Page 4 - EC Highlights 2024

Gqeberha DCCD Highlights & Achievements
Dr Joshua Bongani Ndlela at Student Counsellor at KQFM 97.0 (June 2025)
Student Counsellor from Gqeberha continue with one of the best practises in our DCCD environment - being responsive on mental health issues in the space of media. DCCD noted that good media reports about mental illness and student related matters should be responsible, accurate, and put balance between the world of marginalised communities and our institution. June Month is known as the Men Mental Health Awareness Month and the student counsellor visited several radio stations (TRU FM, KQFM 97.0 and ILIZWI FM) to make awareness on men mental health focusing on the issue of men suicide. Africa is currently the region with the highest suicide rate worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is driven by a combination of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and untreated mental health issues. Amongst other causes to this high rate of suicide in Africa is Patriarchal way of thinking norms that prioritize men and male authority in various
aspects of society, including politics, economics, higher education and culture. This way of thinking reinforces men to be seen as strong, brave and continue with scourge of emotional expression restriction, encouraging men to believe that repressing emotional expression enhances their masculinity. This restrictive stance may help explain why, in many cases, men hesitate to seek mental health support even in the higher education setting, leading to feelings of helplessness and despair and even in the face of significant crises. These ongoing community radio and social media platforms help the community better in understanding the experience of mental illness by including the perspective of people with mental illness, carers, academic and personal development.
2025/2026 Trainee Career Guidance Practitioners and visit of Dr Mashiapata at the Gqeberha regional office.
Dr Mashiapata DCCD Director visited Gqeberha Student Counselling office and new Trainee Career Guidance Practitioner (Ms Maphai and Ms Deyi) during the internship training session.
DCCD is happy to receive new interns at our centres. The primary purpose of the Trainee Career Guidance Practitioner (TCGP) is to provide practical, supervised experience that bridges the gap between theoretical academic knowledge they have received and expose them to professional settings. These internships are crucial for developing the skills, ethical dilemmas and to get experiences necessary for applying in the master’s level in psychology degree. They also prepare students for diverse roles within the field, including research, program management, community outreach and psychology related fields.