Many employees conceal their mental health problems by using standard sick leave under the pretext of ailments such as 'stomach flu' or 'flu'. In reality, they may need time to manage anxiety, burnout, or other mental difficulties.
Many employees conceal their mental health problems by using standard sick leave under the pretext of ailments such as 'stomach flu' or 'flu'. In reality, they may need time to manage anxiety, burnout, or other mental difficulties.
According to a study conducted by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), more than half of employed residents in South Africa face mental health issues. Among the most common diagnoses are clinical depression, anxiety, and burnout.
This problem remains largely unnoticed in workplaces because many employees prefer not to disclose their difficulties due to fears about how they might be perceived by colleagues and management.
A SADAG survey showed that only 57% of workers feel confident enough to discuss mental health issues with their supervisors, and only 48% believe they can entrust confidential personal information to their bosses. The reluctance to speak openly is often linked to the fear of being deemed unreliable, missing career opportunities, or facing different interpretations once their problems become known. Instead, some employees decide to handle it in secret, taking a 'flu day,' even though what they actually need is support.
By the time a person requires extended leave, discussion with HR, or a diagnosis, it is rarely a sudden occurrence; more often, it is the culmination of problems that have accumulated over a long period.
The stigma surrounding mental health continues to be a serious issue in many workplaces, especially where mental difficulties are still viewed as a weakness rather than a medical condition. However, there are also practical barriers preventing people from seeking help, including the time needed for treatment, associated costs, and difficulties in finding a suitable specialist.
The economic consequences of delayed support are considerable. Absenteeism related to depression alone is estimated to cost the South African economy around 19 billion rand per year.
The main concern is not that South Africans are experiencing more acute mental health crises, but that their problems may remain hidden until they reach a critical point. The difficulty lies in how long people manage without help before a crisis arises. The medical scheme Medshield Medical Scheme emphasizes the importance of prevention and early support to help people manage mental issues before they escalate.
The organization highlights the role of continuous mental health support, expanded access to general practitioners through virtual care within plans, and full coverage of major mental illnesses under Minimum Benefits. Virtual access, according to the organization, can help remove some barriers by reducing the need to take time off work, travel to a provider, or wait weeks for an appointment. Nevertheless, although support services help people get help, workplace culture remains a broader issue. The article concludes that the stigma surrounding mental health requires employers to continue working on workplace attitudes while ensuring employees have access to support before a crisis occurs.