Changing the mental health conversation
JOBURG - The right to mental health and access to mental health services will be the focus of this year's Human Rights and Social Justice Week.
The week’s programme, to run from 17 until 20 March, will aim to shed light on mental health issues faced by students, and their rights and responsibility in accessing the care they need.
Wits University’s Counselling and Careers Development Unit in partnership with Drama For Life have planned a human rights and social justice season to provide opportunities for students and university staff to get involved in activities and conversations around issues that affect them intimately.
Among the key issues are stress, anxiety and depression.
“The university year is off to a great start,” said Human Rights Week co-ordinator Refiloe Lepere.
“This quarter-of-the-way point provides a good milestone to review some of the significant life changes many first-year students have navigated over the past few months, such as living independently, possibly for the first time, starting classes, meeting new friends, and exploring a new geographical area.”
Zulu said Drama For Life performances, created to share information about mental illness, would take place from inside the theatre to student residences.
“At the core of the week is a campaign that is geared to make every member of the community tell their story on mental illness, by writing it, speaking out, or just acknowledging it,” she said.
The campaign aims to change conversations on mental health from “stigma to free talk”.
“The idea.. is to bring balance into students’ lives; encourage a healthy lifestyle which can lead to a healthy mind, and, ultimately, speaking out,” said Lepere.
Activities scheduled for the week include theatre performances, including a performance by Naledi Award nominee Jefferson Tshabalala, street theatre, comedy, presentations on wellness, and a panel discussion on the right to access mental health.
The project has received support from the Counselling and Careers Development Unit, Business and Arts South Africa, Flow Communications, ELM Mission, GIZ, Goethe-Institut, NAC, CATHSSETA, Themba Interactive, UCLA Art and Global Health Centre, the Johannesburg Repertory Players, Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Wits University, and the Wits School of the Arts.
The season will launch on 17 March at the Wits Theatre Complex, Braamfontein, at 5.30pm.
For more details, click here to visit the Drama for life website.
