Sadag survey shows 65% of respondents feel stressed or very stressed during lockdown
Sadag operations director Cassey Chambers said, “The survey has given Sadag insight into the challenges that so many people are facing throughout the country, and Sadag will continue to provide various online resources and support, self-help tips and coping skills addressing some of the issues highlighted in the survey."
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has shared the results of an online survey assessing mental health during lockdown.
Sadag operations director Cassey Chambers said, “Covid-19 and the lockdown has affected many South Africans, and it has had a serious impact on people living with a mental health issue often making their symptoms more heightened. Sadag has been receiving calls from people with no history of anxiety or depression who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious and stressed.”
The survey was conducted via various online platforms, eliciting responses from 1 214 participants.
The survey assessed participants’ home life, their mental health before and during lockdown, how they accessed information and what coping tips helped them manage their mental health during lockdown.
According to Sadag, while 92 per cent of respondents supported the lockdown, 65 per cent of people who completed the survey felt stressed or very stressed during it.
Mental health
Research showed that 59 per cent of respondents were diagnosed with a mental health issue prior to lockdown. Depression was the most common diagnosis at 46 per cent, anxiety was reported at 30 per cent and bipolar disorder at 12 per cent.
The main challenges during lockdown, according to respondents, were anxiety and panic (55 per cent), financial stress and pressure (46 per cent), depression (40 per cent), poor family relations (30 per cent), feelings of suicide (12 per cent) and substance abuse (6 per cent).
Loneliness
Sadag board chair, psychiatrist and psychologist Dr Frans Korb said, “These conditions could certainly be exacerbated by the lockdown, particularly if the individual lives alone or in a dysfunctional home situation.”
According to the results, 16 per cent of the respondents reported that they live alone. “For many people this is a worrying amount of alone time when they are forced to face themselves, their fears and anxieties alone,” said Korb.
Coping skills
The main source of coping skills and resources was the Sadag social media and website (49 per cent), followed by news websites (27 per cent) and international organisation websites like WHO at 26 per cent.
Respondents shared the top five activities that helped them cope during lockdown. These include:
- Getting some exercise (50 per cent)
- Chatting to someone (50 per cent)
- Watching a film or TV show (not news) (48 per cent)
- Doing housework or a home project (44 per cent)
- Sharing a meal with family members.
Conclusions
Senior research associate Dr Bronwyn Dworzanowski-Venter said that while the sample size is statistically useful, it is not sufficiently large to allow for true national or provincial representation.
Chambers said that the survey has demonstrated that support during lockdown is vital.
“The survey has given Sadag insight into the challenges that so many people are facing throughout the country, and Sadag will continue to provide various online resources and support, self-help tips and coping skills addressing some of the issues highlighted in the survey,” said Chambers.
Find help
Contact Sadag in the following ways for support during lockdown:
▪ Online toolkit on www.sadag.org providing articles, coping tips, podcasts, online videos, etc.
▪ Sms 31393 and a counsellor will call back (available 24 hours a day)
▪ Helplines providing free telephonic counselling on 0800 21 22 23, 0800 70 80 90, 0800 456 789 (24 hours a day), 0800 12 13 14 (24 hours) and the Suicide Crisis Helpline 0800 567 567 (24 hours)
▪ Whatsapp chat (076 88 22 77 5) with a counsellor 7 days a week, 9am–4pm
▪ Daily expert online Q&A on Sadags Facebook page “The South African Depression and Anxiety Group”
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