UCT fire: Emotional effects linger longer

11 May 2021 | Story Niémah Davids. Photo Jean Claude Nsabimana. Read time 4 min.
Dr Memory Muturiki said that some students have been struggling to navigate their emotions and effectively deal with the events that unfolded on Sunday, 18 April.
Dr Memory Muturiki said that some students have been struggling to navigate their emotions and effectively deal with the events that unfolded on Sunday, 18 April.

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Student Wellness Service (SWS) has seen an uptick in the number of students who require psychosocial support following the large campus fire and subsequent evacuation three weeks ago.

Dr Memory Muturiki, the director of SWS told UCT News that for some students it’s not been “business as usual”. Instead, a few have been struggling to navigate their emotions and effectively deal with the events that unfolded on Sunday, 18 April. Most students returned to residences on Thursday, 22 April, after spending four days at temporary accommodation sites across the city.

“It’s been a very difficult few weeks for our students, and many are still experiencing a range of anxieties. But we are committed to helping them through this difficult time,” Dr Muturiki said.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

According to Muturiki, some students’ symptoms clearly indicate signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

She said some have reported that they are experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, and others have become withdrawn, isolating themselves from their peers. Some students, she added, are also experiencing academic stress; the anxiety associated with catching up with their academic programmes following the week-long suspension has been “a heavy load to bear”.

 

“The tell-tale signs that go hand-in-hand with PTSD include finding it difficult to sleep, social phobia, panic disorder, avoidant behaviour and substance abuse.”

“This is trauma speaking. It’s the trauma that comes with being displaced and not knowing whether your personal belongings will be lost or not. It’s an awful experience,” she said.

Muturiki explained that PTSD presents itself in a number of ways. Typically, patients present with symptoms a few weeks after a traumatic incident. However, she said that in rare instances, some patients can go a long time before a trigger event sets in and they begin to experience their first PTSD symptoms. The tell-tale signs that go hand-in-hand with PTSD include finding it difficult to sleep, social phobia, panic disorder, avoidant behaviour and substance abuse.

Interestingly, Muturiki said that not everyone who has been exposed to trauma will develop PTSD. Those with pre-existing mental health illnesses are said to be more at risk, so no symptoms should not be ignored. 

 

“We are here to hold our students’ hands and to help them through this time.”

SWS peer counsellor and social worker Mary Clark said: “Some students I supported had pre-existing mental health problems. It appears that the trauma of the fire triggered [previously neglected] psychological issues, such as bereavement and loss. We are here to hold our students’ hands and to help them through this time.”

24-hour mental health support

Muturiki said that SWS has been facilitating numerous workshops that focus on how best to cope following a traumatic incident, and debriefing sessions are still underway for those who need it. She added that the telephonic counselling service has also increased its hours and counsellors are readily available to support students.

She encouraged students to make use of the support structures the university has in place. She reiterated that SWS has a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of psychiatric nurses, social workers, psychologists and doctors who are available to assist at any time.

 

“PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced trauma, and seeking help is not a sign of weakness.”

“My advice to students who are struggling would be to not delay seeking professional help and speak to someone as early as possible. It’s very important that they are assisted through all of this. PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced trauma, and seeking help is not a sign of weakness,” Muturiki concluded.

For those who need support, contact the UCT Student Careline on 0800 24 25 26, the ER24 Counselling Service on 010 205 3010 or Higher Health South Africa on 0800 36 36 36. For more information on SWS workshops and debriefing sessions email sws@uct.ac.za.

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#UCTFire – one year later

Jagger Library Memorial Exhibition opens on 20 April 2022

The Centre for Curating the Archive, in association with Michaelis Galleries (UCT) and UCT Libraries will stage a memorial exhibition marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic Jagger Library fire at the Michaelis Galleries. The exhibition will open to the public on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.

Campus communications


 

Updates on Campus Fire

 

Campus communications



News and videos



Memories of Jagger Library – stories from the UCT community



Content submitted by members of the UCT community has been published with little to no editorial intervention from UCT News.

#UCTFire – stories from the UCT community



Content submitted by members of the UCT community has been published with little to no editorial intervention from UCT News. 

 

In an email to UCT students, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“Thank you for your patience as we seek ways to return to full academic activity at the University of Cape Town under COVID-19 regulations. Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who needs to return to campus buildings.”

UCT is deeply grateful to all the donors who supplied food and other essential items for our students, and to everyone who has so generously offered other forms of support and assistance.

Everyone who would like to support the #UCTFire emergency relief fund is urged to please make financial donations to UCT through the UCT Alumni Ways to Give web page.

Donations can also be made by EFT using the details below:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Please include your donor name if you so wish, as well as the reference for your donation, e.g. Name Surname, #UCTFire.

Messages of support


Cengage EMEA 17:00, 7 June 2021
Ricardo de Sao Joao 16:00, 17 May 2021
J.P. Morgan 10:00, 17 May 2021
Unilever Southern Africa 16:10, 6 May 2021
Iziko Museums of South Africa 16:20, 5 May 2021
Sciences Po, France 10:05, 4 May 2021
The University of Tokyo 09:00, 30 April 2021
McCall MacBain Foundation 16:00, 29 April 2021
Stephen Toope, Chair of IARU 23:50, 27 April 2021
Mazi Asset Management 21:00, 27 April 2021
The National Archives (UK) 17:40, 27 April 2021
Universiteit Antwerpen 16:20, 26 April 2021
Yale University 21:15, 23 April 2021
SOAS University of London 17:00, 23 April 2021
University of Nairobi 15:45, 23 April 2021
Zhejiang University 12:05, 23 April 2021
University of Glasgow 11:20, 23 April 2021
Durham University 18:20, 22 April 2021
Sanlam Corporate Team 16:00, 22 April 2021
MANCOSA 16:00, 22 April 2021
Mastercard Foundation 13:30, 22 April 2021
National Research Foundation 09:05, 22 April 2021
Taylor & Francis 08:20, 22 April 2021
McGill University, Canada 21:35, 21 April 2021
Wild Bean Café 19:50, 21 April 2021
Worldwide Universities Network 19:10, 21 April 2021
University of Groningen 13:35, 21 April 2021
National University of Lesotho 11:00, 21 April 2021
Google South Africa 10:35, 21 April 2021
Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong 09:00, 21 April 2021
George Whitefield College 08:40, 21 April 2021
Virginia Tech 02:00, 21 April 2021
University of Southampton 18:10, 20 April 2021
University of the Free State 17:25, 20 April 2021
KU Leuven 15:45, 20 April 2021
Northwestern University 15:45, 20 April 2021
Council on Higher Education 14:00, 20 April 2021
Times Higher Education 11:45, 20 April 2021
Regent Business School 11:15, 20 April 2021
Professor Crain Soudien 09:05, 20 April 2021
University of the Western Cape 09:00, 20 April 2021
Bishop Tshalo Katshunga 07:30, 20 April 2021
National Library of France 20:50, 19 April 2021
Thabo Mbheki Foundation 20:00, 19 April 2021
Stellenbosch University 19:10, 19 April 2021
Chinese Embassy in South Africa 17:20, 19 April 2021
University of Hull 17:00, 19 April 2021
University of Copenhagen 13:25, 19 April 2021
Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies 13:10, 19 April 2021
Mastercard Foundation 10:50, 19 April 2021
Stellenbosch University 09:20, 19 April 2021
Minister Blade Nzimande 09:15, 19 April 2021
Committee on Higher Education 09:10, 19 April 2021
University of the Witwatersrand 09:05, 19 April 2021
University of Pretoria 09:00, 19 April 2021

 

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