Mental illness described as a silent pandemic in SA

Psychologist, Safia Joseph, says South Africans are suffering from a silent pandemic.

She was responding to the latest data by Life Health Solutions, which reveals a significant increase in mental challenges in SA corporate.

According to the research, staffers with mental health problems end up posing a safety risk to themselves, others or/and their organisations.

Joseph says these risks include suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and financial instability.

Mental health risks in males increased to 37.12% last year, compared to 35.10% in 2018, while women recorded a decrease from 64.90% in 2018 compared to 62.88% in 2023.

Joseph has advised people who are struggling mentally to seek professional help.

She’s also urged companies to prioritise assisting employees by providing a safe environment that also speak about these issues.

According to the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, a quarter of South African employees will be diagnosed with depression during the course of their employment.

However, only between 15% to 25% will seek and receive help.

Joseph says there also needs to be a conversation about the stigma surrounding men’s mental health.

“This may lead to underreporting and a reluctance to seek help, while unique pressures faced by women in the workplace may require targeted support.”

She says suicidal risk remains the most prevalent consequence of the risk cases driven mainly by depression, stress, and relationship difficulties.

“Notably, 2023 saw a sharp increase in stress, relationship issues, bereavement, anxiety, domestic violence, and difficulties adjusting to life changes as contributing factors. These findings underscore the critical need for proactive mental health support within the South African corporate workplace,” says Joseph.

😩😩💔 Ma South Africa let us stop destroying our mental health in the name of hard work 😞

White South Africans Black Coffee Cyan Seemah Titanic Sizwe Bongani Fassie #ThaboBester #AndrewTate Kappa #ftlof Grade 11 Kanye #BBNaijaReunion Kasukuwere pic.twitter.com/8q3aDAuKsZ

— Open Chats Podcast (@OpenChats_) June 21, 2023

Mental health is a serious problem in South africa these days

— Andile (@Zaphalala_) July 1, 2024

July is Mental Illness Awareness Month in #SouthAfrica.

We hope to shed light this month on some key mental illnesses, how to identify them and how to get help and support.

Each week we will focus on a different #mentalhealth condition, what it is and some #copingstrategies.… pic.twitter.com/b4AV5MKA61

— Masiviwe (@MasiviweZA) July 1, 2024

The woman from South Africa who killed her 3 babies not long after arriving in NZ and being forced to hole up in a tiny hotel room with them and her husband with no space to play much less run around can thank ex-PM Ardern for exacerbating her mental health condition.

— Emilee Smalie (@SmalieEmilee) June 30, 2024

South Africa ranks as one of the worst countries regarding mental health, based on research by the second Annual Mental State of the World Report 2021 from Sapien Labs.