By Mr. Teboho Kwenda, SAAYC Programmes Coordinator
Workplaces are often viewed through the lens of productivity, targets, and outcomes, but behind every task is a human being trying to navigate personal and occupational challenges. At SAAYC, we believe that true productivity and impact cannot occur without the mental wellness of staff being prioritised. A culture of openness and support is not just a good idea; it is essential for fostering a healthier, stronger organisation.
Too often, we have viewed vulnerability in the workplace as weakness. Vulnerability can be one of the greatest forms of strength. Vulnerability builds trust, encourages conversation, and permits individuals to show up as themselves. SAAYC is building a workplace where staff members can speak up, share openly, and support each other without judgment.
Why Speaking Up Matters
Can an organisation thrive if its people feel silenced? The answer is no. Staff voices, just as young people are important to nation-building, are important to building a thriving organisational culture. By embracing open conversations about mental wellness, we can:
- Reduce stigma around stress, anxiety, or burnout.
- Create a sense of peer support so no one feels isolated in their struggles.
- Encourage innovation and creativity by ensuring staff feel psychologically safe to be themselves.
When we make space for honesty, we build the strength of both individuals and the collective team.
How SAAYC Builds a Culture of Mental Wellness
At SAAYC, we have been deliberate in our approach; we don’t consider conversations about mental health to be a “nice to have” or an “extra activity”; we consider it part of our organisational DNA. Our Connect Sessions provide staff with structured opportunities to connect face-to-face, with the intent to speak openly, listen deeply, and support one another.
Our efforts include:
- Connect sessions: They are safe spaces for staff to share challenges and experiences without judgment.
- Wellness dialogues: create a space for positive conversations that normalise mental health conversations and the importance of self-care.
- Peer encouragement practices: foster the culture of checking in on one another as an act of solidarity.
These initiatives ensure that wellness is not addressed only during moments of crisis but is continuously nurtured as part of our work environment.
Success Story: Growing Through Openness
The ripple effect of creating safe spaces for conversations can be attributed to staff experience and how impactful that experience was for staff who participated in these sessions. One participant had described a moment of openness:
“Before Connect Sessions, I often bottled up my stress because I thought no one would understand. But then I heard other people talking openly, and I thought, ‘I’m not the only one.’ The Connect Session gave me the courage to talk about my struggles because people offered their support, and it helped me cope. I really make a point of checking in on folks, because I know how powerful it is to be heard.”
This story reflects the ripple effect of openness; when one person speaks, it permits others to do the same.
Building a Healthier Workplace Together
Mental wellness is never a status one reaches but a journey one takes. Each dialogue at SAAYC, be it a Connect Session or through day-to-day interactions, takes us closer to establishing a work environment in which individuals feel valued, supported, and inspired.
We are dedicated to making sure staff well-being is not treated as secondary to productivity but as an essential component of it. When our staff flourish, our organisation flourishes.
“Speaking up is more than words; it is trust, solidarity, and a culture of the workplace that values humanity as much as performance.” – Teboho Kwenda
For more information about SAAYC and our workplace wellness initiatives, visit: www.saayc.co.za
#WellnessAtWork | #SpeakUp | #SAAYC
