BUSINESS FOR SOUTH AFRICA PARTNERS WITH SADAG, PsySSA TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND GUIDELINES
Business for South Africa (B4SA) recognises that business leaders and their employees are facing significant challenges, not only in terms of the economic impact of COVID-19, but also the feelings of anxiety, worry and distress many people are experiencing in relation to the pandemic. In an effort to help companies navigate through this difficult and unprecedented time, B4SA has partnered with the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) to hold an online seminar which offers insights, resources and support.
Mental health impacts can be cumulative; business owners, managers, employees, workers and their families are absorbing a disproportionate amount of stress and anxiety from a combination of financial and business sustainability and job security concerns, isolation from family, friends and colleagues, together with the toll of the actual or perceived risk of infection.
In order to assist business, several valuable guidelines have been developed in partnership with SADAG and PsySSA to help businesses manage the mental health impacts of COVID-19. To access the document, go to https://www.businessforsa.org/b4sa-partners-with-sadag-psyssa-to-provide-business-with-mental-health-support-and-guidelines/
BUSINESS FOR SOUTH AFRICA PARTNERS WITH EM GUIDANCE TO DRIVE DIGITAL COVID-19 RESOURCE PLATFORM FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
Business for South Africa’s (B4SA) Health Workgroup has partnered with Essential Medical Guidance (EMGuidance), the country’s largest free digital health care platform and community, which has launched a dedicated COVID-19 Support Channel for South African health care professionals (HCPs) in both the public and private sectors.
The COVID-19 platform will provide four key support and resource channels:
- Clinical Updates Channel: providing the latest South African COVID-19 clinical information, including National Department of Health (NDoH) alerts, digital guidelines, COVID-19 medicines information, local care coordination such as the location of COVID-19 testing sites, information on accessing and using personal protective equipment (PPE), and links to other critical clinical applications;
- Mental Health Support Channel: Support and access to mental health support, through the South Africa Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), the South African Medical Association (SAMA), the South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SAMA), the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). EMGuidance will serve as a dedicated channel to survey and monitor the mental health status of South Africa’s health care community. It will also be used to disseminate mental health care content, and provide access to professional mental health support.
- Practice Business Support Channel: Providing business resources, including advice on taxation, accounting and labour relations. This is provided in partnership with practice management companies and financial institutions; and
- COVID-19 Chatbot: A dedicated machine learning chatbot which provides information based on NDoH guidelines and local care coordination information. In addition, a specialist pharmacologist is available online to provide guidance on COVID-related medicines queries.
Accessing EMGuidance:
We encourage all healthcare professionals to access the COVID-19 Support Channels within the EMGuidance platform. To download and register on the mobile application click here http://onelink.to/sy896k or visit the website and register here: www.emguidance.com
HCPs will need to input their South African professional registration details to gain access. For support, please contact [email protected] or call 010 592 1818.
Author: Derrick Markotter
RCCI Webmaster Derrick runs a boutique web marketing agency, IdealMedia Marketing.