South African Workers in Crisis: Over Half Suffer from Mental Health Struggles

A new study from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) has revealed a worrying trend in the country’s workforce: more than half of South African employees are dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout.

The survey, conducted with over 960 participants across sectors including education, healthcare, finance, retail, and government, found that 60% of employees wished they could afford to quit their jobs. Nearly half reported feeling unhappy at the beginning of each workweek — a clear sign of widespread emotional strain.

SADAG’s findings show that 52% of respondents have been officially diagnosed with a mental health condition, with depression affecting 32%, clinical stress 25%, anxiety 18%, and burnout 13%.

“Work emerged as a consistent stressor across all employment sectors,” the study noted, highlighting concerns like job insecurity, lack of support, and excessive workload. Alarmingly, nearly 38% of workers reported fearing job loss, while almost one in five said they had to absorb the responsibilities of colleagues who had resigned — often without added support or compensation.

Zane Wilson, founder of SADAG, called on businesses to respond urgently.

“From the survey, we learn that more needs to be done at companies regarding mental health,” Wilson said. “Integrating mental health education and proactive support programmes into the workplace can boost productivity and foster a healthier, more sustainable work environment.”

The study also echoed a warning from Andrew Cook, founder of employee engagement platform HeadsUp. While many companies celebrated the scrapping of a proposed VAT increase last month, Cook warned of a silent cost still eroding productivity: burnout.

“Companies are quietly haemorrhaging more through burnout and disengagement than they would have through a VAT hike,” Cook said. “Burnout isn’t just a wellness issue anymore — it’s a financial one.”

With economic pressure mounting and staff stretched thin, the message from the report is clear: employers cannot afford to ignore the mental wellbeing of their workforce. Creating a culture of psychological safety, education, and genuine support isn’t just good ethics — it’s good business.

{Source: IOL}

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