Free Counselling Services Now Available to South African Artists
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT), in partnership with Humanitas Counselling, is proud to announce a nationwide rollout of its free mental health counselling services for South African artists. From May 2025, all artists across the country (regardless of affiliation to the organisation) can now access these services online via www.act.org.za/counselling.
This significant expansion builds on ACT’s initial commitment to support the mental wellness of its alumni and strategic partners. Now, recognising the urgent and widespread need for accessible mental health care in the creative industries, ACT has opened this service to the broader creative community.
Artists often face unique mental health challenges, including emotional strain from the creative process, performance pressures, and career instability. Through this partnership with Humanitas, ACT is offering free access to professional counsellors trained to support artists dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Jessica Denyschen, CEO of ACT, shares: “Mental well-being is crucial for us as practising artists in South Africa. We navigate the world in deeply personal and complex ways, often encountering difficult themes and realities in our work. As someone who has experienced depression, I understand the importance of accessible mental health care. Artists have so much to offer the world, but sometimes, we find ourselves close to the edge. Seeking help is an act of strength, not weakness.”
Armand Prinsloo, Humanitas Lecturer and Specialist Wellness Counsellor, adds: “By joining forces with ACT, we’re creating a supportive environment where artists can flourish creatively while prioritising mental health. This partnership is rooted in trust and a shared goal, to make a meaningful impact in artists’ lives across South Africa.”
Artists seeking support can now book an appointment or find out more at www.act.org.za/counselling. For inquiries, email info@act.org.za.
About the Arts & Culture Trust – 31 years of supporting arts in South Africa
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier independent development and art investment organisation. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the capacity for arts and culture initiatives to create sustainable futures through development and investment in innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Through structured development programmes, ACT provides support to all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre, and dance. This support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education, and arts administration. Over the past 31 years, ACT has supported more than 830 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, including small businesses.
For more information, visit the ACT website, follow them on X, or like their Facebook page. To keep in touch with ACT, visit the ACT website follow them on X or like their Facebook page.
About Humanitas
Humanitas is your one-stop destination for comprehensive training and counselling services. At Humanitas, we believe in empowering individuals to unlock their full potential, achieve personal and professional growth, and overcome life’s challenges. With a dedicated team of experienced lecturers, and counselling professionals, we offer a wide range of training programmes and counselling services, tailored to meet your unique needs and aspirations.