By Nhlakanipho Mnqayi
Mental health is a challenge that many students deal with as they balance life, studies and busy schedules. With the world observing World Suicide Prevention Day, DUT Student Counselling has revealed that they have received roughly about 1 209 bookings from January to July this year.
These figures were revealed in an event held at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Fred Crookes Sport Centre.
“Suicide is a very big problem in South Africa, in particular. We also receive a high volume of student bookings who always need a session with us, but due to limited staff members, we have a backlog, which is quite bad,” said Candice McCain, a psychologist at the Student Counselling Centre at DUT.
McCain also mentioned that the high number of bookings is creating backlogs for the facility. “The backlog is also compounded by students who book, but do not come and want to re-book which will take 3 weeks for them in order to settle for another booking.”
The theme for the event was “Choose Life, Not Silence”.
There was a special focus on men, as numbers show that they tend to take their lives more often.
Students feel that such sessions are necessary, especially as two students from the university took their lives recently.
“Today’s event was important after the recent two cases of our students committing suicide. This showed that mental health awareness is not talked about enough, so we need more of these events so that students can actually take mental health seriously. One of the key things I noted was how to spot a friend or yourself if you are going through a phase of depression or decline in your mental health, and how to look after yourself,” said Linda Matiya, a Dental Assistant student at DUT.
Sandile Gwabe, another student, said men need to learn to open up more.
“Most men don’t talk about their problems with the reasons that we as men, we tend to laugh at each other and look down on one another. Given the incidents that have happened, not one but two and many others that we don’t know, I think DUT did well by showing that we as men – our mental health is important and they support us in everything that we go through,” Gwabe said.
Siyanda Ndlanzi, who is also a student, says more men must be encouraged to attend such initiatives. “This was important, especially in the environment that we are in and for us as men.”
“I learnt a lot, and coming here opened my eyes even though there are some questions that I did not get much clarity on – but I hope I’ll get help on those. To all men, let’s try to believe in one another and build an environment to trust one another so that when I have a problem I’ll go to “ibandla” (other men) and share my problem,” Ndlanzi concluded.
