Final matric results are usually determine acceptance into college and university. While some students may feel glad the long year of exams is over, others may be incredibly stress and even depressed after receiving their final results.
Parents or family members who are close to the student should be aware of what signs to look out for. Some common signs of depression include talking or joking about suicide, loss of interest in things that once brought them joy and a generally lower mood. You can identify signs of depression in a person who may do things like giving away their favourite things, criticising themselves and sudden aggressive behaviour.
Very often Matrics find it difficult to cope with their results and even the most basic form of counselling could mean the difference between life and death for some.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) has introduced a helpline dedicated to assist students at two of the country’s biggest universities.
Students experiencing high levels of stress at the University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria have been provided special channels by the organisation.
The organisation was responding to a recent study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association, which revealed that over 120,000 medical students experience depression with some reporting suicidal thoughts.
The organisation's Tracy Feinstein explains: “We’ve seen that universities recognise their student wellness centres may not be able to fully support students at the volume needed. To partner with SADAG to contain this is a great initiative.”
Source: EWN
If you are experiencing any of these signs, you can contact the 24 hour SADAG helpline on 0800 456 789.
