UCT study finds 33% of Western Cape learners show depression symptoms, urging urgent school-based mental health support.
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A new study from the University of Cape Town has revealed a worrying prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among young adolescents in the Western Cape, raising urgent calls for earlier mental health support in schools.
The research, conducted by social worker and PhD candidate Mirriam Mkhize, found that one in three learners aged 10 to 14 showed symptoms of depression, while one in five reported symptoms of anxiety.
Mkhize’s study, which surveyed 621 learners across 10 primary schools, forms part of her doctoral research in Psychiatry. She is set to graduate on March 31.
Her thesis, focused on addressing the mental health needs of school-going adolescents in the province, examined the prevalence of mental health symptoms, the effectiveness of screening tools in low-resource school settings, and the feasibility of early intervention programmes.
The findings point to a complex web of contributing factors. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were strongly linked to school pressure, substance use, and exposure to family violence.
“Notably, these symptoms were not isolated,” Mkhize said. “This suggests that mental health support must be integrated with broader social and educational initiatives and highlights the need for early mental health promotion and prevention during early adolescence.”
She cautioned that the results reflect symptom prevalence rather than clinical diagnoses, and are not nationally representative. However, she said they provide a concerning baseline for understanding adolescent mental health in the Western Cape.
The study also highlights the broader social context shaping young people’s wellbeing.
“In contexts where families and communities are experiencing economic hardship, exposure to violence or ongoing stress, adolescents may face additional emotional and psychological challenges,” Mkhize said.
Exposure to family violence, as well as alcohol and cannabis use, significantly increased the likelihood of learners experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Despite schools being one of the few stable environments where mental health needs can be identified, many face structural challenges that limit their ability to provide adequate support.
Mkhize’s research also assessed screening tools used to detect mental health conditions in low-resource school settings. While some tools showed promise, she noted that further validation and local adaptation are still needed.
“These findings have implications that could help improve early detection and intervention for mental health conditions in settings where specialised mental health services are limited,” she said.
The study further evaluated a South African adaptation of the World Health Organization’s Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) intervention. The programme, delivered to 79 adolescents and 33 caregivers, was found to be both feasible in school settings and acceptable to participants.
It also showed measurable improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as overall mental wellbeing. Caregivers reported better parenting practices, including reduced use of corporal punishment and increased use of positive coping strategies.
Mkhize said adolescence represents a critical window for intervention, with long-term implications for individuals and society.
“If depression and anxiety are not recognised and treated early, they can persist into adulthood and affect education, employment opportunities, relationships and overall quality of life,” she said.
She added that investing in school-based mental health support could yield significant long-term benefits for individuals, communities and the broader economy.
Mkhize’s next step is to focus on scaling evidence-based mental health interventions in schools.
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