Economic cost of SA’s mental health crisis

JOHANNESBURG - Mental health conditions cost the South African economy up to R161-billion per year if left untreated.

Health economists warn that lost days of work, presenteeism – which means being at work but unwell – as well as premature mortality, are too costly for the country.

South Africa scored the lowest average on the mental health wellbeing scale in the Mental State of the World 2022 report.

READ: SA's Electricity Crisis | Impact of blackouts on mental health

"I think we have a very reactive approach in South Africa. Organisations did very well during Covid but this has dropped," said Prof Renata Schoeman, head of Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Business School.

"Companies react when there's a problem and this is costly.. Younger people who are looking for employment are not only looking for remuneration, they are also looking for organisations that take care of them.

"It's important that employers are facilitating the support of people working from home or in the office or the hybrid model," she said.