Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 11 December 2025

Behind the festive lights: South Africans face rising emotional and financial strain, SADAG study shows

Urgent attention is needed following the release of SADAG’s latest Festival of Feelings study, which paints a sobering picture of South Africa’s emotional well-being heading into the December–January period. While the festive season is expected to bring warmth and joy, the data reveals “how many South Africans are carrying silent emotional and financial burdens,” according to SADAG volunteer training coordinator Lebohang Mokoena.

Speaking on Your World Today, Mokoena highlighted one of the report’s most striking insights the emotional divide between men and women. The survey showed a “difference between men, which is 14%, and women, which is 85%, where men often disconnect more and struggle with conditions like OCD or depression more than women.” Women, meanwhile, reported loneliness, safety concerns, and heightened family responsibilities.

Financial stress remains the leading pressure point. “73% of respondents worry about making financial ends meet in January,” Mokoena noted. The expectation to contribute during December, combined with back-to-school expenses and routine demands, leaves many overwhelmed. “Where is that money going to come from?” she asked.

SADAG’s study identifies three emotional categories: thriving, surviving and disconnecting. While a small group enjoys the festive period, most South Africans fall into the surviving or disconnecting groups. Men, in particular, feel the weight of unemployment and financial expectations. “How am I supposed to provide if I don’t have the financial means?” Mokoena explained.

Loneliness and emotional fatigue also peak during December and January. Nearly half of respondents reported feeling isolated, while suicide risk rises due to financial strain, exhaustion, disrupted routines, family conflict and grief. “People feel burnt out, they don’t have anything else to give,” she added.

Surprisingly, individuals already diagnosed with a mental health condition cope better than those without diagnoses. “Knowledge is power, the more I learn about what I’m going through, the more I am able to cope,” Mokoena said, highlighting the role of therapy, medication and support groups.

In closing, she urged those struggling to reach out: “If the festive season is not as jolly for you, SADAG is here.” The organisation’s 24-hour helpline, 0800 456 789, and website www.sadag.org remain open for support.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Lebohang Mokoena.