By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
As the new academic year begins, university students are filled with excitement and possibility. However, for many freshmen, the thrill of new beginnings is overshadowed by a creeping sense of unease. The daunting task of navigating unfamiliar surroundings, academic pressures, and social expectations can lead to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.
Aaron Owachi, President of LEM Mindfulness Mental Health Association of Kyambogo shed light on the daunting challenges faced by new university students, with adapting to a new environment emerging as a major factor in mental health disorders.
Owachi says that although the transition from the familiar surroundings is meant to be an exciting new chapter, it has been noticed a breeding ground for mental health issues among new students at universities. He highlighted other challenges as relationships, stress, homesickness, drug abuse and unemployment.
“People who are susceptible to mental health are year one students and if this thing is not solved at its earliest stage, it will continue up to their final year,” he said.
He says inability to navigate through the new environment can culminate in depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders among first-year students.
Reports by the World Health Organization shows one in every 40 seconds dies of suicide with global rankings to at least 7,30,000 death cases recorded per year. A significant proportion of these deaths occurs in low- and middle-income countries like Uganda. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 years, the age group in which most undergraduate university students are found. Further reports indicate that suicidal behaviours are common among university students with pooled prevalence rates of 22.3% for suicidal ideation, 6.1% for suicide plans, and 3.2% for suicide attempts.
In response, Owachi said LEM MH working together with the Kyambogo university department of counseling are ramping up support services, including counseling, peer mentoring, and orientation programs to ease the transition to new students as well as promoting mental health support across the university.
Joan Adoyo, a second year student of Science in Education who also doubles as the Association Treasurer says that adapting to university life is a journey that requires support, understanding, and compassion.
She urged students to always seek for support from professional counselors, friends and other avenues such as aerobics, taking evening walks to deal with mental health issues.
The students are calling on the government to invest in mental health awareness initiatives in educational settings, recognizing the critical need for accessible support and care to foster a healthier and more resilient generation.
