University life can be a fun time for young people. It is a great opportunity to self-explore and grow while attempting to obtain a qualification. However, for many, it can also be a struggle with seemingly never-ending challenges. From back-to-back submission deadlines and family troubles at home to the stresses of trying to survive without funding – university life can be a huge burden for some to bear.
According to Universities South Africa, at least one in five students suffer from poor mental health and need professional help.
Let’s examine some of the mental health challenges faced by students across South African universities and consider how you can deal with these obstacles to be the best version of yourself, in and outside the lecture halls.
Why so stressed?
For new students, the unfamiliar environment alone may be enough to cause some distress. This may be compounded by factors such as the distance of the university from home, the level of familiarity with the new city and environment, the transition from high school to university, and the demands of the latter.
Other key possible causes of mental health distress among students are academic performance and financial situations, with respondents scoring 75.8% and 73.5% for these two respectively in the USAF survey.
Then there’s your choice of school. The 2020 survey also revealed that black African, Asian and coloured-identifying students attending historically white institutions (Wits University, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch University, Pretoria University etc.) reported higher levels of distress and anxiety.
“The prevalence rates of anxiety disorders are consistently higher at historically white institutions (like UCT, Wits, University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch) with these students reporting much higher levels of distress,” said Professor Jason Bantjes, a researcher specialising in mental health at the South African Medical Research Council who worked on the report.
Although no conclusive statements can be made about why this is the case from the survey alone, Prof Bantjes sees this as an important pointer.
“I think that’s something perhaps about the culture of these institutions and levels of alienation and marginalisation and the survey does flag it for us as something that requires more investigation,” he commented.
Students from disadvantaged homes, then, may be at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders, and these issues may compound one another and form a negative loop.
Younger students experience higher levels of psychological distress, probably because they are adjusting to university,” said Prof Bantjes.
Other personal contributing factors found include the health of loved ones, problems experienced by loved ones and romantic relationships. It would make sense for students to be concerned about situations back home while they are at university. And a breakup text in the middle of exam preparations won’t exactly help anything, will it?
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Improving mental health
Charl Davids, director at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development at Stellenbosch University, thinks universities could be more accommodating environments
“Universities should create either ‘courageous spaces’ or ‘safe spaces’ where students can have conversations as opposed to psychological interventions, ” says Davids.
Writing for the World Economic Forum, Razan Roberts, Salesforce’s senior director of strategic engagement and communication, shares some insights into boosting student mental health at tertiary institutions.
“Leadership can reduce barriers of access to mental health support facilities while destigmatising the need to seek mental health support,” wrote Roberts. He also mentions that peer-to-peer and student-led outreach programmes can play a key role in fostering a sense of community and commonality among students while addressing their issues.
Digital means such as smartphones can also allow students to have help at their fingertips; they can reach out and would be more likely to seek assistance if mental health services are digitised, said Roberts.
What you can do
Now, if you think you may be experiencing some negative symptoms, you should seek professional medical advice. University counselling units are a good place to start since there are only about 2.75 psychologists per 100 000 South Africans. But there are also small things you can do to keep yourself mentally strong and resilient.
- Exercise is one way to keep your body moving and your mind calm. “Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your mood and improve your health,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Do some outdoor activities like hiking. Many universities have walking trails or running clubs
- Eat and drink well throughout the day can also benefit you. Keeping your energy levels balanced is important, and watch closely your consumption of stimulants like caffeine, which have been linked to inducing anxiety-related symptoms in some people, including those with pre-existing disorders.
- Also, prioritise quality sleep. Seriously, those of us who have braved through a full day of work and other commitments on a couple of hours of sleep will know it is anything but pleasant, or healthy. Set an alarm for going to bed and switch off the phone so you are not tempted to doom-scroll on TikTok or check for notifications when you wake in the middle of the night.
- Make a point of contacting family and friends on a regular basis. If home life is stressful, join a supportive community or club like a church, student social or activist group.
While these suggestions won’t solve all your problems, they’re a good place to start. These small changes can have a big impact on your mental health.
*This article was first published by Khulani!. Additional reporting by Thandile Nkoyi.
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