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Capacitating students to navigate their mental health journey

16 October 2023 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo iStock

Commemorating World Mental Health Month 2023 — The mental health of university students is of growing global concern.

One of the largest student mental health surveys in the world – initiated by Universities South Africa (USAf) in 2020 – found that up to 20% of university students in South Africa need mental health support. The research results also show that up to 77% of students with mental health disorders are not getting help. Contributing reasons include reluctance to seek help due to lingering stigma surrounding mental health, but also limited access. With growing demand and limited capacity, one-on-one therapy does not seem to be a sustainable solution. Some of the recommendations that stem from the report are to introduce a range of digitally based self-help interventions, to provide psychoeducation about when to access help, and to offer peer-to-peer support. This is precisely what the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Student Counselling and Development (SCD) is now implementing.

Coinciding with World Mental Health Awareness Month, SCD’s Road Map embodies a paradigm shift in student mental health support. “We want to capacitate students on their mental health journey. Following the Road Map, our students are now able to be active agents in their mental well-being,” says Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, SCD Director.

What exactly is this Road Map?

The SCD Road Map guides students to multiple sources of support. On the SCD website, students can delve into a wealth of self-help guides and toolkits that range from academic, emotional, and social well-being to personal challenges and psychological distress. In a commitment to expand the SCD reach beyond one-on-one sessions, the department is offering both in-person and online workshops and development programmes that can be accessed through Blackboard. Additionally, podcasts have been integrated into the SCD offerings to accommodate students' varying schedules and data constraints.

SCD has also partnered with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) to provide a 24/7 toll-free UFS Student Careline. The Careline can be reached in three ways: by calling 0800 00 6363, SMSing 43302, or emailing helpline@sadag.org. In a crisis, help is immediately activated, and assistance is sent to the student.

Another exciting aspect of SCD's Road Map¬ – which further integrates recommendations from the research report – is the shift from individual-centric interventions to group-based support. “We want to expand beyond individual therapy,” Dr Dunn-Coetzee says. “Although one-on-one therapy has an important place in mental health support, we are currently expanding to offer various support groups.” Through these circles of support, SCD aims to foster a culture of mutual learning, peer-to-peer connection, and collective well-being.

The Road Map therefore enables SCD to pivot toward a capacitating approach, equipping students to navigate their mental health journey in a truly collaborative model.

News Archive

Kovsiesport - Results

2009-03-09

Varsity Cup: Shimlas (39) vs Tuks (22) - 2 March 2009
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

1. Krieket:

UV 1 vs Polisie 2

UV 1 maak 216/8 en Polisie 2 87/10

UV wen met 129 lopies

Peshawars vs Rocklands

Rocklands 65/10 en Peshawars kry 67/1

Peshawars wen met 9 paaltjies

2. Hokkie

Wedstryde gespeel op Saterdag – 28/02/09

Kovsie mans vs Tuks
Verloor 0 – 3

Kovsies dames vs Tuks
Verloor 4 – 0

3. Rugby

Wedstryde gespeel op 02/03/09

Shimlas vs Pukke
Wen 39 – 22

Armentum vs Amajuba (Maties)
Wen 61 – 19

4. Atletiek

2 S.A Atlete het deelgeneem aan die Southern Region Cross Country
Championships in Mauritius op 28/02/09 naamlik:

Windy Jonas in die Mans 8km (Tyd – 25:35)
Boy Soke in die Seniors 12km (Tyd – 35:52)

4. Tennis

Het proewe gehad oor die naweek en die volgende spelers is in die onderskeie spanne
opgeneem.

Mans:                                                                 Dames:

1. Reon Henning                                        1. Elrien de Villiers
2. Duke Munro                                          2. Rensia Henning
3. Willem Vorster                                      3. Christine Keyser
4. Robert Kot                                            4. Nicola Dormehl
5. Willem Steenkamp                                 5. Jeanne Du Plessis
6. HB Steyn                                              6. Elizna Barnard
7. Wynand Schoeman                                7. Marna Louw
8. De Villiers Koster                                  8. Belinda Strydom
9. PW Holtzhausen                                    9. Jolene Botha
10.Divan Olivier                                         10.Sumandi Nel
11.Hendri Steyn                                         11.Bernadette du Toit
12.Ruan Olivier                                          12.PETRO TAUTE
13.Renier Van Vreden                                13.Nicolene Gordon
14.Deon Stander                                        14.Lianie Oberholster
15.Pieter Burger                                         15.Melanie Patrick
16.Willie Harber                                         16.Elria Munro
17.Conrad Dormehl                                    17.Sunelle Van Vuuren
18.Gideon Roux                                         18.Some Olivier
19.Andries Swart                                       19.Lize Venter
20.Schoeman Serfontein
21.Marthinus Ras
22.Lyndon V/D Haer
23.Johan Scherrer
24.Phillip Smit
25.Adriaan Oosthuizen
26.Gerhard Olivier
27.Wessel Wessels
28.Pieter Van Rooyen
29.Pierre Lombaard
30.Alex Marais
31.Jacques Krause

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