Tag: mental health

September is World Suicide Prevention Month, and World Suicide Prevention Day is on September 10. Glynis Horning is a well-known South African mental health journalist dealing with the reality of her son’s suicide. An estimated one in ten South Africans experience major depression at some point in their life. The book attempts to understand the realities of depression and suicide, removing some of the stigma surrounding suicide.

Patient 12A is Lesedi Molefi’s absorbing memoir, reflecting on his time spent in a psychiatric clinic in 2016. With vulnerability and candour, Lesedi reflects on the moments, large and small, that led him there. The book is at once a personal history, an observation of how childhood experiences can have a profound effect on the adults we become, and a commentary on how mental illness remains a difficult conversation in black families.

The fusion of technology and healthcare has reshaped how organisations approach employee wellness, and telehealth is at the forefront of this change. Daily, approximately 15% of South African employees miss work, costing businesses between R12 billion and R16 billion a year. What’s more, it's estimated that up to 25% of all employees in South Africa will experience depression or some kind of mental health problem annually.

At the heart of every successful organisation is a healthy, motivated workforce. In today's competitive job market, where talent retention, productivity and innovation are crucial, organisations must seek new ways to gain a competitive edge.

There is a lot of buzz about passengers' rights and the accessibility of air travel – from which arm rail belongs to whom, to whether passengers should be allowed to bring service animals on board, to the better care of disabled people and their essential equipment. But one conversation in particular has taken hold. Alongside the RightsOnFlights hashtag.

Anger can be a highly destructive force or a powerful motivator, depending on how we decide to use it. This emotion can be channelled more constructively to become your superpower. Anger is a natural feeling that affects everyone. It is a normal emotion with a broad range of intensity from mild irritation and frustration to rage and aggression.

Events in recent years have pushed countries to rapidly evolve their healthcare systems, demanding that they shift their focus towards pivotal strategies that can curtail long-term healthcare costs. It is particularly pertinent in South Africa, where the escalating healthcare costs pose a formidable challenge. Healthcare costs are spiralling, putting immense pressure on the nation's economy.

I am quite concerned that 29% of the women surveyed globally have expressed that they feel their right to live free from violence is deteriorating. Closer to home, it is concerning that at 19% more than the global average, 50% of the South African women surveyed feel that their right to earn an equal wage is deteriorating.

In the wake of COVID-19 and the accelerated digitisation of financial services, the gap between South Africans who have highly developed financial literacy and those with little or none has not just widened – it has taken on new dimensions.  The consequences for South African society are dire.

There’s no denying that technology has indelibly transformed the modern workplace, especially following the onset of the global pandemic. Streamlined processes, enhanced communication and boosted productivity are just some of the benefits businesses have eagerly embraced in the digital era. These benefits come at a price.