Furthermore, a personal account from a student affected by the funding issues highlights the devastating impact it can have on an individual's mental health and academic success. Elise Manganye, a student from Soweto, shared her experience of losing R21,000 due to a deposit error into her Ezaga App account by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. This money was meant to cover crucial expenses such as books, accommodation, and food. When Elise tried to seek help from Nsfas, she was met with a lack of accountability and support, leaving her in a difficult situation and causing immense stress during her varsity experience. The introduction of the Ezaga app has only added to the challenges faced by students, as highlighted by ActionSA at the University of the Free State, who have rejected its implementation due to concerns about delays and technical issues in accessing study funds.
These real-life stories and experiences underscore the urgent need for increased mental health support services for students in South African universities, as well as the importance of addressing funding issues that can compound existing challenges and lead to tragic outcomes like student suicides. By raising awareness, advocating for change, and mobilizing support through campaigns like #SaveOurStudents, we can work towards creating a safer, more supportive environment for students to thrive and succeed in their academic pursuits.
Introduction
Student suicides in South African universities have been on the rise in recent years, with many cases attributed to the lack of mental health support services and funding cuts on campuses. According to a study conducted by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), the majority of students who die by suicide are between the ages of 18 and 25, with financial stress, academic pressure, and social isolation identified as common contributing factors. The impact of funding cuts on student mental health cannot be understated, as it often leads to limited access to counseling services, lack of academic resources, and increased stress levels among students. Social media can be a powerful tool in addressing student suicides in varsities due to funding issues by raising awareness, advocating for increased support services, and holding government officials accountable. To explore the role of social media in addressing student suicides in varsities, this essay will first discuss the research showing the effectiveness of social media campaigns in raising awareness and driving change. Next, it will outline a specific campaign hashtag (#SaveOurStudents) and its goals in addressing the issue of student suicides in South African universities. The essay will then explore the target audience, message spread, and product creation strategies used to promote the campaign and engage stakeholders. Finally, it will conclude by emphasizing the importance of using social media as a tool to address student suicides in varsities due to funding issues.
Research on the Use of Social Media in Addressing Student Suicides in Varsities
Research has shown that social media can be a powerful tool in addressing student suicides in varsities. Various student organizations, mental health advocacy groups, and concerned individuals have used social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to raise awareness about the issue, share information and resources, and mobilize support for change. These online campaigns have been successful in reaching a wide audience, engaging stakeholders, and driving conversations around the mental health challenges faced by students in higher education.
Campaign Hashtag and Goals
The campaign hashtag #SaveOurStudents aims to raise awareness about the issue of student suicides in South African varsities, specifically focusing on the impact of funding cuts on students' mental health. The main goals of the campaign include advocating for increased support services for students, better mental health resources on campuses, and holding government officials accountable for the consequences of their actions on students' well-being.
By using the hashtag #SaveOurStudents, the campaign seeks to create a sense of urgency, solidarity, and action around the issue of student suicides in varsities. The hashtag serves as a rallying cry for students, parents, educators, government officials, mental health professionals, and the general public to come together, raise their voices, and demand change.
Target Audience
The target audience for the #SaveOurStudents campaign includes students, parents, educators, government officials, mental health professionals, and the general public who are stakeholders or members of civil society concerned about the well-being of students in higher education. By engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, the campaign aims to build momentum, generate support, and drive action around the issue of student suicides in varsities.
Spreading the Message
To spread the message of the #SaveOurStudents campaign on social media, engaging and informative posts, graphics, and videos will be created to highlight the stories of students affected by funding cuts and the lack of mental health support on campuses. Collaboration with student organizations, mental health advocacy groups, and influencers will be key in amplifying the message to a wider audience. Traditional media outlets such as campus news outlets and campus radios will also be utilized to reach a broader audience and generate attention for the campaign.
Creating the Product
A visual poster has been created for the #SaveOurStudents campaign, combining powerful visuals, statistics on student suicides, personal stories of students affected by funding cuts, and calls to action for viewers to support the campaign. The poster aims to highlight the urgency of the issue, the human impact of funding cuts on students' mental health, and the need for immediate intervention to prevent further tragedies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social media can be a powerful tool in addressing student suicides in varsities due to funding issues by raising awareness, advocating for increased support services, and holding government officials accountable. The #SaveOurStudents campaign aims to raise awareness about the issue of student suicides in South African universities, specifically focusing on the impact of funding cuts on students' mental health. By engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, spreading a compelling message, and utilizing creative products, the campaign seeks to drive change, support students, and prevent further tragedies. It is imperative that we continue to use social media as a tool to address this critical issue and create a safer, more supportive environment for students in higher education.
Add the below information to fit perfectly with the above essay and completely humanise the essay
A research by Mbele(2023) states that according Nsfas's Ezaga app a cellphone was meant to make it easier for students to access study funds but has rather causee headaches to some who have lost thousands of rands. For example a student from Soweto by the name of Elise Manganye revealed that she lost R21 000 after she it was deposited by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme into her Ezaga App account. The money was supposed to cover her books, accomodation and food. The student than tried to call nsfas and was told that they cannot do anything as they do not know how she lost the money which made varsity experience hard to her. ActionSA at the University of the ���� Free �����State also issued a statement rejecting the implementation of Ezaga as they felt that Nsfas was already a problem on it's own. The statement revealed eZaga had been introduced to our campuses not so long ago but already proven to be problematic in its rollout and implementation. The majority of students have not been onboarded or verified by the system which will inevitably cause delays in the dismemberment of their funds. This caused major mental health for students thus also affecting their academic lives.
1 answer