Beyond Academics: Nurturing Mental Wellness at UBa
Students’ mental health challenges and management was the matriculation discourse presented by Dr. Makebe Hamad during the 15th matriculation ceremony of the University of Bamenda.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their potential, can cope with normal stressors of life, can work productively, and is able to contribute to his or her community.
According to statistics from the WHO, 1 out of 7 adolescents lives with a mental health disorder, which most often leads to depression and anxiety. Addressing the 15th matriculation batch of students, made up of adolescents and adults, he said transitioning to adulthood can come with challenges of peer pressure, body image concerns, rising levels of alcohol and substance intake, choosing life careers, and the quest for independence, which can take a toll on their mental health either by exacerbating or worsening existing conditions or triggering new health struggles.
According to Dr. Makebe Hamad, the psychological well-being of young people and students is inseparable from the health of their nation. Since students at the University of Bamenda live in a period characterized by socio-economic and political uncertainty, anxiety is most likely to become a shared social experience, hence the rising levels of substance use, depression, and burnout.
According to a report on the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan presented by the WHO, there should be an integrated community-based structure, and universities should act as national hubs for such interventions. It also highlights that an effective mental health support system ought to rest on four interrelated pillars: accessibility of stigma-free mental health services, inclusivity and the ability to recognize the diversity of students’ backgrounds and their unique experiences, integration of mental health into students’ academic life, and the need for regular evaluation and commitment to ensure sustainability.
To help curb mental health challenges and make the university environment a space for psychological safety for students, the University of Bamenda has put in place the four pillars of accessibility, inclusivity, integration, and sustainability, as well as offered training to administrative staff to be able to recognize early warning signs and respond empathetically, with a referral system for mental health cases requiring expert management sent to the Bamenda Regional Hospital.
Aside from providing counselors to various faculties and schools, and recognizing that academic excellence and mental health are complementary goals, the University of Bamenda has also made available psychosocial services for persons living with disabilities.
Dr. Makebe Hamad advised students to develop a sense of self-awareness, cultivate habits that preserve their mental balance, and, when overwhelmed, reach out for help from mentors, friends, and counselors in and out of school.
He further cautioned that the ultimate goal of higher education is not just the cultivation of intellect but the nurturing of the whole person, by providing graduates who act critically, reason ethically, and lead empathetically.
“The University of Bamenda is leading by example by not just building scholars but emotionally intelligent citizens who are capable of transforming the world and not limited by the storms of socio-political uncertainty,” said Dr. Hamad.
The talk ended with him encouraging the students to diligently guard their minds and seek balance as they pursue their dreams, and to not just compete but to connect, aspire but never lose their sense of humanity.
It should be noted that the matriculation ceremony is a ritual performed annually at the University of Bamenda to formally welcome newly admitted students into the academic institution.
By Amalia Bongkisheri V.