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10 September 2020 | Story Barend Nagel | Photo Barend Nagel

There is a notable quote by one of the most prolific and influential composers ever, that says: 

“The music is not in the notes,
but in the silence in between.”
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart’s proclamation is relevant, now more than ever. In many cases, we may not realise that those who are more silent than others are most likely faced with adversity in terms of their mental health.

To counteract this silence, UFS Clinical Psychologist, Angela Vorster from the School of Clinical Medicine, devised the UFS Medical Students ‘Unplugged’ initiative as part of a larger campaign. Vorster says the campaign creates an opportunity to encourage students to reconnect with their soulful side.

“Each year we choose a mental-health issue and focus our theme on raising awareness – e.g. suicide awareness.” This year’s theme is ‘In my blood’ depression and anxiety awareness. Sadly, the 2020 ‘Unplugged’ event had to be cancelled due to the unfortunate (and mentally taxing) circumstances we are currently facing around the globe. Nonetheless, Vorster’s evident compassion and benevolence towards individuals’ mental health did not allow the pandemic to discourage her from finding innovative ways of keeping harmony.

“Once we all returned to a 'new normal', I invited our students to submit recordings of their music. This then became a channel of its own on YouTube – and we could not be prouder of our musically talented students.” According to Vorster, research and literature have established that music has a significant impact on relieving emotional distress and improving our moods. “It became evident during therapy sessions how important music is in helping our students express their emotions, relax, and also engage their creativity,” says Vorster.

With Mental Health Month inching it’s way closer, and World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, we should all embrace the ‘magic’ of music and the positive effects it has on our psychological and mental well-being. So, turn up the volume and defeat the silence in your life with your favourite music. Play an instrument, turn up the volume on your iPod, sing in the shower, or watch the UFS Students ‘Unplugged’ videos on YouTube; allow music to heal your ‘silences in between’.

 


News Archive

UFS appoints a dean for the Humanities
2008-12-08

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) has recently approved the appointment of Prof. Lucius Botes as the new dean of the Faculty of the Humanities during its last meeting of the year. He will succeed Prof. Gerhardt de Klerk, who will be retiring at the end of the year.

Prof. Botes is currently the Director of the Centre for Development Support (CDS) at the UFS and is also Programme Director of the Postgraduate Programme in Development Studies, which he initiated some nine years ago, and has produced more than 170 alumni from 20 different countries.

Prof. Botes has been an employee of the UFS since 1983 and was appointed as Director of the CDS in 1999. He has a Ph.D. in Sociology and a strong research background.

He was among others a member of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council of the Free State from 2001-2005 and associate academic fellow of the World Economic Forum from 2001-2006. Prof. Botes is currently Director of the International Institute for Development and Ethics (IIDE) and the International Association for Community Development, to name a few.

“The Faculty of the Humanities is a very large and diverse faculty. It presents a huge leadership and management challenge. I will strive to lead the faculty to a next phase of excellence in terms of quality teaching and learning, research and community-service-learning outputs. It is important that the faculty should grow and develop in such a way that it will be regarded, especially by both outside role players and our partners, as a pivotal asset of knowledge, human and social capital,” said Prof. Botes.

Prof. Botes will commence his duties as dean on 1 March 2009. Prof. Engela Pretorius, Vice-Dean of the faculty, will act as dean in the mean time.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
8 December 2008
 

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