UWC Leads Transformative Journey in Mental Health Commitment

Recognising the growing importance of student and staff mental health and well-being, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has embarked on a transformative journey, adopting innovative solutions like WYSA – a mental health mobile app with remarkable engagement and success. With over 2,600 users to date, including students and staff, WYSA has proven to be an effective tool in addressing mental health challenges, providing mental health education, increasing mental health literacy, and directing individuals to appropriate resources and support services.

In June, UWC spearheaded a comprehensive mental health colloquium, bringing together representatives from 12 universities nationwide. This collaborative gathering provided a platform for delegates to explore potential strategies, frameworks, and policies to address the pervasive issue of mental health in higher education. Furthermore, the colloquium facilitated discussions on the integration of technology as a means to enhance mental health support for millions of students. Through sharing expertise and knowledge, participants sought to develop innovative and effective approaches to mitigate the mental health challenges students face in academic environments.

Mental health issues among students in South Africa are a growing concern. According to recent studies, about 30% of university students report experiencing anxiety, while approximately 24% suffer from depression. The high prevalence of mental health problems highlights the urgent need for effective mental health support systems within educational institutions.

UWC’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Development and Support, Professor Matete Madiba, led the two-day colloquium and called on attending universities to collaborate and share knowledge on the best practices for supporting students battling mental health issues.

“We do have information that we are not following through properly about how much mental health interferes with student performance. Our research is of a very high level. We don’t drill down and go into modules and classrooms, into programmes, and trace the levels of implementation and non-pass rates and understand the issues. If we do that, we will be surprised to see where some offerings and interventions deal directly with the problems,” said Prof Madiba.

UWC has proactively developed an Integrated Student Mental Health and Wellness Policy to address mental health holistically. This policy is accompanied by an implementation framework that encourages each faculty and department to proactively tailor the implementation plan to their students’ mental health needs.

UWC’s Director of Student Support Services (CSSS), Laetitia Permall, has been Siyaphumelela’s co-lead for the development of a National Student Mental Framework for higher education for the last three years. Permall says this is an ongoing journey but believes that once implemented, it will be a game changer in the quest to co-create a culture of care in higher education, where good mental health really matters.

“We are working with partner institutions, and we started in 2021 and 2022. We did a deep dive into the literature and then engaged with colleagues across the institutions to hear practitioners’ and teaching and learning staff’s best practices and lived experiences. In 2023, we took our initial findings and data to a workshop and used that platform to engage people with what we have found and the gaps. We have built the foundation and are at the critical point of finding a task team to work with us. This is where the rubber hits the road,” said Permall.

Despite measures to maintain confidentiality, many students still deal with the stigma of visiting a student counselling centre. UWC’s commitment to integrating WYSA within its mental health implementation framework underscores the importance of leveraging technology to overcome barriers to seeking help. This journey represents a significant step towards fostering a culture of well-being and resilience among university students, ensuring their mental health remains a top priority.

But CSSS Manager of Therapeutic Services, Rone Gerber, a keynote speaker at the colloquium, says it’s vital that policies make meaningful changes in the lives of students and staff.

“Our aim here is to make student policy around student mental health research informed. We wanted the student voice to come through and be evidence-based before developing the policy. The research that we found is that we certainly define mental health and include physical, emotional, financial, and academic wellness; when any of those wellness aspects aren’t fully there, it affects a student’s ability to perform, and that is why it is crucially important that we address the entire wellness spectrum, not just a small section, and especially the prevention of mental health crisis.”

Wysa Global Head of Commercial Partnerships, Pranav Gupta, who travelled from India to attend the colloquium, says the company’s vision is to reach 50 million people, including students, by 2035. Gupta says UWC understands the importance of the Wysa App.

“We have seen a lot of good and global evidence, which resulted in this colloquium where we are trying to make more people aware of the solution and the model and have discussions and expand partnerships. The experiences with UWC have been good, and the team is caring. UWC is one of our best clients, according to our team in India.”

The two-day event was applauded by a third-year UWC student.

“Wysa in collaboration with mental health is a good initiative. As students, we do not always have the opportunity to speak to someone all the time. If you look at the support services available at universities, sometimes they are overbooked, and there is a long waiting list. I think it’s good to have an app when dealing with something overwhelming.”

Student Development and Support (SDS) delivers an integrated service to students. Its work is guided by a clear strategy and informed by the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Institutional Operation Plan 2021-2025.

Students and staff struggling with their mental health are also encouraged to contact The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) at www.sadag.org or the 24-hour Mental Health Helpline on 0800-456-789.