Stellenbosch University’s (SU) centre for student counselling and development (CSCD) recently hosted the first of eight online mindfulness workshops aimed at teaching students how to deal with uncomfortable emotions and skillfully manage themselves.
This is according to Robyn Wolff, a registered mindfulness leader and counsellor at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HCPSA) and the leader of this mindfulness course.
Over the last three years, Robyn Wolff, a Health Professions Council of South Africa registered mindfulness leader and counsellor, has lead a mindfulness course that has been distributed to over 300 students, forming what is now known as “the biggest online group at the University of Cape Town”. Some of the topics explored in the course are stress and anxiety management, said Wolff. “It’s not anxiety that is the problem,” she stated. “It’s your relationship to your anxiety or to your pain that causes your suffering.” PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
‘A full toolbox’
The first workshop was held on 15 September, where participants learned that mindfulness is about stepping into your senses and into your physical body, said Wolff.
“What I do for the students is give them a full toolbox so that they can manage themselves more skillfully,” said Wolff.
Anxiety and panic attacks can be limited when students learn how to properly regulate themselves, stated Wolff.
In the Stellenbosch University mindfulness course introduction session, Robyn Wolff, a Health Professions Council of South Africa registered mindfulness leader and counsellor, explained several key concepts that contribute towards positive mental health and well-being. AUDIO: Chelsea Burnell
Students helping students
This year, the CSCD has started to work with the SU psychology student society in promoting mental health activities on campus, according to Anabel Groenewald, vice-chairperson of the SU psychology student society.
“The CSCD has a more professional way of dealing with mental health and they can mentor us in the best way to approach students,” stated Groenewald.
The society aims to create a bigger sense of community on campus by forming support groups and “breaking the barrier” between individual students, stated Jodi Ellenburger, chairperson of the SU psychology student society.
The Stellenbosch University (SU) psychology student society has eight executive committee members and over 170 general members within the society, according to Jodi Ellenburger, chairperson of the society. “Many students look to our society and committee to address issues on campus and we want to ensure, going forward, that we have a bigger physical presence on campus,” stated Ellenburger. Captured above are Anabel Groenewald, a second-year life sciences student at SU and vice-chairperson of the SU psychology student society, and Ellenburger. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
There needs to be a continued mental health redress on campus, she stated. “As a committee and society, we are looked to to bring about positive change.”
Counselling at SU
In 2021, the CSCD accommodated 12 138 people on the SU campus, with 11 574 for “therapy, counselling and academic support”, according to Elmarie Kruger, senior counselling psychologist at the CSCD.
While the CSDC always has a larger demand than what they can accommodate, the centre tries to help as many students as possible, says Kruger.
“If a student is in a crisis we see them immediately,” she stated.
The CSDC has groups with psychologists and counsellors who manage anxiety, depression and trauma for free for registered SU students, said Kruger.
“We choose to be free because we know all students don’t have medical aid and, if they do, it’s sometimes difficult for them to ask parents to see us,” stated Kruger.