Beauty industry’s ugly reality

Depression, anxiety, stress and fear were some feelings people in lockdown experienced – but the medical community experienced it tenfold, a recent study in China found.

Training physicians’ daily moods decreased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, along with an increase in depression and anxiety, the study revealed.

Suicide rates among doctors are reported to be 2.5 times more likely than the rest of the population.

Physician Pamela Wible investigated the high suicide rate among doctors and their families in 2017. Doctors’ increased suicides had been reported since 1858, but that the root cause has still not been addressed, she claimed, because doctors are “masters of disguise”, but routinely suffer from burnout and “inhumane” work conditions, often involving sleep deprivation.

A tough cycle of impossible hours and lack of sleep means mistakes will be made, but uncertainty amid the Covid-19 pandemic could increase suicide rates even more.

With Africa’s already overburdened healthcare systems, Zambia-based doctor Naeem Dalal warned a lack of resources and finances could escalate anxiety surrounding Covid-19 among doctors.

Dalal said over 22% of the world’s burden of disease affects Africa, but the continent only has access to 3% of healthcare workers and less than 1% of global financial resources.

As SA grapples with an increase in the number of Covid-19 infections, the challenges faced by healthcare workers are more significant than ever, said Cipla SA chief executive Paul Miller.

Even though there was a lack of research on mental health in the country, SA studies compared to more developed healthcare systems still indicated high levels of burnout, he said.

But despite burnout, anxiety and depression being common in the medical community, there was still stigma surrounding mental health, even by doctors. Cipla partnered with the SA Depression and Anxiety Group and launched the #Socks4Docs campaign on Friday, when South Africans wore colourful funky socks, to encourage healthcare professionals to talk about mental health.

“The message of the campaign was that doctors are just like everyone else – simply humans,” Miller said.

The campaign was started by Australian doctor Geoff Toogood, who battled depression. It seeks to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and decrease suicide rates among healthcare workers. –

Health and beauty practitioners countrywide have been under pressure as a result of having to remain closed due to lockdown regulations.

Advocate Carlo Viljoen has been hard at work trying to battle the regulations to save the industry, with many hairdressers and salons having to take loans or other means of income, reports Lowvelder.

One beautician, Diana Roux, owner of Face to the Wind in Mbombela, told of her struggle. “Lockdown has a devastating effect on the company. It has a tremendous financial impact because we were still recovering after we were given short notice at our previous premises.

“We incurred big expenses to relocate. Nobody was prepared to survive without an income for as long as we have.”

Roux still has to pay rent and, although the landlord gave her 15% discount, it’s impossible to pay such high rent without an income, she said.

“As a single mother with two children and no support from their father, I have used my savings to cover my expenses for two months – but I could not pay my rent this month.

“Even though my daughter has a job, she only received a salary for the first month of lockdown. I’ve had to support her, as well as my 17-year-old son.”

Roux is the primary breadwinner and so are some of her therapists. “Although we have applied for financial support through the government and UIF, we have not received a response.

“I’ve had to pay my staff out of my own pocket.

“I’ve had to take a loan which I will have to pay back over the next 12 months. I did not pay myself a salary: it was more important for me to know that my employees have food on their tables.”

Roux’s health is suffering under the pressure, she said.

“Sleeplessness and weight loss is having a negative effect on me. I am tired but still motivated. If being strong is all you’ve got, you have to believe that everything will be fine.

“My anchor is prayer. My mom and dad phone me every day to support me. That has kept me going. I want to thank a few of my clients for the food parcels, supportive messages and vouchers that they bought during this trying time.” – Caxton News Service.

Doctors are just like everyone else – simply humans