Tag: mental health

Running a business is often portrayed as a path to independence and success. However, behind the scenes, many entrepreneurs quietly battle overwhelming levels of stress. In a survey of more than 400 early-stage startup founders, 72% reported that entrepreneurship has impacted their mental health. Of these, 37% suffer from anxiety.

For many of us, work is one of the most significant factors in our general health and mood. When it goes well, it can be excellent. Work can be creative, lucrative and sociable. But when it does not, we often feel overloaded and stressed. Post COVID-19, many companies are making an effort to show they care. They offer better hours, remote work options, and lunchtime yoga classes.

A recent Labour Court judgment confirms that where employers fail to properly address grievances or mitigate the cause of an employee’s complaint, a constructive dismissal claim may succeed. In Makombe vs Cape Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists and Others, the Labour Court found that a pastor employed by the Cape Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (Cape Conference) experienced constructive dismissal.

Over-indebtedness is becoming a pervasive issue in South Africa. It carries profound legal, psychological and social consequences. Beyond its clear economic impact, excessive debt has been linked to deteriorating mental health, impaired decision-making, and reduced functional capacity. These effects raise a critical question for employment law: to what extent can over-indebtedness constitute incapacity or serve as a mitigating factor in cases of employee misconduct?

Anxiety is a normal and sometimes healthy process. However, in a world that feels increasingly unsafe and unpredictable, many of us find ourselves in its grip far more often than is comfortable or truly necessary. If you subconsciously believe that worrying or investing in your anxiety will keep you safe, it becomes easy to get unwittingly hooked on it.

This book describes the anguish of men battling with mental health issues, along with reflections from the people who treat them. Marion Scher weaves together two kinds of stories. First, the stories of South African men who have confronted their mental health issues. Second, the stories shared by the doctors who treat them.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated on 28 April brings to attention the need for creating safe spaces in the workplace which include mental health and wellbeing. According to the South African Federation for Mental Health, about 13% of South African employees live with a diagnosed mental health condition. Interestingly, more than a third of working South Africans experience excessive daily stress. 

Mental health statistics indicate a global crisis, but awareness is steadily rising. It is crucial for companies to explore how they can bridge the gap between where they are and where they should be. In 2019, the World Health Organisation stated that 15% of working-age adults were estimated to have mental health issues. This massive figure translates into a loss of 12 billion working days and US$1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

Free food and drinks on a Friday once worked as attractive company perks. However, things have changed dramatically. Today, top talent expects more from employers. They want a competitive salary and stand-out benefits that offer real value.

The business-critical challenge of 75% of executives contemplating resignation highlights a harsh reality - mental health struggles are a significant concern for business founders, entrepreneurs and executives alike. So, what needs to change? The answer lies in mindfulness in the workplace - a proactive approach to nurturing resilience, focus and well-being in high-pressure environments.