Discovery South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has come upon us quickly and threatens both our survival as people, but also that of organisations and businesses large and small. Many people have already faced salary cuts or job losses Clinical psychologist, Dr Colinda Linde knows that many business owners and leaders are now faced with letting go of staff. They also face the anxiety and fear of job loss themselves. How should leaders cope with the decisions that must be made, and how should they communicate these decisions to their staff?

Losing a job means losing income, security, purpose and more. Clinical psychologist, Dr Colinda Linde says it’s to expected that when we are faced with this sort of situation, we will go through stages of grieving. She clarifies what to expect emotionally and physically as well as how to better cope. Then, she inspires us to really think about our skills in new ways that could open up avenues we haven’t before thought to consider.

When we return to work, we will enter a new space on many levels. We are entering unchartered territory. There is bound to be some discomfort as we adapt to changed fundamentals in the way in which we greet each other; the way in which we interact; share communal spaces, laptops, pens, meeting rooms and more. Many things we once took for granted can no longer be done mindlessly. We will also need to interact while wearing masks, removing unspoken facial cues from the interaction and making communication harder. So many facets of work life have changed. Clinical psychologist Sheethal Behari, who practices at PsychMatters in Johannesburg, shares practical advice on the changes we can expect to deal with, and tools on how to manage these new scenarios.

Specialist Physician (Hepatologist) Dr Neliswa Gogela works at the frontline of treating the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. She shares the simple steps you should follow every day to protect against contracting COVID-19. Dr Gogela works as a Specialist Physician at UCT Private Academic and Groote Schuur hospitals. Dr Gogela is the first recipient of the Discovery Foundation Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Fellowship Award. She received the award in 2012. Over the past seven years, the Discovery Foundation has worked to develop the next generation of leaders in academic and clinical medicine in South Africa through this award. Valued at R2.1 million, this grant enables a talented specialist clinician to spend a year at MGH - Harvard Medical School’s largest teaching hospital - gaining expertise to enhance their work in South African hospitals.

The presence of COVID-19 in our world has many of us are worried about our own safety and the safety of our loved ones. For essential workers and people who are returning to their places of employment as lockdown conditions ease, these fears may become overwhelming. Educational psychologist Zaakirah Mohamed says each and every one of us feels fear, stress and anxiety at the moment and these feelings, or any forms of mental illness we may have, are not a failure on our behalf. We must reach out for help. She also shares several practical tools through which we can help ourselves to cope, from mindfulness and breathing exercises, the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory exercise, focusing on what we can control, avoiding the news and social media first thing in the morning and last thing at night before bed and more great tips and tools to support our mental health.

Along with eight other people, GP Dr Grant Bekker was quarantined following close contact with one of the first patients to contract COVID-19 in South Africa. Since returning to work, the way in which he runs his practice has changed entirely and digital tools have taken precedence in staying connected with patients. Dr Bekker explains how he sees many of his patients are seen first through telephonic consultations or virtually through Discovery Health’s DrConnect app, for triage and screening purposes. This GP feels that remote consultations are likely to be key management tool going forward.

Dr Neliswa Goglela is a hepatologist at UCT Private Academic and Groote Schuur hospital. She is also the first recipient of the Discovery Foundation Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Fellowship Award) where she managed patients with complex liver disease as well as patients needing liver transplants. Dr Gogela is a generalist and has a special interest in liver disease; from viral hepatitis to autoimmune liver disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on mental illness. A common statistic cited before the pandemic was that 1 in 7 people at work would have had a common mental health disorder at any given time. Now, our lives and ways of working have been disrupted in significant ways. Psychiatrist, Prof. Christoffel Grobler discusses the need for added sensitivity to mental illness in the workplace going forward. There will be a great need to recognise the signs of mental distress and ensure early intervention, to enable employees to continue to function as productive members of a business. Prof. Grobler is an Associate Professor at Walter Sisulu University and Member of the South African Medical Association Committee for Human Rights, Law and Ethics. Our mental health at work before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic Transcript.pdf — PDF (40.0 KB)

Have you found that the pressures of ongoing lockdown and enforced containment measures, have put pressure on your marriage or intimate relationship? Psychotherapist, Louisa Niehaus, explains how confinement, adapting to new routines under duress, working remotely, home schooling, the stress of confronting an uncertain future and the added gravity of COVID-19 – can be a tinder box for couples. How should you navigate this pressure?

Children thrive when they feel safe and protected, when their routines are in place and when their family and community are healthy and stable. However, COVID-19 pandemic and the global measures enforced to contain its spread have disrupting nearly every aspect of children’s lives. Clinical psychologist Joanna Kleovoulou explains the impact these dynamics have children and teenagers. She also delves into why it is critical that parents focus on their own mental health and that of their children to mitigate the impact of pandemic-related life changes on children’s future mental health. The mental health of your children Transcript.pdf — PDF (114.0 KB)