A pastoral perspective on depression among youth in Soweto

Abstract

This study presents a pastoral perspective on depression among young people in the urban African context of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. Depression is one of the more prevalent mental disorders. In African contexts depression is often equated with demon possession. The aim of the study is to develop a contextual and collaborative pastoral care approach. The main research questions concern the interplay between Western understandings of depression and African perspectives. The study explores depression among the young people of Soweto from an African perspective and aims to come to a deeper understanding of the way in which healing and support are approached in this context. The study investigates the ways in which young South Africans in Soweto cope with and understand depression and the culturally related phenomenon of “demon possession”, the ways in which the families of the afflicted young people in Soweto cope with and understand depression and demon’s possession. The existing therapeutic models are also investigated in order to ascertain how an African healing collaborative pastoral care method for depression and demonic possession can be developed. The experiences and methods used by professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and African spiritual healers and clergy are investigated. People from these fields who work with young people with depression in the context of Soweto, participated in interviews.