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05 July 2021 | Story UFS Department of Student Counselling and Development | Photo Pixabay
UFS Department of Student Counselling and Development motto: clear mind, clear path!
As humans, we tend to neglect making our mental health a priority. Mental health affects us all, but what is mental health?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines 'mental health' as a state of well-being, in which every individual –

• realises their own potential;
• can cope with the normal stresses of life;
• can work productively and fruitfully; and
• is able to make a contribution to their community.

The positive dimension of mental health is stressed in the WHO's definition of health, as contained in its constitution: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

For many people, it seems simple and straightforward to take care of their physical well-being, but they forget to spend time on mental health. You are used to brushing your teeth on a daily basis – but do you actually make a daily effort to take care of your mental health? Unfortunately, people are also more comfortable to see a doctor or pharmacist for medical concerns than admitting that they are struggling emotionally.

If we extend the same level of effort to keep ourselves mentally healthy, we will reap amazing rewards, such as being able to cope with external pressures, reaching our goals, and an increase in overall well-being.

Therefore, it is vital to pay attention to your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour on a daily basis. You must acknowledge and express your emotions, as this will contribute to maintaining good mental health and a positive impact on other aspects of your well-being.

You must take a holistic approach to improving your well-being; you are a holistic being. There are many dimensions to well-being, such as the following:

1. Intellectual: Time management and effective planning
2. Emotional: Acceptance; assertiveness; self-care and self-love
3. Physical: Eat, sleep, and exercise enough – drink plenty of water!
4. Social: Be aware of the support systems and structures available to you – within your family, friendship circles, and on campus
5. Spiritual: Make time for what gives you meaning in life
6. Financial: Effective financial planning and budgeting

We hope that students feel encouraged and empowered to take the necessary steps to improve their mental health. 
To learn more about UFS Student Counselling and Development online resources which cover a variety of topics ranging from academic support to psychological wellbeing click here.

Remember that you can also make use of the 24/7 toll-free dedicated SADAG UFS Student Careline by dialing +27 0 800 00 6363.

For alternative mental health resources, click here.

News Archive

There’s more to media freedom than the Secrecy Bill
2012-05-04

4 May 2012

 “Media freedom is a universal human right. It cannot be abolished, but it should be managed.” The freedom of the media is protected by numerous formal documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the South African Constitution, and is commemorated annually with the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.

 “As long as those in power have something to hide, media freedom will be under threat. This is a war that takes place on many fronts,” says Ms Willemien Marais, a journalism lecturer at the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS).

“On the one hand we have to take a stand against institutional threats such as the proposed Protection of State Information Bill. This is diametrically opposed to everything that media freedom and freedom of expression encapsulates.

“But on the other hand we also need to educate and transform our society. It is not only up to journalists to defend media freedom. Newspaper reports on the public hearings on this Bill earlier this year proved that ignorance concerning media freedom is a big threat. The lack of resistance against the Secrecy Bill from the general population clearly illustrates that people aren’t aware of what they are about to lose.”

 Ms Marais says the rise of social media and the accompanying awareness of individual freedom of expression have paved the way for more people to exercise this right. “The role of social media in the Arab Spring has been highlighted numerous times. The power of social media is undeniable – but alas, so is the lack of access to especially social media. We can only increase media literacy if we increase people’s access to the media – new and traditional.”

A high level of media literacy is also vital following last month’s recommendation by the Press Freedom Commission of a system of independent co-regulation for South Africa’s print media. This system proposes replacing government regulation with a panel consisting of representatives from the print industry as well as members of the general public. “It is abundantly clear that this system can only work if those members of the general public are media literate and understand the role of media freedom in protecting democracy.”

“The media is not a sentient being – it consists of and is run by people, and human beings are fallible. Protecting media freedom does not only mean fighting institutional threats. It also means increasing media literacy by educating people. And it means owning up to your mistakes, and correcting it.” 

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