As Youth Day approaches, executive director of Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust Chantelle Oosthuizen in a media statement said it was important to understand how mental health affected the youth.
“South African youth hope to express their frustrations in a variety of ways, including marching, using social media and other forms of communication to get people in power to pay attention to their problems. Understanding mental health concerns, how they influence the youth, and how they affect our daily life might help us find new methods to cope with whatever the youth is dealing with,” said Oosthuizen.
The executive director added mental health was an aspect which was ignored in adolescents and conditions such as anxiety and depression were a concern among young adults.
“Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust has always prioritised the mental well-being of its students as part of a holistic approach to tertiary education support. Holistic student support is vital to ensure the successful completion of studies and the social and economic return on investment by bursary providers.”
The Trust conducted a survey among students aged between 18 and 26 to better understand the mental health challenges of the students it supported.
According to the statement, of 51 respondents, 90.2% of students felt they would benefit from discussions about anxiety and stress management. Additionally, 98% of students said they would be eager to learn more about time management and relatively common health conditions such as eczema, asthma, anaemia and hypotension among others.
“Students who participated in the survey revealed that most young people do not see their mental health as separate from physical health, instead they recognise that both are part of overall good health.”
Oosthuizen added the Trust provided access to mental health professionals to all its beneficiary students.
“Feedback from students who make use of these services is that it helps them acclimatise to student life, gives them a safe space to speak about their struggles, and helps them respond in a healthy, productive manner so they can continue to focus on their academic goals.”
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