Mental health and self-care in academia emerged as a hot topic of discussion during the final leg of the Research and Innovation (R & I) Day event held at the university's Buffalo City Campus on Wednesday 7 September.
The East London Health Resource Centre was a hive of excitement during the inaugural R&I Day as academics and managers from the campus’ science, engineering and technology, as well as the business sciences faculties congregated to open themselves up to scrutiny as they presented their research work to fellow academics.
That initial air of excitement was temporarily sucked out of the atmosphere however owing to a most sobering and thought-provoking address by the University of Fort Hare’s Department of Business Management head, Prof Willie Chinyamurindi.
In his keynote address, under the theme “Creating synergy between academia and communities through impactful research and innovation”, Prof Chinyamurindi pulled at the strings of many a heart in his keynote address as he tackled various contentious issues facing academics in higher education.
"As researchers and academics we have a huge burden on our shoulders and this was quite evident in the passing of UCT academic Dr Mayosi who struggled with mental health. We can't overlook the seriousness of mental health because it weighs heavily on us and impacts our professional and personal lives negatively on a daily basis," said Prof Chinyamurindi.
His sentiments struck a nerve with numerous academics at the event, including one of the university’s leading researchers, chemist Prof Adebola Oyedeji, a senior lecturer in the university’s chemistry and physical sciences faculty at the Mthatha Campus.
Prof Oyediji laid bare in front of her counterparts her various mental health challenges she’s had to face as a top researcher striving to maintain her place at the zenith of chemistry research in the country.
“I’m very glad that we’re actually tackling this issue today because it’s very personal to myself as a researcher. There have been episodes in my life where I’ve literally had to use medication in order to help me sleep because a lot occupied my mind and I couldn’t go to sleep because of stress and anxiety because of work. Such topics are critical and need to be discussed frankly because mental health,” she said.
Prof Chinyamurindi’s approach to his address proved engaging as he fixated on the rear-view mirror of his life as an academic and what he wished he could’ve done differently between now and then as an exercise to guide his fellow academics.
There were seven critical aspects, including mental health and self-care, upon which Prof Chinyamurindi premised his address to his fellow academics in pointing them towards the most appropriate direction.
“If I were to go back 15 years just before I started my journey in academia, I’d tell myself a couple of things, including being careful of toxic people and people that use others for their own selfish gains. I’d tell myself to say “no” more often and not be afraid to say that word. I’d also tell myself to be more innovative in the work that I do, and not publish for the sake of publishing,” he added.
In concluding, Prof Chinyamuri went on to assert that he’d draw the community closer as a working partner and have them actively participate as an equal partner within his research, and lastly, he’d be wiser in choosing his research teams and collaborations and not accept everything he’s invited to collaborate in.
By Thando Cezula
