SA industry professionals weigh in on Covid’s mental health toll
Statistics released by the World Health Organization earlier this year reveal a shocking 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide, pointing to several factors related to life under lockdown and surviving the pandemic as causes.
At Vuma, we realise that stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, and, sadly, many more cases of suicide being reported across the country are just some of the severe health consequences of Covid-19 that many people are experiencing.
Pouring from empty cups
Although uncapped fibre internet made remote working and virtual meetings a reality for most South Africans, this period was still a tough transition for the country’s workers. Not many consider the toll taken on human resource professionals responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of employees and entire organisations.
Fifi Sali, HR executive at Vuma, weighed in on this role's unprecedented mental and emotional challenge during the pandemic. “It was our duty as HR professionals to ensure everyone was okay and that processes continued running smoothly. We couldn’t tell people we were struggling, and there was no room for us to fall apart despite our own pandemic-related challenges," she says.
Support systems are crucial
South Africa’s celebrity world wasn’t spared from the mentally damaging effects of the pandemic either. We reeled from the news of rapper Ricky Rick’s death, followed by the passing of actor Patrick Shai not long after this, after taking their own lives earlier this year.
Matthew Peter Le Roux, better known as singer-songwriter Jimmy Nevis, shared that he also battled feelings of emotional exhaustion. “It was a time for me of feeling helpless, and like I’m doing my best, but it’s not enough,” he says. “Not being able to perform, work, travel or network, and the negative impact all of this has on your salary and income, is a lot to handle as a creative and entrepreneur.”
The local hitmaker said that the recent spate of suicides and mental health incidences among creatives and entrepreneurs points to a need for increased support for South Africa’s up-and-comers and increased efforts to nurture creativity and innovation.
Nevis is an ambassador for Vuma’s My Community Connects – a platform that assists, enables, and celebrates talented individuals and social innovators across all sectors and from all walks of life using the benefits of fibre. He says he is glad to be able to make a positive impact and help pave the way for others to not only get a foot in the door but to play a role in mentoring them to overcome the mental health struggles he and so many others have faced on their way up the ladder.