By Yolandi Dercksen, Chairperson – ICFF
As we welcome 2026, many of us feel a sense of renewed energy following the Festive Season, refreshed, hopeful, and ready for what’s ahead. Yet as the world around us continues to shift rapidly, it’s critical that we recognise the importance of sustaining our mental and emotional wellbeing throughout the year, not just at the start of it.
The global conversation around mental health has never been more urgent. According to new data from the World Health Organization, over one billion people worldwide are living with a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression, underscoring the immense and ongoing need for mental health support and awareness.
Closer to home in South Africa, the situation is equally sobering: more than 90% of people experiencing mental health conditions do not receive the care they need, driven by historical, social, and economic challenges that have limited access to services. These statistics are not just “numbers on a page”, they represent parents, children, colleagues, and neighbours trying to cope with stress, pressure, and emotional fatigue in environments that don’t always support their wellbeing.
A Global Landscape of Rising Stress and Mental Health Challenges
Recent surveys further reinforce that mental health is not just a personal concern, it’s an industry and societal challenge:
- Across the U.S. and other nations, stress has become a defining feature of modern life, with a majority of adults reporting stress-related physical or emotional symptoms as part of everyday living.
- Workers globally are reporting increased stress levels compared to five years ago, nearly 44% say they feel more stressed today than in the past, driven by economic pressures, workload, and workplace expectations.
- Younger generations, in particular, are feeling the strain: large segments report stress or anxiety regularly, with work and long hours, financial uncertainty, and future prospects contributing to ongoing pressure.
These global trends ring true in many of our professional environments, including our own industry, where workload, regulatory demands, and performance expectations can unintentionally amplify stress.
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
It’s easy to experience a “post-festive high” but maintaining mental and emotional wellness throughout the year requires intentional focus. Personal wellbeing isn’t a side project; it’s foundational to effective leadership, decision-making, and sustainable performance.
At the core of our work in Freight Forwarding and Customs is people, professionals whose mental clarity, resilience, and emotional balance directly influence the calibre of service they provide, the relationships they build, and the strategic decisions they make.
As we grow as an industry body, here’s how we encourage every professional to build wellness into everyday life:
- Prioritise self-awareness: Know when you’re stressed, tired, overwhelmed and give yourself permission to address it.
- Build supportive workplaces: Foster open dialogue, psychological safety, and a culture where mental wellbeing is spoken about openly, not in whispers.
- Champion continuous personal growth: The journey of self-development helps strengthen resilience, deepen emotional intelligence, and guide meaningful engagement with colleagues and clients.
- Seek support when needed: Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness and contributes to long-term wellbeing.
A Call to Action for the Industry
As we shape the ICFF’s strategic focus for 2026, let us keep in mind that mental and emotional wellness isn’t separate from professional excellence, it enables it. Together, let’s commit to:
- Embedding wellness awareness into our professional development programmes
- Advocating for mental health support systems within workplaces
- Normalising conversations about mental health across all levels of our industry
The coming year can be one where we are not just productive, but purposeful; not just technically sharp, but emotionally grounded. When we take care of ourselves, body, mind, and heart, we show up better for our teams, our clients, and our community.
Here’s to a 2026 filled with strength, balance, growth, and wellbeing.
Warmly,
Yolandi Dercksen
Chairperson – ICFF
