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01 May 2023 | Story Tobias van den Bergh

During May this year, the University of the Free State Department of Student Counselling and Development (SCD) invites all staff and students to play an active part in their own mental health. Every day. You can do one small thing each day towards better mental health. That is why the campaign is called DoDay – do something today and make it a do day. 
Remember that maintaining mental well-being is like brushing your teeth, so we recommend it daily!

For 30 days, doable mental health activities will be shared on the SCD Instagram and Facebook pages. You will be invited to participate in the activity and share your experience online. We encourage you to take up the challenge and share the skills for better mental health. 

Be successful
As we approach the mid-year exams where staff and students experience added pressure and anxiety, it is the perfect time to dedicate 10 to 15 minutes daily to your mental health. Each week, we will focus on five different mental health building blocks: social wellness, emotional wellness, intellectual wellness, physical wellness, and spiritual wellness. By participating in the different activities each day, you will cover all the different wellness areas. 

Be informed
During the campaign, we will also release insightful podcast interviews with experts who share their personal and professional experiences of each wellness area. It is no secret that communities are stronger together. Let us all work towards collectively improving our mental well-being and supporting one another on this journey. 

Be happy
Improved mental health supports your professional and academic performance. It also helps you to make better decisions and enjoy life more. Improving your mental well-being has never been easier than following the DoDay calendar. You will receive clear guidelines on what to do each day, and you can mark off your progress and share your activities as you go. 

Be a DoDayer

Remember that maintaining mental well-being is like brushing your teeth, so we recommend it daily! Join the UFS Mental Health DoDay drive and take one small daily action for 30 days towards better mental health. Download your 30-day DoDay calendar here and remember to share and inspire others on Instagram. Make every day a Mental Health DoDay!

News Archive

Kovsies champion sprinter sets South African records twice in a row
2015-07-02

Wayde van Niekerk
Photo: Anja Aucamp

On Saturday 13 June 2015, Wayde van Niekerk clocked 44.24 seconds at the 400m finish line of the Diamond League meeting in New York. Van Niekerk’s gold-medal performance improved on his previous South African record of 44.38.

The Kovsies champion sprinter now occupies third position in the world 400m rankings after beating former 400m record holder, Christopher Brown of the Bahamas, whose 44.74 dash earned silver, and United States’ Tony McQuay’s 45.26 won him bronze.

Van Niekerk experienced it as “a good race and a good confidence booster” in light of his forthcoming Diamond League meetings on 4 July in Paris (400m) and 14 July in Lucerne (200m).

The university was made proud recently when Van Niekerk broke the 1986 African record on Sunday 7 June 2015 at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham. He made his mark with a time of 31.63 seconds, thus smashing Ivorian Gabriel Tiacoh’s 31.74.

In a single week, Wayde van Niekerk sets new African record, which placed him in 10th place on the world list in the 300m, and improves on a national record set by South African sprinter, Morné Nagel in 2006.

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