October is Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa. As such, the Student Counselling Unit (SCU) at the University of Pretoria (UP) would like to encourage you to prioritise your mental health this month and beyond.

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and behave. It also influences how we handle stress, relate to others and make decisions. Essentially, our mental health influences our daily functioning, and is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence right through to adulthood.

It is as important as our physical health as it affects every aspect of our lives. Our mental health fluctuates just as our physical health does, which is why nobody is immune to mental health difficulties, just as no one is immune to physical health difficulties.

Just as we can boost our physical health, so too can we boost our mental health and build resilience in the face of adversity and stressors.

Reach out for help if you are experiencing any difficulties or if you think you may be dealing with a mental illness. Accessing resources is an important resilience skill. Fortunately, mental illnesses are highly treatable – that means, you don’t have to suffer! So much can be done to assist you to enhance your mental health levels in general, and to manage mental illness effectively. Maximise your overall functioning so you can reach your full potential at university and beyond.

At UP, the mental health of our students is a top priority. There are many free resources available, specifically provided to help you enhance your mental health levels and build resilience.

Services on offer:

1. Call the 24-hour UP Careline on 0800 747 747 for immediate or emergency mental health support any time, day or night. There is a friendly counsellor available to assist.
2. The SCU offers private and confidential mental health consultations or counselling/therapy for a wide range of issues and conditions. These consultations and therapy sessions are provided by professional psychologists and counsellors. Send an email to [email protected], and include your student number, cellphone number and a brief description of the problem or the service you require. We will contact you to book an appointment.
3. The SCU offers mental health workshops/webinars/talks on a specific topic for your residence, or course or year group. Send an email to [email protected] with your request.
4. If you have experienced gender-based violence in any form (such as verbal abuse, sexual harassment or sexual assault), we encourage you to reach out for assistance. Contact the Transformation Office. Email Nontsikelelo Loteni ([email protected]) with your details.
5. Attend a UP Peer Support Group (for students, run by students). For more information, contact Vuyi Matsau on 0800 747 747 or send an email to [email protected].
6. Check out the SCU’s website links below for self-help material. There are podcast episodes and monthly mental health posters for you to access.
   1. https://www.up.ac.za/student-counselling/article/2886238/self-help-material-for-students
   2. https://www.up.ac.za/student-counselling/article/2960452/monthly-well-being-challenge-to-our-student-community
7. Check out SCU-B, an AI-driven mental health chatbot that can help you with information and skills to better manage your mental health and optimise your well-being. Login via the student portal.
8. Consult with a medical doctor at Student Health Services (campus clinic) regarding your general mental health or for medication to assist you with depression or anxiety, for example. The consultation is free; you need only pay for medication that may be prescribed. To book an appointment, send an email to [email protected]. Request a consultation with the doctor and include your student number and cellphone number.
9. Consult with your faculty student adviser regarding mental health difficulties related to academia (stress, difficulties with your course/degree, etc.). Click on the link below to find the contact details of your faculty student adviser.
   1.  https://www.up.ac.za/teaching-and-learning/article/2494904/faculty-student-advisors-fsas