Fin24 writes that depression costs SA more than R232bn or 5.7% of the country’s GDP due to lost productivity - either due to absence from work or attending work while unwell.  

This is according to a study conducted by the IDEA study of the London School of Economics and Political Science last year.  In light of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, which will focus on mental health in the workplace, Dr Sebolelo Seape, chairperson of the Psychiatry Management Group, said organisations and individuals alike needed to become more aware of the reality and impact that mental health has on the workplace.  Depression has a significant impact on productivity which in turn aggravates the resulting problems at work and relationship with colleagues and line managers.  Seape pointed out that depression “causes problems with memory, and leads to procrastination, extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, fear and panic which will add to work-related stresses, crippling the output from the employee.”

• Read this informative report in full at Fin24

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