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18 April 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Tshepang Mahlatsi
Next Chapter
UFS Next Chapter prioritises mental health of students.

The conversation themed Who helps the helpers? kicked off with Next Chapter founder and spokesperson, Tshepang Mahlatsi, explaining the diversity and defining factors of the world, which are divided into a number of outlining categories, namely religion, social class, ethnic race, gender, age, and many other crucial aspects.

Tshepang explained that mental health outstrips all man-made boundaries because of one thing that the human race has in common, namely each individual’s capabilities to deal with stress. 

This conversation zoomed in on mental health within the Faculty of Health Sciences and its career spectrum.  According to Tshepang, “It is only in emergencies and extreme situations that people recall the importance of mental health, due to the stigma that surrounds the topic”.

Representatives from the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Department of Student Development and Counselling assembled in Metro 7 of the James Moroka Building to discuss ways of addressing the question Who helps the helpers?

Next Chapter, in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences, further launched a power hour where certified health professionals are given a platform to address and interact with Health Sciences students in a safe and free environment.

Tshepang explained that the initiative strives to start a culture and create a space where anyone dealing with a mental illnesses or issue does not feel ashamed to seek help.

 

News Archive

Our democracy is not in a good condition
2013-03-28

 

Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Senior Research Professor on Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation and Prof Andre Keet, Director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice during the live broadcast of the NRF lecture.
Photo: Supplied
28 March 2013

“Our democracy is not in a good condition.”

Those were the words of Prof Andre Keet, Director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the University of the Free State (UFS), on the eve of Human Rights Day on 21 March 2013.

Prof Keet participated in a lecture series of the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Science for Society series, which was broadcasted directly on SAfm from the UFS.

The topic for the lecture was racial reconciliation and social cohesion in the context of racial inequality.

“South Africa is the most unequal society in the world. According to the latest census results, there are still major inequalities in the distribution of wealth, with the average income of black South Africans one sixth that of white South Africans.”

Prof Keet said that reconciliation and social cohesion is not possible while major racial inequalities still exist.

He asked the question: “If reconciliation is merely linked to an apology and forgiveness, is it possible to reach reconciliation which can change social structures and practices?”

Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Senior Research Professor on Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, also participated in the lecture.

Click on the link to listen to the full broadcast. http://iono.fm/go/safm

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