How to look after your mental health in the workplace

Published on 30th August, 2022 at 12:36 pm

South Africans are the second most stressed employees in the world. Lump the impact of COVID-19 on top of this and it’s easy to see why our country is facing a mental health crisis. Here’s how to manage and support mental health at work.

Reading time: 4 minutes

In this article you’ll learn:

• About the different stressors currently facing employees in South Africa.
• How these stressors can lead to deterioration of mental health.
• Practical ways to cope with mental health challenges.
• Why using a benefit like the telephonic counselling line available to you as a Reality Access for Sanlam Group Risk member can be beneficial to maintaining your health.

It’s stressful to live in South Africa

Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety cost South Africa’s economy more than R200 billion through people missing work and presenteeism, a situation in which employees are at work but perform at lower levels, primarily because of poor mental health.

Corporate wellness executive at Sanlam Health Solutions Dr Frank Magwegwe says, “South Africa can be a challenging place to work and live in. You have the persistent threat of crime, the constant negative news cycle, high levels of unemployment, or the possibility of retrenchment.

“In addition to these stressors, some people work in environments where there is a stigma attached to self-care practices, such as regularly taking leave from work, which can make it difficult for people to unplug from the now-common habit of constant connectivity,” Dr Magwegwe adds.

Are you struggling with your mental health? As a Reality Access for Sanlam Group Risk member, you have access to a Trauma, Assault & HIV Assist benefit. Call 0860 732 548/9 for 24-hour telephonic counselling.

How your financial health and mental health are interlinked

“Being in a constant state of high stress and anxiety about finances increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in the body that, over time, weaken the body’s immune system and make us more susceptible to both physical and mental illness,” says Dr Magwegwe.

Poor financial health can feel like an unending weight on one’s shoulders. With money playing a central role in our ability to function in society, being in poor financial health, primarily due to over-indebtedness, is one of the main stressors South Africans face today.

Many credit-active South Africans are struggling to keep up with their debt repayments. According to the National Credit Regulator (NCR), just over 10 million (38.4%) of the 26 million credit-active consumers fall into this category. The NCR have established a direct link between mental health illnesses such as depression and consumer over-indebtedness.

Finding a way to cope

Avoid these coping mechanisms

One of the major difficulties in dealing with depression, high anxiety and stress is that the short-term coping mechanisms, which many of us adopt, are bad for us. These can come in the form of excessive drinking and smoking, inadequate sleep, poor eating habits, a lack of exercise, gambling, and excessive social media use.

Try these instead

On an individual level, Dr Magwegwe suggests that setting firm boundaries in your personal and professional life, exercising regularly, practising mindfulness, getting adequate sleep and adopting better eating habits is a good place to start when trying to alleviate poor mental health.

More importantly, it is crucial that people seek professional help through their employers or through free services provided by organisations such as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group. Also, seeking help from financial planners and coaches to improve financial health goes a long way in reducing the burden of financial stress.

Looking for personalised help with your finances? Book a meeting with a financial planner.

Remember, it’s okay to be vulnerable

Dr Magwegwe concludes by saying, “We must make it safe for people to be vulnerable and speak about their emotions both in the workplace and at home. If we de-stigmatise mental health, we will begin to see much better mental health-seeking behaviours.”

As a Reality Access for Sanlam Group Risk member, you have a host of benefits that help you stay healthy, both physically and mentally. You have access to Trauma, Assault & HIV Assist as one of your benefits. Get 24-hour medical assistance and counselling telephonically. You can also explore our Wealth Sense portal for educational content to broaden your knowledge on topics such as personal finances, careers, health and more.