SADAG Ivory Park

About the Ivory Park Counselling Container

Following the success of the Diepsloot project, SADAG opened a second Counselling Container in Ivory Park, Johannesburg — a township similarly characterised by high unemployment, poverty, crime, and elevated rates of gender-based violence. Like its Diepsloot counterpart, the Ivory Park Container was established to bring professional, free mental health support into a community where access to psychiatric or psychological services is near-impossible for most residents.

The Container is staffed by trained SADAG counsellors and offers free face-to-face counselling, referrals, and psychoeducation to all community members. Services address the full range of psychosocial challenges in the area, including GBV, trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, substance abuse, and relationship difficulties.

GBV Focus

GBV is explicitly identified by SADAG as one of the primary drivers of distress in Ivory Park. The Container team provides trauma-informed support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and facilitates a dedicated Women's Support Group where survivors can connect, share, and receive structured emotional support. A Men's Support Group is also available, recognising that men can be both survivors and those seeking to change abusive patterns.

Community Outreach

The Ivory Park team conducts talks at local clinics, schools, and community spaces, and has participated in wellness events including a wellness stand at Busy Corner Mall. As part of SADAG's broader reach, the Container team collectively (with Diepsloot) reached over 16,102 individuals through outreach events and talks in a single year.

Booking and Access

To access free face-to-face counselling at the Ivory Park Container, call 060 402 7697 to book an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome. National SADAG helplines (listed below) are available at all times for telephone and WhatsApp support:

• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567 (24 hours, toll-free)
• SADAG Office: 011 234 4837 (8am–8pm, 7 days a week)
• Cipla Mental Health Helpline: 0800 456 789 (24 hours)
• WhatsApp (Cipla): 076 882 2775 (8am–5pm)