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15 October 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Valentino Ndaba
Mental health awareness
The UFS joined the global community in commemorating World Mental Health Day.
“This is not a conversation that should wait until people have taken their own lives or have been diagnosed,” said Tshepang Mahlatsi, Founder of Next Chapter, a student organisation that advocates for mental health. In commemoration of World Mental Health Day, the organisation hosted a dialogue around this year’s theme of Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention on 10 October 2019.

Mahlatsi further said: “The conversation around mental health is not one that should be reserved for September or October when we commemorate suicide prevention and World Mental Health Day. We should build a culture and tradition of having and normalising these conversations. This notion becomes highly relevant at institutions of higher learning where most students are affected by various factors, such as finances and academic anxiety.”

Dealing with the dilemma

This open discussion took place on the Bloemfontein Campus between students and a panel comprising Dr Ntswaki Setlaba and Dr Melissa Barnaschone.

Dr Setlaba, a consultant psychiatrist at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, said one of the symptoms of major depressive disorder is suicide. She highly recommends that early detection of depression is essential in order to prevent it escalating to a loss of more lives.

Director of the Office for Student Counselling and Development, Dr Barnaschone, supported the concept of early detection, citing that there are plans put in place to support students, such as workshops and the Student Mental Health Toolkit.

Medicine of the mind

Dr Fanie Meyer, a private psychiatrist based in Bloemfontein, described to staff members the effects of depression and anxiety on the brain. He presented a talk titled: Pain vs Depression: ‘The chicken or the egg?’ which was hosted by the Organisational Development and Employee Wellness division in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences.

He also stressed the importance of early detection. “If you leave your pain running for 10 years, it will get worse. The same goes for anxiety,” said Dr Meyer. 

According to Burneline Kaars, Head of the Division, they are committed to changing attitudes about mental health and reducing the stigma experienced by those who live with it. “The focus is on educating staff about mental illness and empowering them to take action and promote mental wellbeing while it is still early.”  

Recognising the early symptoms of a mental disorder is an essential part of tackling the pandemic. Having the mental health conversation throughout the year instead of in September and October ought to further this agenda. 

News Archive

Exciting open day and Albert Einstein program at Boyden Observatory
2005-05-06

National Science Week, which will be held from 7-14 May 2005, is an annual country-wide celebration of science, led by the Department of Science and Technology.  The department selected a proposal by the Boyden Science Centre to coordinate a week of activities in the Bloemfontein area as one of the many projects in the country.

The project for Bloemfontein and surrounding areas will be delivered though a collaboration between the National Museum in Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State (UFS), including the Research Institute for Education Planning, the Department of Physics and other departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The purpose of National Science Week is:

to create awareness of the important role that science play in people’s daily lives;
to encourage our youth to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science; and
to attract more of our youth into science, engineering and technology (SET) careers.

 

World Year of Physics and Albert Einstein Program at Boyden Observatory

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) declared the year 2005 as the World Year of Physics (WYP). In recognition of this declaration, the great contribution of Physics to the development of technology, and its importance in our everyday lives will be featured strongly during the National Science Week 2005.

On Saturday 7 May 2005 there will be a public programme at Boyden Observatory from 15:30 as a contribution to the World Year of Physics. The programme will be presented in collaboration with the Bloemfontein branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and will include short presentations on astronomy, space exploration and the sun.

The main presentation will be at 19:00 the evening on the life and work of Albert Einstein. The programme will also include observing sessions through telescopes of objects like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn. There will also be an exhibit on Albert Einstein. Attendance is free but booking is required.  For bookings, phone 051-4012561.

Public lecture programme:

Next week the following exciting public lectures will be presented as part of the Science Week activities:

Monday 9 May 2005 

National Museum:

A discussion on Apocalypse Then: the greatest mass extinction of all time.  The lecture will be presented by Dr Jennifer Botha, Paleontologist at the National Museum.
Bookings: 051-4479609 (entrance is free).

UFS campus:

All lectures at Kine 2, Medical Faculty, UFS campus. Follow directions from the DF Malherbe Road entrance.
Bookings: 051-4012561 (entrance is free).

Tuesday 10 May 2005:

A discussion on the Tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Wednesday 11 May 2005:

A discussion on Is there life out there? at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Friday 13 May 2005:

A discussion on Hunting Black Holes at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).  The lecture will be presented by Dr Phil Charles, Director: South African Astronomical Observatory.

Science awareness day at the National museum

The science week will be concluded on Saturday 14 May 2005 with a special Science Awareness Day at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein. 

The excellent exhibits at the museum will be supplemented with activities, career information and video shows. The duration of the programme will be from 10:00-16:00.  For enquiries, please call 051-4479609.

 

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel:  (051) 401-2584
   Cell:  083 645 2454
   E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

6 May 2005
 

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