The importance of Mental Health in the Workplace in South Africa

Mental health in the workplace has a profound impact on individuals, teams, and organisations, particularly in South Africa. Poor mental health can be concerning for individuals who, in turn, can be less productive and effective. Similarly, for organisations, mental health can significantly affect overall productivity, employee engagement and turnover.

Mental health problems and diseases are real, and the South African workplace needs to become more aware of them and build a better understanding of possible solutions.

The financial Effect of Poor Mental Health

The issue of mental health in the workplace should be taken seriously by employers, team supervisors and HR personnel. Poor mental health has a major effect on the bottom line of South African businesses. According to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, depression and anxiety in South Africa cost the economy nearly R300-billion in 2015 alone.

This included direct costs such as expenditure on health services and chemicals, and indirect costs such as payments for disability, work absenteeism/presenteeism. Mental health problems are experienced by all racial, gender, age and socio-economic groups, showing that no single group is immune from its effects. South African business will not be competitive if big problems like this plague the workplace.

Spotting Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace

In the South African workplace managers and colleagues need to be able to identify mental health conditions in the workplace and look out for early warning signs. Early identification is key to being able to provide the right help and support. The message needs to be clear that mental health conditions are strongly associated with work dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety and depression.

In the South African workplace learning how to spot signs of possible mental health issues is essential. Increased workload, poor job security, and demanding expectations put stress on employees. If not managed properly these are potential causes of mental health problems. Some common signs of mental health-related issues in the workplace include:

• Decreased productivity
• Verbal or physical aggression
• Frequent absences
• Loss of motivation
• Changes in behavior
• Lack of concentration
• Affected interpersonal relationships
• Excessive fatigue or lack of energy

It is also important to consider how an employee's personal life and circumstances may contribute to mental health issues. Other issues such as strained relationships, financial difficulties, or even issues related to health, could be potential reasons why the employee is having difficulty at work. Management has to be aware of the potential cultural barriers, language barriers, and stigma that may cause South African employees to be reluctant to disclose mental health related issues. Thus, it is important for employers to promote an environment with confidentiality and trust to address mental health issues.

The Benefits of Investing in Mental Health

Implementing certain strategies has been known to create tangible positive results in the South African workplace. These strategies include:

• Developing an inclusive, supportive and healthy work environment.
• Providing an employee assistance program for employees and their families.
• Making sure employees have a healthy work-life balance, which can decrease stress and burn-out.
• Regularly training management and teams on skills related to managing stress and conflict.
• Managing workload and expectations in a realistic way.
• Promoting preventative health and wellbeing activities.
• Encouraging communication between employers and employees.

These strategies help employees manage their mental health, leading to better productivity, less absenteeism and presenteeism, improved job satisfaction and a psychologically safe workplace.

QikTruck Can Help South African Businesses

QikTruck is an on-demand truck and driver hire service. They provide a valuable, professional transportation service that helps businesses with the delivery of goods and, in times of crises, they are able to provide an essential delivery service to help those most in need. Not only do QikTruck support the South African economy, they also understand and promote the importance of mental health in the workplace. The company guarantees all its employees a mentally supportive environment and offers a tailor-made mental health package that focuses on preventative wellbeing activities, improved communication and assistance programs.

Supporting mental health in the workplace is a priority for all South African businesses in order to remain competitive. With the help of services like QikTruck, businesses can soar to greater heights in this competitive marketplace and create an environment that supports mental health and wellbeing as part of their business operations. Everyone is entitled to a workplace which is mentally safe and this is only possible with the commitment of businesses to take the necessary steps to ensure the wellbeing of their employees.