Social media, group pressure, medication misuse, and a lack of empathy for others’ time.
These are just some of the mental illness triggers identified by Stellenbosch University (SU) staff and students while commemorating the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Mental Health Awareness Day.
Numerous Stellenbosch University (SU) organisations collaborated to host the annual World Health Organisation’s Mental Health Awareness Day on the Rooiplein. VIDEO: Casey Delport and Arleen Stone.
The theme of this year’s awareness day is centered around young people and mental health in a changing world.
According to Dr Jason Bantjes, senior lecturer at the SU Department of Psychology, it would be naive to think that young people do not develop serious mental health problems like anxiety disorders and depression.
“Young people are also prone to stress and trauma-related disorders and behavioural disorders, including problems with attention and impulse control.”
Bantjes, who does research on suicide prevention and the promotion of mental health, said that young people with mental illnesses also face problems with social stigma, isolation and discrimination.
“Schools, universities and families have an important role to play in facilitating young people’s social and psychological development and building their resilience. We need schools and universities which are safe, free of bullying, and where young people can find a sense of belonging and connectedness.”
GRAPHIC: Arleen Stone
Tamsyn Manuel, Centre for Student Counseling and Development (CSCD) staff member and coordinator for the day’s events, said that like with the activities held on the day, there are multiple avenues to promote mental health.
Tamsyn Manuel (third from left), CSCD staff member, with other volunteers at the Rooiplein campaign for International Mental Health Awareness Day. PHOTO: Teboho Mokonyana.
“There are still stigmas surrounding mental health and with things like depression, you do feel alone. [Today was] about getting students aware about where to find help.”
“It’s because people try to create a [social media] lifestyle of being perfect. You get the perception that if people like your post, it validates your worth. But in fact you’re very lonely because there is no real connection between people anymore. Basically if I don’t get a like, people don’t like me,” said Manuel.
According to Nina Truter (22), one of the SU’s Executive Cluster Conveners, mental health has become somewhat of a catchphrase.
“I think we speak about mental health a lot, but we don’t do enough towards it. I think a day like this is good to establish ways that you can look after your mental health.
“Awareness is the first step. But before we can teach people how to deal with mental health, we have to first tell them exactly what it is.”
A student writes a message of support on a canvas in commemoration of International World Mental Health Awareness Day held on the Rooiplein. PHOTOS: Teboho Mokonyana.
More students write about their experiences of mental health on a canvas provided by the SU Drama Department.
Some of the statistics written on the canvases to create awareness about what a common occurrence mental illness is.
The CSCD handed out mental health awareness items to students on the Rooiplein with contact details to multiple helplines.
Truter, an honours physiology student specialising in the effects of depression and its relation to cardiovascular disease, explains that the human body reacts towards stress without one realising.
“Even if you feel like you are coping with it, still try and improve your social networks and [make sure] that you have a support network.”
Ulrich Schulenburg (21), house committee member of the SU private student organisation Oude Molen, say he has become more cognizant about mental health as he has a sibling who struggles with it.
“Something that I’ve seen with guys is that you are always fine. Like if someone asks you how it’s going, you’re like: ‘it’s rustig (calm)’. It’s actually not making a cognitive effort to realise there is something that I need to look at.”
“I think [on campus] everyone knows that everyone else is struggling.”
Schulenburg says he believes that group pressure and the normalising of stress at universities has a major impact on students. He says students should take others’ busy schedules into consideration as they might put unnecessary pressure on one another.
The day’s activities also went towards creating awareness about the Ithemba Foundation’s Hope Hike & Bike initiative on 14 October at Blaauwklippen wine farm.
Runners and cyclists can take part in a number of activities in an effort to promote mental health and to raise funds for depression research.
The first 100 people to use this code (klusterstudent2018) can enter for free for Sunday’s activities.
- Teboho Mokonyana, Arleen Stone, Casey Delport