MHM Magazine

Black: 37% Indian: 8% Prefer not to say: 3% Male: 16% Prefer not to say: 1% Female: 83% Education and Training: 29% 52% of employees surveyed have been diagnosed with a Mental Health Condition have been allowed to take a mental health day have often taken leave due to mental illness Health Care: 17% NGO/NPO: 16% Financial: 6% Government: 7% Retail and sales: 3% Media: 3% talk about mental health in their workplaces have workplace EAPs have made use of EAPs 61% wish they could afford to quit their jobs 75% think about work when they are not at work 57% can easily talk to their boss 50% of employees surveyed reported feeling unhappy when starting work on a Monday Morning 48% feel that they can trust their boss with sensitive personal information 38% are afraid of losing their job 1 August - 24 September 2024 (n=963) SADAG’S ‘WORKING LIFE’ SURVEY “Acknowledge toxic dynamics & elements when they occur, deal with them (incl. listen to feedback and incorporate it).” –NGO/NPO Sector employee “No support, the company will blame it on the employee as there is ‘nothing’ wrong in the workplace ….I did not utilize any mental health programme. There weren’t any time to do so. Only work constantly.” – Education and Training Sector worker “Nothing [is done to support mental health in my workplace]. Quite the opposite, we now have to pay for EAP. It was previously not this way. I have [made use of EAP] in the past because the service was available and accessible and very helpful. Now...it is not as it is a paid for service.” – Health Care Sector employee WORKING LIFE AND COVID-19: 62% were NOT diagnosed with a new Mental Health Condition since the start of Covid in 2020 8% stated that Covid-19 worsened their existing Mental Health Conditions TOP 5 DIAGNOSED CONDITIONS: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN THE WORKPLACE: “Mine [mental health] improved during lockdown. Work is the main stressor.” EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT WORK: CREATING PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFER WORKPLACES: WORK SECTORS: The post-Covid workplace consists of three broad categories of work: Education and Training Sector worker (with a history of Depression) - To Learn About Our Corporate Wellness Services www.sadag.org or Interested and have a question? Email: admin@anxiety.org.za 20% 12% 28% 38% 47% MAIN CHALLENGES: Tight deadlines/ time pressure Conflict with colleagues Insufficient leave/ time off Insufficient medical benefits Many of my co-workers have resigned Not being allowed to work independently 32% 26% 25% 19% 17% 13% Too little remuneration/pay 44% Working long hours 30% Constant organisational change 25% Too many meetings 25% Physically uncomfortable workplace 18% Emotional outbursts from clients 15% Mixed: 1% Asian: 1% Coloured: 11% White: 39% KESSLER 10-ITEM PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS SCALE I felt tired for no good reason I felt a little nervous I felt so sad that nothing could cheer me up I felt worthless I felt so restless that I could not sit still I felt so nervous that nothing could calm me down I felt hopeless I felt everything was an effort I felt depressed I felt a little restless (fidgety) 15% 20% 22% 26% 29% 29% 34% 44% 14% 12% 08 09 06 01 02 03 07 05 04 10 Depression Stress GAD Burnout Trauma 32% 25% 18% 13% 10% PROVINCES: GENDER: RACE: WC: 19% GP: 54% KZN: : 10% WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH: 88% work for an employer work from the office/onsite perform hybrid work (some form of combination office/home) 31% work from home 9% 59% MHM | 2024 | Volume 11 | Issue 5 | Finding the “Off” Switch: Dealing with Depression in the South African Workplace MHM