Wits student encourages students to take care of their mental wellbeing.
Exam anxiety, peer and family pressure, and the expectation to succeed academically and socially at university all contribute to stress.
Lebogang Kekana writes:
I am a 19-year-old student at Wits and I am studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I am passionate about mental health and awareness because it’s not easy to cope with everything, especially as a student. I believe that promoting mental health and wellbeing should be a top priority in our society. I hope to use my education to make a positive impact in this area. Additionally, I enjoy volunteering at local organisations that provide support and resources for individuals struggling with mental health issues.
Our emotional, psychological, and societal well-being are all parts of our emotional health. It influences our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Additionally, it influences how we respond to stress, interact with others, and make healthy decisions. Every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood, is essential for mental wellness.
As a student, I battle and fight a lot. And it’s hard for one to maneuver all the information that we get from school at once and also live normal lives. Most of the time, students get depressed and use alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. I believe that students need to seek help and support from trusted individuals, such as family, friends, or mental health professionals. Developing healthy coping mechanisms such as exercise, meditation or therapy can also improve their overall well-being and academic performance.
I want to develop a programme that will help raise the importance of mental health in universities. The programme will include workshops and events that promote mental health awareness as well as resources for students to access mental health support. It could also involve partnerships with mental health organizations to provide additional resources and support.
I hope that one day people will normalise the importance of mental health, because psychological well-being is just as important as physical health, and we need to continue to educate ourselves and others on how to support and prioritize it. It’s time to break the stigma surrounding mental wellbeing and start treating it with the same level of care and attention as any other aspect of our well-being.
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