Behind the grades: Unseen battles are raging on SA campuses
Behind the lecture halls and res rooms of universities and colleges, in WhatsApp groups and campus cafeterias, thousands of students are fighting silent battles.
Anxiety, depression, ADHD and eating disorders are not rare exceptions. In truth, they’re part of everyday life for too many young South Africans finding their way through university and into the rest of their lives.
Justine Lacy
“These aren’t mood swings or bad days,” says Justine Lacy, Clinical Executive at Profmed. “They can derail a young person’s life, showing up in missed lectures, falling grades, strained relationships, and sometimes, suicidal thoughts.”
A 2023 survey involving more than 28,000 university students in South Africa showed that nearly half screened positive for at least one mental health disorder. Lacy says this goes beyond a personal crisis; it's a collective wake-up call to invest in the emotional resilience and mental readiness of tomorrow’s workforce.
This Youth Month comes with the theme: ‘Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation’. In this Lacy says we are reminded that skills alone are not enough. Without mental health support, even the brightest talents may struggle to thrive in a world that demands adaptability, innovation, and stamina.
“University is often the first time young adults are expected to cope alone,” says Lacy. “You’ve got academic workloads, identity shifts, financial stress and often, unprocessed trauma. But knowing you're not alone, that help is there, can make all the difference.”
Even students who seem to have it all together can be struggling. “Many are incredibly high functioning,” says Lacy. “But they’re masking deep distress. And because they’re not visibly falling apart, they’re often overlooked. That’s changing too.”
Students lucky enough to have medical aid cover may already have help within reach. “Mental health isn’t separate from medical care. It’s part of it,” says Lacy. “Many students don’t realise that mental health services fall under what we call Prescribed Minimum Benefits. That means your medical aid is legally required to cover treatment for certain conditions like depression or bipolar disorder.”
That could include therapy sessions, psychiatric consultations, or even hospital care, depending on the condition, and even with basic plans. “Mental healthcare doesn’t need to be a last resort,” says Lacy. “It can be part of your everyday wellbeing toolkit.”
Lacy says Profmed, for instance, champions this shift, supporting young professionals and students through a suite of mental health benefits, including therapy and access to a digital Wellbeing Platform that empowers them to prioritise balance, long-term performance, and sustainable growth.
Support is growing. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) runs helplines for students. Universities like Wits are evolving their support systems in response to student input and lived realities. Conversations are getting louder. Stigma is losing its grip.
This June, Lacy urges all young South Africans to remember that skills development is only valuable when you have the emotional tools and mental strength needed to build a future worth showing up for.
“We need to stop treating mental health as an add-on,” says Lacy. “It’s not a luxury. It’s the foundation. We build stronger futures by creating space for students to say, ‘I’m not okay’ and be met with support instead of stares.”
