WILMER JOEL
The University of the South Pacific Student Association hosted a discussion on mental health last week Friday with panelists focusing on a range of issues affecting local residents.
The panel included Dr. Holden Nena from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Pastor Lobaj Kaminaga, Director of CMI Counseling Oyinade Ogunmokun, and USP student Taylani Lucky.
Moderating the panel was Student Association Executive Secretary Mircale Lang.
The conversation covered many topics.
Pastor Lobaj said he encourages shy youth in his church to feel comfortable sharing their mental health concerns.
“It is hard to open up. Because there are a lot of things you are thinking about. Whether you are going to be judged. Whether you are worried about what people think about you,” he said. “What I make sure that I always let them know is not to think about anything. Just, I am just there. I am just there to be. I am just there for them. So they can have an outlet to let out everything that they are going through. Even in family homes, it is hard for the children to open up to their parents. And that I am there for them. No judgment. I am just there to struggle with them. To be there with them.”
In response to a USP student’s inquiry about coping with stress, Dr. Holden stated that talking to other people is the most effective way. “Communicate with the counselor. Come to the hospital; come with us. As long as you share your struggles, your emotions or your thoughts, there is some way to balance it,” he said. “Each time we keep our feelings and our thinking to ourselves, we build up the temperature of our stress. So there are many ways to keep balance, but I think the easiest and most logical way is to communicate. Speak up. Talk to someone.”
Oyinade added that in order for “you to balance as a student, first you need to love yourself.”
She said that taking care of your academic obligations — attending class, completing assignments, and reading — is a necessary part of loving oneself as a student.
She added that procrastination is a contributing factor to stress. “When you have something to do, make sure you do it immediately before they pile up,” she said. “So, do not procrastinate. Do the readings. Don’t postpone anything. Once your instructor gives you work to do, do it immediately.”
When asked how to address the stigma associated with mental health, Dr. Holden offered up two ideas. First, increase awareness of mental health. “Because with this little understanding, a lot of the people we try to seek assistance with, the response is to make them worse in our feelings,” he said. “Like the traditional way of saying, man up, stop whining, swallow it, move forward, and wipe your tears. But the fact of the matter is it’s still going to be challenging because a lot of people, including parents, teachers, and churches, have to raise awareness on all sides.”
The second important solution is access. “When we have access, we better support, and students will be better taken care of,” he said. Eighty percent of people don’t need to go to a psychiatrist. They just want to be heard. They just want someone to listen to them, he said.
Pastor Lobaj said his ministry will be 100 percent ready to be a partner for a student-support program.
People who are accessible for those under stress to talk to and easily available contact details will help provide outlets to people needing to speak with others about their situations, said several speakers.