagnoses.

While there are several causes for South African individuals’ mental health to deteriorate, there are insufficient affordable healthcare options to assist those in need.

According to a report released in October 2020, 49% of South Africans polled wanted to receive therapy or external mental health care but could not afford it.

BetterHelp is a well-known online treatment platform providing its professional services to everyone. They have over 12,000 therapists qualified to handle a variety of mental health problems, flexible communication options, and reasonable price plans.

Is BetterHelp Available In South Africa?

BetterHelp is a simple and economical option to get high-quality counseling from anywhere. Before you dive into the questionnaire it is important to note that most of their therapists are based in the USA. Hence, you have to decide a time feasible for both your therapist and you.

When you sign up for BetterHelp, you will be asked to fill out a small form about your background, the difficulties you would like to address, and any therapist preferences you might have, such as gender or expertise.

On BetterHelp, you may connect with a therapist in a variety of ways. Phone calls, video chats, or/and live messaging may all be used to have synchronous sessions.

Furthermore, BetterHelp also provides limitless messages in a secure chat room, offering help and advice even when sessions are not planned.

On the other hand, BetterHelp can also be accessed via the website or the BetterHelp mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android.

The therapists help people with many different mental health concerns. For instance, stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationships counseling, PTSD, trauma, OCD, and other mental health issues.

Furthermore, if the therapist you have been given is not working out, you can request a new one. You will be billed once a month. Although BetterHelp does not accept health insurance, they offer financial aid depending on your salary, and discounts based on promo codes.

To support the work of the people working on TherapyHunter.com, we may receive compensation if you sign up for online counseling through the links provided.

Is BetterHelp Trustworthy?

BetterHelp was started in 2013 by Alon Matas and Danny Bragonier and was purchased by Teladoc, a publicly-traded telehealth firm, in 2014. Moreover, BetterHelp’s headquarter is in Mountain View, California.

The Berkeley Well-Being Institute at the University of California conducted independent research in 2017 that validated the benefits of online counseling services.

A survey result showed that participants who used BetterHelp for therapy had similar results to those who received in-person counseling, and their depressive symptoms were reduced overall.

On the other hand, All of BetterHelp’s therapists must have a master’s or doctorate in their field of specialization to meet the company’s quality standards. They also want state professional board certification and a minimum of three years and 1,000 hours of patient-care experience.

BetterHelp puts its candidates through a screening procedure that only hires 20% of those who apply, and they make any licensing information available to patients.

Furthermore, BetterHelp’s therapists are all well equipped to boost personal growth. The firm also collaborates with therapists that specialize in certain areas of concern, such as

• Depression
• Stress
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Addiction
• Eating Disorder
• Insomnia
• PTSD
• Self-esteem issue
• OCD
• Christian Marriage Counseling

How Much Does BetterHelp Cost?

BetterHelp’s regular price is $60 – $90 per week, although most patients will be eligible for a reduced fee or financial help.

With financial help, the cost drops even further, to $48 per week. You will get unlimited communications and the flexibility to schedule weekly live sessions with your therapist through phone or video.

Mental Health Conditions in South Africa

South Africa has made significant progress in recent years in terms of enhancing its mental health systems. There has been reform of mental health laws, and there is some amount of policy commitment to mental health.

The rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and the increase in the cases has made psychological suffering unavoidable. Furthermore, it is important to know how you deal with stress to find relief.

According to Dr. Priscilla Reddy of the Human Sciences Research Council, South Africans are increasingly being diagnosed with depression, and the pandemic has played a big role in this.

Available Therapy Services in South Africa

South Africa is one of the top leading countries experiencing a mental health crisis. However, finding and getting assistance for mental health issues is not inexpensive.

There are some counseling organizations and centers in South Africa that provide free counseling and therapy sessions.

Here are a few places where you may get free counseling:

1. Lifeline is an NGO that provides free and 24-hour telephone counseling to people of all ages and with a variety of concerns.
2. South African Depression and Anxiety Group provide a 16-line counseling and referral call center that primarily serves South Africans in urban, peri-urban, and rural settings. For emergencies, it also offers a 24-hour helpline.
3. SA Federation for Mental Health also known as SAFMH is a human rights-based mental health organization with a 100-year history of serving South Africans from all walks of life.
   It is a non-profit organization that primarily works in the areas of mental health advocacy and awareness.
   SAFMH is not a medical or psychological practice, and they do not offer direct medical or psychological treatments. However, their help desk can assist you in obtaining such assistance.
   They are primarily a human rights organization that collaborates with other NGOs, government agencies, and professionals to protect the rights of mental health care users and advocate for improvements to mental health services in South Africa.

Final Thoughts

There are several benefits to using internet therapy rather than seeing a therapist in person. It is far less expensive. You can do it from the comfort of your own home, and it is completely private.

You do not have to settle for one of the few qualified therapists in your neighborhood. Furthermore, you can make use of the huge network of therapists linked with BetterHelp.

BetterHelp is a web-based counseling service where thousands of people seeking help are connected with tens of thousands of professional therapists.

On the other hand, BetterHelp assigns therapists according to the questionnaire filled. However,  they can switch if they prefer a different therapist. BetterHelp offers weekly appointments scheduling either by online chat, phone call, or video connections.

If a person’s mental health is interfering with their ability to conduct daily responsibilities, they should seek treatment from a certified mental health professional as soon as feasible.