Minister Blade Nzimande on commemorating World Mental Health Day

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, joins the nations of the world in marking the World Mental Health Day, today, 10th October 2023, under the theme: ‘mental health is a universal human right’.
 
Minister Nzimande said that young adults are considered to be the most at-risk group for depression. Nearly half of all deaths in the 15-24-year age group are due to interpersonal violence, suicides and accidents. 
 
“Within the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector, a 2015 study by Stellenbosch University found 12% of students had symptoms of moderate to severe depression and 15% had symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety,” said Minister Nzimande.
 
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) states that one in four South African university students’ experiences depression. Furthermore, depending on whether one takes the 2012 South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) or 2015 Stats SA figures, suicide features in the top five or top nine causes of death among young adults, with many more make an attempt to self-harm.
 
In response to this world pandemic, within the PSET sector in the past two (2) years, HIGHER HEALTH, the Department of Higher Education and Training health and wellness agency, managed 53 619 reported mental health cases by students.
 
“Though HIGHER HEALTH Mental Health Prevention, we provided mental health support to 321 004 students from January 2021 to June 2023 aimed towards fighting the stigma and taboos around mental health,” said Minister Nzimande. 
 
HIGHER HEALTH is also working with students from the LGBTQ+ community, survivors of GBV and general student and staff and supports them with their health and psycho-social needs.  
 
HIGHER HEALTH is equipped with mobile clinics, nurses, community health and wellness practitioners, psychologists and peer educators, to provide support to students, and arm them with knowledge to build their resilience against the scourge of mental health.
 
Minister Nzimande said that the HIGHER HEALTH Psychosocial Support Counselling Unit equipped with experienced psychologists and counsellors supported 23 450 students through therapies and mental health treatment from January 2021 to June 2023. 
 
“Through HIGHER HEALTH, I have recently launched the National Civic Education and Health Skills Programme in July 2023. The programme’s co-curriculum is designed to address  many personal and social challenges facing youth within the PSET sector. This online programme covers six (6) modules, one of which is the Mental Health module. The co-curriculum is offered in all our twelve (12) Official languages which includes the sign language,” said Minister Nzimande.
 
The Minister encourages every South African student to use the HIGHER HEALTH 24-hour Crisis helpline that can be accessed via a Toll-Free line on 0800 006 333. This number is available during the day and night.
 
Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 066 037 8859