Oldrin Masowa
Approximately 20% of university students in South Africa experience mental breakdowns, with depression and anxiety being the most common mental problems.
Fortunately, the North-West University (NWU) is there for its students and offers students both career and emotional counselling through its Student Counselling and Development (SCD) divisions on each campus.
The SCD division on the Potchefstroom Campus kicked off a mental health awareness campaign in May, which will continue until the end of the exams in June.
The aim of this campaign is to ensure that students are physically and emotionally ready for their exams and know where to go if they need help.
Marelize van der Merwe, SCD manager and industrial psychologist at the NWU, speaks about the importance of counselling for those students who may need it.
‘’Whatever you do in life has an impact on everything in your life sphere, so obviously if you are doing well emotionally and physically, then you should do well academically. However, if you are struggling, this can affect everything else you do, including your studies,” says Marelize.
She says one of the most common mental illnesses students struggle with is anxiety. “Anxiety can be caused by various things – from being overwhelmed by university life and relationships with friends or significant others, to depression, financial problems and the grief of losing loved ones.”
This is why they decided to focus on mental health and to address topics such as stress, anxiety, relationships, suicide, and HIV/Aids during the current exams.
She adds that they encountered a huge demand for emotional counselling during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as some students felt isolated, did not cope well with their studies, or struggled with dealing with losing their loved ones.
Student Counselling and Development does not only offer emotional counselling, but also provides career counselling – including academic support and psychometric evaluation. Students who need assistance can reach out via eFundi where they can book the sessions. They are also welcome to visit the SCD offices on the three campuses or use the various 24-hour crisis lines that can be found here.
