By Nonkululeko Njilo in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The University of Witwatersrand has responded to the outcry over recent student suicides‚ vowing to increase the institution’s counselling services capacity.
“All signs point to him taking his own life. Wits officials have been on the ground since last night and are in touch with his family and friends.
Our deepest condolences go out to all whose lives he touched and those who knew him well‚” senior communications manager Buhle Zuma said. Zuma said the university had measures in place to deal with mental health issues but that they had proven to be insufficient.
Wits mourns student death, demand intervention to tackle depression
University of the Witwatersrand perceived as indifferent after student’s suicide and an attempted suicide reportedly within 24 hours.
“We are trying‚ through increasing capacity at CCDU‚ through creating new hotlines‚ through staff identifying students at risk‚ through residence programmes and social media to address issues related to mental health‚ but we clearly need to do more‚” she said in a statement.
The university said it was convening a specialist group of psychologists and psychiatrists to advise on how it could better service the students in need and especially how it could reach those who require counselling‚ but do not reach out for it.
While the university has taken a step towards fighting the scourge‚ it has admitted that it could not do it alone. It has urged members of society to look out for one another and encourage those in despair. – SowetanLive
