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07 June 2018 Photo Supplied
Emotional safety during examinations

Mid-year exams have begun and with crunch time comes emotional upheaval. However, it is manageable and should not deter you from the end-goal of succeeding in your studies while maintaining high mental health standards.

“The exam period is a time when stress and anxiety levels are higher than usual. Stress can be positive and help you stay motivated and focused. However, too much stress can be unhelpful and can make you feel overwhelmed, confused, exhausted and edgy,” says Dr Melissa Barnaschone, Director of Student Counselling and Development at the University of the Free State (UFS).

According to Helpguide.Org: Trusted guide to mental & emotional health, “Mental and emotional health is about being happy, self-confident, self-aware, and resilient. People who are mentally healthy are able to cope with life’s challenges and recover from setbacks. But mental and emotional health requires knowledge, understanding, and effort to maintain. If your mental health isn’t as solid as you’d like it to be, here’s the good news: there are many things you can do to boost your mood, build resilience, and get more enjoyment out of life.”

For further details on topics including: Building Better Mental Health, Emotional Intelligence Toolkit, Benefits of Mindfulness, Improving Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Cultivating Happiness, visit the Help Guide. 

Dr Barnaschone has a few tips on how Kovsies can better approach academic anxiety during the examination period. Here is what she has to say:

News Archive

Out@Kovsies addresses LBTI concerns on campus
2015-02-27

A new office, which will in future be concerned with the human rights issues of the LGBTI community on our campuses, was recently established on our Bloemfontein Campus. Out@Kovsies seeks to address issues of the LGBTI community.
Photo: René-Jean van der Berg

A new office, which will in future be concerned with the human rights issues of the LGBTI community on the campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS), was recently established on the Bloemfontein Campus.

This office, Out@Kovsies, is a collaborative initiative between the Centre for Health and Wellness and the Human Rights Desk of the UFS’s Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice. They also enjoy the support of the non-governmental organisation Networking Aids Community of South Africa (Nacosa).

“There is a great need on our campus for an environment or office where the Kovsie LGBTI community can feel safe and, for various reasons, can call on for help,” says Zanele Thela, coordinator of the LGBTI programme.

Thela says their first goal is to establish a balanced and LGBTI-friendly environment on the UFS campuses through capacity building, dialogue and the programmes which will be presented throughout the year.

The office provides services to both students and staff.

“The Centre for Health and Wellness and Nacosa will work closely together to resolve social concerns on LGBTI issues,” says Thela.

For more information about Out@Kovsies and their services, contact Ms Zanele Thela at ThelaZ@ufs.ac.za

 

 

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