The Unit for Psychotherapeutic Support Services (UPSS), in collaboration with several other organisations, are addressing mental health during the month of October. PHOTO: Stellenbosch University website.
A number of Stellenbosch University (SU) organisations have collaborated to bring students an online webinar series that is aimed at addressing distressing issues experienced by students, during their time at university.
This webinar series, that is headed by the Centre for Student Counselling and Development’s (CSCD) Unit for Psychotherapeutic Support Services (UPSS), comes in support of mental health awareness month, said Elmarie Kruger, senior psychologist at CSCD and coordinator of the webinar.
The six-part series, which launched on 7 October, focuses on those issues that have been brought to the attention of UPSS by students, and will take place virtually over Microsoft Teams, said Kruger.
“Working with students in therapy, counselling and guidance, often present issues relating to depression, anxiety [and] coping with stress,” said Kruger.
The topics that will be discussed will also include postgraduate support, rethinking resilience in the Covid-19 era, practical self-care, gender and how it is reflected in popular music, as well as creative expression, Kruger said.
According to Kruger, the UPSS has partnered with professor Renata Schoeman, a psychiatrist who is affiliated with the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), SU’s Unit for Academic Counselling and Development (UACD) and Equality Unit, and the Drama Department at the university.
Kruger said that she hopes the webinar series might give students the opportunity to reflect on and engage with these aspects in a safe environment and in a constructive way.
Elmien Sinclair, the Head of the UACD, hopes that the initiative will cultivate respect and appreciation for mental health. PHOTO: Unsplash/ Tim Gouw.
Mental health and student success
Elmien Sinclair, the head of the UACD, is one of the facilitators that will be leading the session on practical self-care.
According to Sinclair, mental health plays an important role in student success.
“Students who experience mental health challenges may encounter several obstacles on their way to achieve academic success,” Sinclair said.
Support with time management, stress management and concentration skills can have a positive effect on students’ mental health, Sinclair said. This kind of support will help students achieve success, said Sinclair.
BA Social Dynamics student at SU, Tamara Blignaut, said that an initiative like this is incredibly important for students.
According to Blignaut, having access to these kinds of support services is beneficial in helping students cope with academic and personal pressures they may be faced with.
“These initiatives help [students] unpack the mental health challenges and taboo topics that are a reality, but are not addressed enough,” said Blignaut.