MHM Magazine

Issue 4 | 2023 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 17 MHM Health economists estimate that unaddressed mental health conditions cost the South African economy R161 billion per year due to lost days of work, presenteeism (being at work but unwell), and premature mortality.  In the Mental State of the World 2022 report, South Africa scored the lowest average on the mental health wellbeing scale, measured across 34 countries, and the World Mental Health Report 2022 estimated the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. Today, three years post-COVID 19, burnout, anxiety and depression are at a record high creating a highly stressed, anxious and mentally unwell workforce with a detrimental impact on companies bottom line.  During Corporate Mental Health Week (4-8 July 2023) Prof Renata Schoeman, Head of Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Business School, said that although COVID-19 had raised the need amongst organisations to protect their employees’ mental health and well- being, very few are succeeding in making a concerted and relevant effort as part of their attraction and retention programmes.  “Employees are seeking workplace environments where management cares as much about their productivity as they do about their emotional well-being. Emotionally well supported employees are happier, less stressed and anxious, more creative, productive and have higher levels of job satisfaction which leads to low staff turn-overs and less conflict.”  “The pandemic forced us all to adapt to working from home Interview with Professor Renata Schoeman Psychiatrist (SASOP) Cape Town THE COST OF UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA