No ho, ho, ho

WITH the festive season set to move into full swing, it will not all be fun in the sun for some Durban residents who are buckling under financial or family issues – which are exacerbated during the holiday period.

This week Sadag (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) said the perception of ideal families sitting around a Christmas table often created unrealistic expectations, and heightened existing tension or conflicts.

Add this to tight economic times, burnout from a stressful year of work and shorter holiday periods with many companies unable to pay bonuses. This, along with increased consumption of alcohol and family demands, could result in a cocktail of depression, anxiety and stress-related behaviour.

“There’s this vision and movie idea that holiday gatherings with family are supposed to be all fun and stress-free. The reality is that family relationships are complicated and can be full of stress,” said psychologist Christo van der Westhuizen.

According to Sadag, mental health professionals and lawyers are already dealing with the growing issue of mental health in the workplace. Results of a recent survey released by Sadag looking at stigma in the workplace, showed that 61% had disclosed their mental health illness to their managers, but 68% of respondents experienced negative THE SA Federation for Mental Health advises that people be educated about depression, and that all sectors of society be encouraged to speak openly and honestly about their experiences and struggles. Depression can affect anyone regardless of age, race, gender or socio-economic status. Early warning signs: Irritability Insomnia Lack of energy Poor concentration Forgetfulness Demotivation Anxiety How to combat depression this festive season (Sadag):

Be realistic and take the “ideal" Christmas out of your head; accept some family members can be difficult.

Cultivate supportive relationships – share what you are going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. Join a support group. or no response from the manager, while 44% indicated they were uncomfortable disclosing their mental health issue to a manager. Twentynine percent indicated they

Take time out from family arguments and unhappy relationships. Remember it is the giving season; compassion and forgiveness could make a difference

Take care of yourself – this includes a healthy lifestyle, adopting healthy eating habits and scheduling fun activities. Aim for eight hours of sleep a night.

Keep the “to do” list to a minimum because this only increases stress. Give yourself a break and enjoy another piece of Christmas cake if you feel like it.

Get regular exercise – exercise is a powerful tool for dealing with depression. To gain most benefits, aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Connect with your family or significant other – check with your partner and/ or family about their expectations and plan together.

Don't be afraid to get help. Call the Sadag Helpline 0800 70 80 90 seven days a week between 8am and 8pm, or go to www.sadag.org had not told anyone about their mental health issue. Only 16% felt comfortable enough to disclose their mental illness to a manager or supervisor.

With expected immediate communication and intense level of competition for jobs in the current economic climate, it has become a hidden problem which can erupt during a holiday period.

Gita Harie, executive director of Durban and Coastal Mental Health, said: “There has been an increase in levels of depression in KZN and we have seen a marked increase in the rate of referrals of persons diagnosed with depression. Depression is currently the leading cause of disability worldwide.

“With the pace of work dictated by instant communication and high levels of global competition, the lines separating work from life are becoming more difficult to identify. An appropriate balance between work and private life is difficult to achieve,” said Harie. She said it was a global issue, with a joint study between the World Economic Forum and Harvard School of Public Health estimating the cumulative global impact of mental disorders in terms of lost economic output would amount to $16.3 trillion (R220 trillion) between 2011 and 2030.

The global economic crisis and recession had resulted in an increase in restructuring, downsizing, merging and sub-contracting – resulting in massive retrenchments, leaving little or no money to spend in some families.

According to Harie, higher job-performance expectation, irregular and longer working hours, fast-paced and intensive work, job insecurity and a lack of control over the content and organisation of work were playing a significant role.

“Add to that the fear of losing their jobs, reduced motivation, decreased satisfaction and financial stability and you end up with serious consequences on a person’s mental health with a significant financial bottom line impact for companies,” said Harie.

Durban-based labour lawyer, Bruce McGregor, said they had seen an increase in cases in which employees had been cited as being dismissed for poor performance, where in fact they had not been coping because of mental health issues.

“We have had a number of cases this year. As soon as an employee raises a red flag and says he or she is battling, he or she must be sent for evaluation and/or treatment.

“We are looking at panic disorders, anxiety and depression,” said MacGregor.

Healthcare consultancy Alexander Forbes Health said increasing financial stress was causing more mental illness among South Africans

Myrna Sachs, head of Alexander Forbes Health Management Solutions, said: “Our data reveals a steady increase in the number of South Africans suffering from mental health problems over the past five years. And when financial difficulties and mental health problems are combined, you create a spiralling vicious circle where one compounds the other.”