Two Stellenbosch University (SU) students recently hosted a two-day workshop around mental health to address what they believed to be a lack of engagement surrounding mental health and well-being.
This is according to Unopachido Mubaiwa, a masters student in psychology at SU, and co-creator of the mental health workshop. About 35 students attended the workshop, which took place on Microsoft Teams on 23 and 24 April, according to Mubaiwa.
“The aim [of the workshop] is to equip students with knowledge to identify psychological distress in their own lives, and provide them with accessible strategies and coping mechanisms to help them manage their stress,” said Keesha James, a masters student in psychology at SU, and co-creator of the mental health workshop. Students do not always understand how to deal with a poor state of mental health, according to James.
The workshop was aimed at any interested undergraduate students, but a number of postgraduate students were also in attendance, said Mubaiwa.
Left: “We can only speak about mental health when we unpack it for what it is and not what society has said it must be,” said Unopachido Mubaiwa, co-creator of a mental health workshop recently held online for students from Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Supplied/Unopachido Mubaiwa
Right: Keesha James, co-creator of a mental health workshop recently held online for students from Stellenbosch University. James made the workshop more relatable by sharing her personal experiences with mental health and the difficulties she has faced while navigating university environments. PHOTO: Supplied/Keesha James
The mental health workshop dealt with themes such as the “foundation of what mental health and well-being is, […] and helping students understand that each person’s experience is different because of their individual identities”, said James.
Mubaiwa and James have worked on the project for over a year, added Mubaiwa. The panelists and guest speakers that were chosen for the mental health workshop are “passionate about wanting to contribute towards sustainable student mental health”, according to Mubaiwa. They were selected for their ability to give helpful information on the topic, she added.
One of the contributors to the live panel discussion was Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas, head of the disability unit at SU, who encouraged open conversations about mental health in the university space.
Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas, head of the disability unit at Stellenbosch University, discusses the current state of student mental health.
“We need to be more intentional and cautious about the way we speak about mental health, so that it doesn’t lead to more stigma,” said Linda Mkhize, a clinical psychology intern at SU, who was a panelist at the workshop.
“The workshop was very informative and engaging,” said Chloë Krieger, a BA (International Studies) student at SU who attended the workshop.
The workshop was a student-driven initiative. However, the long-term goal is for the workshop to receive accreditation from SU, according to Mubaiwa. In order to achieve this accreditation, feedback from those who attended the pilot workshop must show that the project is driven by student need and interest, according to James.
The Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) provides support services to Stellenbosch University students. The centre is located at 37 Victoria Street, Stellenbosch, and can be contacted on: 021 808 4707 or studysuccess@sun.ac.za. PHOTO: Sibulela Bolarinwa