Video of University Student's Emotional Breakdown on Pavement Breaks SA's Hearts: "It's Not Easy"

• One student in Mzansi was going through the most, and she was captured sulking on the pavement
• The clip touched the hearts of many, and it gained massive traction on social media, gathering loads of views
• People reacted to the footage as they flocked to the comments section to share their opinions
• Briefly News spoke to lay counsellor and emotional support expert Astrid Diaries, who shared tips on how society can foster a supportive environment for university students struggling with mental health challenges

Student life is not easy, as it comes with loads of pressure. Whether it be academics or finances, these pressures can play a huge part in the learner's mental health.

Video of uni student sulking on pavement

The footage shared by TikTok user @sphume._mkhize shows a young lady sitting on the pavement sulking, which touched many people's hearts on the internet.

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@sphume._mkhize urged people to show kindness and support as she captions the video saying:

"If you see a university student please hug them, they are going through a lot iDP ayhlangani."

The clip became a hit on TikTok gathering loads of views along with thousands of likes and comments.

Watch the video below:

How to support university students' mental health

While speaking to Briefly News, counsellor and emotional support expert Astrid Diaries said that University students today face "immense pressure to succeed" in South Africa. Many of them strive to "excel and demonstrate their capabilities to the nation," she added.

"Pursuing ambitious goals comes with significant responsibility and heightened stress. Society must foster open conversations and prioritise mental health support to promote the well-being of all, especially within the South African context."

Astrid expressed that students in South Africa are focused on "survival with limited resources" to address personal stressors or well-being.

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"This reality can make empathy and compassion challenging, as many people are preoccupied with their own struggles," said Diaries.

The counselor and emotional support expert shared how to tackle the issues through the following steps:

"In this environment, open dialogue and support groups are invaluable, offering individuals a sense of belonging, unity, and shared resilience. Embracing the spirit of Ubuntu, South African society can create a supportive atmosphere that encourages academic achievement and enhances students' mental health and overall well-being, helping them emerge stronger and more balanced."

People share their student life experiences

The student's video touched the online community, and many could relate to her pain. They took to the comments section to express their thoughts, while others shared their personal experiences.

Sweetness said:

"I still remember very well only having one pair of black Jeans and three tops, and eating bread was a luxury thing. I couldn’t call my mom cause I knew the situation at home. God be with our kids."

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Mbali Enhleh expressed:

"I Dp ayihlangani, on the other hand, we are hungry."

Adwin199o wrote:

"University life is not easy especially coming from a disadvantaged family."

User shared:

"I just wanna cry so bad, I’ve been stressed the whole year."

Leeigh

"Wanna hug my little brother so bad? He's studying far. We see him twice a year, but the stress he brings home when it exams, the way he calls and cries."

Student cries about his revoked NSFAS funding, video breaks SA’s heart

Briefly News previously reported that a TikTok video shed light on the challenges faced by university students reliant on financial aid schemes for their education.

The video showed a University of Technology (TUT) student, once funded by NSFAS, tearfully sharing that his financial support had been revoked. He shared a screenshot of the message from the financial aid scheme, detailing the possible reasons behind the termination of his funding.

Source: Briefly News