By Olivia Kamusimme
The Uganda Christian University (UCU) students pursuing journalism, media, and communication have drafted a campaign in collaboration with Ruth Nkoyoyo Wellness to help students who are depressed. The team of students known as the Unchained from Bondage, under the guidance of the Ruth Nkoyoyo Wellness Center, engaged a number of students.
The Unchained from Bondage team collaborated with Nkoyoyo Wellness Centre and the 24th guild president to combat depression among Uganda Christian University (UCU) non-residents.A group of five female year three students, namely Mackyline Kiconco, Vanessa Isukau, Joselyn Dhafa, Toni Amukunzire and Olivia Kamusiime, while conducting mental health research, thought it necessary to run a depression campaign.
The campaign will be propelled by a suggestion box dubbed “ASK THE EXPERT BOX.” The box is creative in making students express themselves.
One of the counselors at Ruth Nkoyoyo Wellness Centre, Winfred Balyesiima, has said most people suffer from depression but are unaware. The students are prone to depression.
“There are students who are depressed and may not release it.I encourage all students to always visit the counselor for mental wellness, “said Balyesiima.
The campaign is intended to create awareness about the causes, dangers, and interventions of depression. The campaign runs from June 5th to July 19th, 2022.
The team has moved around hostels in Mukono where they have had one-on-one interactions with students, sharing experiences and comforting some of them. During the process, some of the students opted to talk to the counselor through ASK THE EXPERT BOX, and others requested their contact information.
Some students revealed that the campaign had helped them to get back to their classes since they had isolated each other due to loneliness. Asuman Musana pursuing diploma in Information Technology in his first-year first semester has appreciated the initiative by the unchained from bondage to help students who are depressed.
“We are real dying silence in our hostels. However, this initiative help a lot of us to overcome our stressing challenges,” said Musana
Reacheal Serwadda, the Guild President of UCU, said that this campaign has been effective since it came in during the period when people are still nursing wounds from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guild government and unchained from bondage team have also matched with a band, posting content on their social media platforms and pinning posters around hostels to create more awareness.
As a centre of excellence in the heart of Africa, we are working together to bridge the gap between the counselor and student clients by advocating for a counselor for consultations. This will suit the current generation that has gone digital.
Don’t Take Tension, Take Action.
