In March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as a global pandemic. Subsequently many people are overwhelmed by feelings of worry and anxiousness, especially by the constantly changing alerts, media coverage and national lock down regarding the Corona virus.

If you missed the first online mental health workshop that was recently hosted for staff members at the North-West University (NWU), worry not.

Despite the new regulations put in place with regard to the coronavirus, the Institute of Psychology and Wellbeing at the North-West University (NWU) will this year still be hosting its fifth Autism Symposium from 25 to 27 June. The NWU and Autism South Africa (ASA) are offering the event jointly, but it will be presented as a digital, online event.

Relying on other people within the community for information is a reality faced by many South Africans.With the country currently being on lockdown for the next few weeks, getting accurate information regarding social services could be a nightmare.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly shown us what it means to live in unprecedented times. In the following opinion piece, Michelle Groenewald – a lecturer in economics at the North-West University (NWU) – shares her views on some encouraging measures that have taken place of late. She asks the question: can South Africans demand a better tomorrow?

COVID-19. A denomination for a world epidemic that will live in infamy. In 1918 one-third of the world’s population became infected with a virus we now call the Spanish Flu. Millions died. More suffered. Endless story of those fateful years will forever be told.  

The world, and now more recently our nation, is faced with difficult times as the recent Covid-19 pandemic turns life as we know it upside down. A team at the Faculty of Engineering from the North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with other experts involved in this unsettling battle, is rising to the challenge to support our government in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The North-West University prides itself as being not only one of the top-ranking universities in the country, but in Africa as well. In addition to that, the university boast numerous international partnerships that puts it on the forefront of our forward global surge towards creating a future that is rife with possibilities and unbound by constraints that inhibit our common cause: prosperity.

A development economist from the North-West University (NWU) says for South Africa to survive the current coronavirus pandemic, the current lockdown must be a success and the virus must be brought under control by the end of April.

Have you been constantly anxious, having panic attacks or feeling depressed since South Africa went into lockdown due to Covid-19? Has the loss of everyday social connections left you frustrated, angry and demotivated with a general low mood?