Actress Nobuhle “Mimi” Mahlasela has opened up about a difficult chapter in her life, revealing that she was admitted to a mental wellness centre as she continues her journey of dealing with her mental health.
In a candid video shared on social media under the caption “Life Lately – Mental Health”, Mimi reflected on the fear, uncertainty and emotions she experienced when she first arrived at the facility.
“I found myself at a mental wellness centre. I was terrified in the beginning because I have never been in a place like this before,” she said.
Mimi said the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and treatment added to her fears because she did not know what to expect.
“I was terrified in the beginning, and considering the stigma around such institutions, I didn’t know what to expect,” she explained.
She recalled breaking down when she learned that she would be admitted.
“I cried my lungs out when I found out that I am getting admitted. I think I hadn’t accepted what was happening in my life,” she said.
Mimi opens up about a lifelong struggle
The actress made it clear that her decision to seek intensive professional help did not come out of nowhere.
“I have always been a person that struggled with mental health,” Mimi said.
She also revealed that her struggles date back to her younger years, when she attempted to take her own life twice.
“When I was younger I attempted to take my life, twice,” she said.
The disclosure echoes what Mimi revealed publicly in 2021, when she spoke about battling depression and anxiety and said she had attempted suicide twice. At the time, she described being overwhelmed by traumatic experiences and the thoughts she had been carrying.
Mimi has previously spoken about the importance of therapy and confronting past trauma rather than suppressing it. In a 2021 interview, she said she had started therapy and was learning to work through experiences that had affected her mental health.
Her latest decision to enter a mental wellness facility therefore represents another step in a journey she has been open about for years.
From Aggie to one of Mzansi’s familiar faces
For many South Africans, Mimi remains best known as Aggie Ngwenya-Meintjies from the long-running SABC soapie 7de Laan.
She played the much-loved character for 18 years, from 2005 until the show’s final episode in December 2023. Aggie became one of the show’s recognisable characters and Mimi’s performance made her a familiar face to generations of viewers.
But behind the success was an actress who was also navigating self-doubt, anxiety and the pressures of an unpredictable entertainment industry.
Mimi has spoken about being told early in her career that she was too big to work in television. Rather than allowing that criticism to end her ambitions, she went on to build a career that included television, film and work behind the scenes.
Her film credits have included Mad Buddies and My Father’s War, while she also explored opportunities beyond acting, including directing and training.
The highs came with difficult lows
Despite the success that came with playing Aggie for almost two decades, Mimi has never portrayed her career as an easy journey.
When 7de Laan announced that it would end, she admitted that the news triggered self-doubt and anxiety about what would come next.
“I started doubting myself when they told us that the show was going to end and then I had to go to auditions and maybe I can’t do it anymore,” she told TrueLove in 2023.
She also explained that remaining in a familiar role for so long had provided a degree of protection from the wider pressures of the entertainment industry.
“I must face this industry on my own, what am I going to do!” she said at the time.
Mimi had also acknowledged that, despite her years of experience and recognition, she still had to audition for work.
“I still get auditions that I have to go to that I’m nervous,” she said.
Her career has therefore been marked by both major achievements and periods of uncertainty – a reality that has existed alongside her mental-health struggles.
A message about getting help
In her latest video, Mimi used her experience to encourage others not to ignore their mental wellbeing.
She urged people to look after their mental health and seek treatment when they need it, while also thanking the staff and doctors who have supported her.
Her message comes after years of speaking publicly about therapy, anxiety, depression and the importance of having people around who can provide support.
In 2023, she said therapy had helped her acknowledge anxiety instead of pretending it was not there. She also credited her family and friends for helping her remain grounded during difficult periods.
Mimi’s latest disclosure is another reminder that mental-health struggles can affect people regardless of their public profile, career achievements or apparent success.
For the actress, admitting that she needed help appears to be part of choosing to confront what she has been carrying rather than suffering through it alone.
