Nandi Mbatha has opened up about battling suicidal thoughts for about two years while at the height of her acting career.
Former ‘Isithembiso’ actor Nandi Mbatha has opened up about battling suicidal thoughts for about two years while at the height of her acting career.Mbatha credited her faith in Jesus Christ and baptism with helping her overcome depression, anxiety and panic attacks.She shared her testimony this month, which is Suicide Prevention Month, urging those struggling to believe that there is hope beyond their darkest moments.
September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness around suicide and encouraging conversations about mental health and support. For actor Nandi Mbatha, those conversations are deeply personal.
Best known for her character as Simlindile ‘Simi’ Ngema on Mzansi Magic’s Isithembiso (DStv 161), Mbatha opened up about a period in her life where she battled depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, revealing how her faith became central to her recovery.
Speaking in an interview with Until All Are Found, she reflected on the experiences that shaped her mental health struggles, including bullying, trauma and what she described as toxicity during her childhood.
Mbatha said these experiences eventually developed into depression and anxiety, with her mental health deteriorating to the point where she repeatedly tried to end her life.
“I’m gonna start where I was about to take my life,” she said, revealing that she had struggled with suicidal thoughts for about two years. “Mind you, this is probably at the height of my career, ’cause I got Isithembiso, and I thought… knowing that I’m supposed to be happy just didn’t help at all, ’cause I was supposed to be happy, but I wasn’t happy.”
It was during one of those dark moments when Mbatha said she experienced a profound spiritual encounter. As she contemplated taking her own life, she said she felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to cry out to God one final time.
“I cried out to Jesus. I was like, Lord, you can see that I’m in great pain. I’m not happy. My life is just a mess,” she recalled.
The actor said she then experienced what she describes as an encounter with Jesus, who reassured her that she would be okay.
“I know that you’re suffering right now, and I can see everything that you’re going through. But I cannot take it away from you right now, because I need to use it. But you will be okay,” she recalled hearing.
While her depression did not disappear overnight, Mbatha said the encounter gave her something she had been missing: hope. However, she continued to struggle with what she described as “functioning depression” before her anxiety intensified several years later.
The actor said she began experiencing panic attacks in various situations, including while driving in traffic, in confined spaces and even at the hair salon. Eventually, she found her current church, where she said she continued to experience panic attacks even during services.
Later, when her church announced a baptism, she immediately felt that it was what she needed to do.
“I just knew in my heart that after I get baptised, I will no longer suffer with anxiety and depression,” she said. “When I went into that water, it’s like I died in that water, and when I came up, I came out a new creation.”
According to Mbatha, the change she experienced after her baptism was profound.
“Since that day, since I got baptised, I haven’t had suicidal thoughts. I haven’t had panic attacks,” she said.
“I’ve been set free from anxiety and depression.”
If you or someone you know needs help, The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) can be reached at 0800 21 22 23 or 0800 456 789 (24 hours, 7 days a week).
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