The struggle against mental health issues cannot be viewed in isolation, said Quinton Adams, an educational psychologist, at a recent panel discussion held as part of the 2022 Toyota US Woordfees.
The event took place on 13 October at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Museum quad. The panel’s discussion topic was ”Mental health: why are so many students in need?”.
South Africa has the highest income inequality in the world, said Quinton Adams, educational psychologist and panellist at the recent 2022 Toyota US Woordfees. Financial strain puts immense pressure on students that come from a background of poverty, he said. VIDEO: Tamara Wicomb
A complex topic
Mental health and mental wellness is a very broad topic and cannot be pathologized, said Melody Pick, a clinical psychologist and panellist at the discussion. “Mental health is a medical condition,” she said.
Within the South African context, there is a tendency to compartmentalise issues, and mental health is only spoken about when a problem arises, said Adams.
A way to combat mental health issues is to start education at a young age, and to develop a language to identify when symptoms of mental health arise, he explained.
“People associate mental health with weakness,” he added.
“The struggle is with the training of psychologists,” said Charl Davis, deputy director and head of the unit of psychotherapy and support services at Stellenbosch University, and member in the audience. AUDIO: Tamara Wicomb
‘It takes a village’
“It takes a village to raise a child, [however] the village has to be a healthy village,” stated Adams.
One cannot raise a child in a broken village, he said.
The sub-communities found in the university, such as residence spaces, faculties, and sports groups need to represent positive villages, said Adams.
“Everything we do, should be done with an ethics of care,” added Nel.
“We need bigger and more community based interventions to speak to the issues that our students and South Africans face,” said Melody Pick, clinical psychologist and panellist at a recent discussion at the 2022 Toyota US Woordfees. PHOTO: Tamara Wicomb
The role of the religious community
“There are lots of perceptions and cultural myths about mental health,” said Professor Reggie Nel, dean of the faculty of Theology and also a panellist at the discussion.
However, mental health is not a sin, and not a sign of weakness nor demonic possession as it is perceived in many cultures, said Nel.
“Religion is a wonderful thing, because a lot of people find solace in it,” said Pick. The reality is not many people have access to therapy and resources such as church communities should be utilised, she added