Hirsch’s Hyde Park hosts mental wellness talk

In acknowledgement of World Mental Health Month, Hirsch’s Hyde Park hosted a talk to stamp out the stigma of mental health in the workplace. Award-winning businesswoman, CEO of Lew Geffen, Yael Geffen, was the keynote speaker at the event on October 12.

Geffen said people can experience psychological post-traumatic stress disorder if they have been exposed to something shocking. “Some of us are watching these war videos and it affects us. By all means, stay informed but don’t saturate yourself with all those images and footage,” said Geffen.

She said post-traumatic stress can be from a hijacking, someone ill in the family, a divorce, a baby born with a condition, or someone with cancer, there are so many causes/contribution factors for post-traumatic stress. “But what we do is we try and ignore it because we want to be strong, we don’t want to reach out and say we are suffering. Sometimes the people we share our stress with make it about themselves, so choose your wellness circle well.”

Geffen hopes that more people begin to tell their stories so that we can end the stigma. She said this is an old silent pandemic that existed way before Covid-19. Geffen said, “Ironically during Covid-19 we were at the safest time in history, with no world wars, yet more people were killing themselves than ever, people couldn’t stand the isolation [and other challenges experienced] during Covid-19. There wasn’t enough support.”

She warned that when someone is [feeling suicidal], there are warning signs [75% of the time]; they start doing things differently, they start doing things they’ve never done before, and you see symptoms of depression as the person slowly withdraws then isolate.

Geffen said when people are mostly going through mental health issues, they numb their pain through addictions. She said that, until there is legislation around managing mental health issues at the workplace, companies are trying to navigate how to help and support employees.
Jane Muhau of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group said there is legislation in the form of employee assistance programmes guidelines (Labour Relations Act) and Mental Health Act. These include sick leave and reasonable accommodation.

Geffen warned that medication for mental health issues is not a one-size-fits-all but is different according to people’s needs. She advised all to create a wellness group with people who love and support you without judging you. Communicate and talk about the issues, she advised. Good sleep, a balanced diet, avoiding negative news and triggers as well and exercise are some of the methods she recommended in dealing with stress and depression.

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