Every year, the South African economy loses an estimated ZAR40 billion due to work-related stress and workers suffering from major depression, burnout and anxiety disorders. That’s equivalent to more than 2% of the country’s GDP.
According to Dr Renata Schoeman of the Psychiatry Management Group, companies need to recognise that company structure, employee expectations and management style can not only affect overall productivity and annual turnover but also put employees at risk of developing health problems, as reported by IOL.
Companies should play a role in preventing possible stressors in the workplace. ‘Businesses should foster a healthy educational environment with proactive mental health awareness programmes, stress management training, access to services that nurture help-seeking behaviour and offer employees resources to ensure they receive proper treatment,’ she says.
