Zane Wilson also created an innovative new learning tool, The “Speaking Book”, to enable low level literacy communities to receive vital health care messages. The books are an interactive, multi-lingual tool that can be seen, read, heard and understood regardless of reading ability and addresses mental health issues such as Depression, Suicide, and Bipolar as well as Malaria, TB, HIV and AIDS and Clinical Trials. The Speaking Books are an affordable African solution for an African problem which is now being used throughout the world in India, China, the USA, South America, and the rest of Africa. "For this work Wilson has won the World Bank Award (2003) United Nations Health and Innovation Award (2011)  

Celebrating 18 years of mental health and advocacy this year, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group is the country’s largest and most recognized mental health initiative. “SADAG was established in 1994 in response to the absence of any formal advocacy structure for people with the common and potentially disabling mental health problems of depression, bipolar and anxiety. Since its inception under the visionary leadership of Zane Wilson, it has become the leading advocacy organization in Africa, and it's achievements place it among the most innovative and effective organizations worldwide,” says Psychiatrist Prof Michael Berk.

Wilson has led teams to work in areas with virtually no access to psychiatric care for millions of people, capacitating lay people in communities to help with Mental Health problems.   SADAG supports the training of Home-based Care Workers, Youth Groups, Teachers, NGO’s, Community health care workers, Nurses, Police and Church groups. Teaching how to identify the symptoms and how to access treatment for people within their communities, and leaving behind Speaking Books to empower and help understand the many rural health problems in Africa. . 

South Africa has 22 suicides a day, and 10 times as many attempted suicides. For many people in crisis, there is nowhere to turn – apart from SADAG’s toll-free counseling centre. “So many people are alone and scared, they feel like no-one understand them”, says actress and SADAG supporter Lillian Dube. “SADAG is a voice for these people, a safe place they can turn for help.” Facilitating 160 support groups across the country, SADAG says that the National Order of the Baobab Award goes as much to its dedicated and compassionate support group leaders, as it does to the incredible volunteers and staff of the organization.

Its program, “Suicide Shouldn’t be a Secret” for which the first Speaking Book was created, was aimed at reducing South Africa’s high rate of teen suicide and has been run in  schools for teachers and hundreds of thousands of learners throughout the country.  SADAG teaches youth that depression is treatable and suicide is preventable. SADAG offers fifteen toll free crises and support lines and helps callers by providing counseling and referrals. Wilson has an unparalleled level of insight into systems and people.  “Wilson has a level of creativity , drive, energy, enthusiasm and commitment that is truly remarkable and she is committed to assisting the most disadvantaged individuals in the most disadvantaged environments suffering from stigmatizing and poorly resourced conditions” Said Prof Berk.

This award is a huge honor and a tribute, not just to SADAG and its Speaking Books , but to all those people who have suffered in silence, scared and alone. Mental illness has always had the power to separate people. “With this award, we feel like there is hope – that the path travelled by mental health practitioners will be more supported and accepted”, says Wilson.

Other notable recipients included Edward Kennedy receiving the award on behalf of his father the late Senator Edward Kennedy who helped pass the Anti-Apartheid act in the US congress and fought constantly for Mandela’s release.  Also there to receive the Silver Order of OR Tambo was Randall Robinson the African American Law activist, who organized sit- ins and called on congress to enact strict sanctions on South Africa.