South Africans are battling endemic stress, violence and trauma, and their mental health is suffering. Students are no exception, and indeed may even be more vulnerable, as many are far from home for the first time and under pressure to achieve. The results of the stressors students face include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other related conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic and its after-effects have made an already delicate balance even more urgent, with the result that universities and other workplaces must do more to improve access to support services.

One in three South Africans is expected to suffer from a mental disorder during their lifetimes – but only one in 10 have access to treatment, according to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group. Meanwhile, a UNICEF survey found 60% of children and youth wanted mental health support during 2023. Wits University research conducted last year found almost half of students in Johannesburg screened positive for probable depression in an online survey. 

But a focus on statistics at the expense of treatment could be misleading. People might believe that mental illness is inescapable and that someone who struggles with their mental health will always do so. Even worse, they might believe that mental illness results from a flaw or defect within themselves.

As a result, there is a general discomfort around talking about mental health. People struggle to find the correct words, to generate empathetic personal responses, and to plan supportive organisational procedures to support a colleague or student struggling with stress, loss, low mood or debilitating anxiety.

New ways of thinking about our psychology

Opening up and changing the conversation about mental health requires us to refresh our approach. One of the most popular ideas coming from the recent wave in psychological theory is the ‘Three Ps’, first identified by American psychologist Dr Martin Seligman, the “father of positive psychology”. This approach seeks to counter the self-blame that is endemic in human beings, by reminding us all that mental illness or poor mental wellness is not pervasive, not permanent and certainly not personal. They certainly can feel that way, of course, but training our brains to think differently around these 3 Ps provides a tangible, practical way to help students and patients in workplaces or anywhere where help is needed.

By talking openly about treatment and strategies for supporting mental health, the entire picture changes. Mental illness is not permanent or pervasive in any individual. Even someone with a serious condition can access therapeutic treatment or counselling, make lifestyle changes or take medication. The key is to seek professional help early and consistently work towards solutions. And mental illness is not due to personal weakness or failure: we can all improve our resilience to deal with challenging circumstances.

Mental health in the modern workplace

The University of Pretoria, like other South African higher-education institutions and corporate entities, offers the range of interventions that have become expected from large organisations in promoting mental health among their employees or students. The modern workplace largely includes a recognition that employees/students may have experienced trauma or violence or may be struggling with poverty, financial stress, or their identity and purpose. The support structures help our clients develop personal and life skills to cope with stress, through confidential counselling, podcasts, workshops and other methods.

Of course, mental health emergencies don’t keep office hours, so universities and similar institutions usually provide a crisis line for immediate intervention, day or night. Additionally, academic support units equip students to meet their goals and can refer students with underlying mental health issues to the specialist service provider they might need.

Ultimately, changing how we think and speak about mental health is one of the keys to helping more people; the other is the familiar and (in a perfect world) simpler suggested fix: counselling services in almost all organisations, large or small, need more funding for services than is currently the case.

Getting help at UP

Learn more about the Student Counselling Unit at https: www.up.ac.za/student-counselling or listen to the BounceUP podcast to learn more about mental health. For emergency care, contact our toll-free line on 0800 747 747, or you can request a consultation by messaging 31393.

Getting help outside UP

If someone you know discloses that they are struggling with their mental health for whatever reason, listen openly and without judgement. Set time aside where they can discuss with you in private, without distraction. Let them share as much or as little as they feel comfortable. And should you or someone you know be thinking about suicide or self-harm, get help immediately. You can call the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567 for assistance from the SA Depression and Anxiety Group.

Dr Hanlé Kirkcaldy is a Clinical Psychologist and Head of the Student Counselling Unit at the University of Pretoria.