ONE in four employees in South Africa have been diagnosed with Depression. With job shortages, a tight economy and everyday pressures surrounding us
stress is a key factor in the workplace. There’s never been a time where Anxiety, Stress and Depression has been more prevalent than today.
“Depression affects cognitive functions such as decision making, concentration, memory and problem solving abilities. Depression negatively impacts on
productivity. If an employee has depression and is at work, they are 5 times less productive than an employee who is absent due to depression,” says
Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist, Dr Frans Korb.
Operations Director of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Cassey Chambers, says: “On average, people with depression took
18 days of work due to their depression in South Africa. This is one of the reasons why it’s vital to examine how depression is managed in the workplace
and what procedures are in place to ensure that affected employees are encouraged to and supported in seeking treatment.”