2 minutes read time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 10 October 2025, the Student Counselling and Support (SCS) division at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) brought vibrancy and purpose to the campus with the \u201cSmash the Stigma Mental Health Day Activation\u201d on the Amphitheatre Lawn. The event created a welcoming space for students to raise awareness, engage in open dialogue, and build meaningful connections around mental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The activation aimed to challenge negative perceptions about mental health, encourage open discussions, and connect students with vital wellness resources. A range of exhibitions, interactive activities, and informative talks promoted self-care, resilience, and help-seeking behaviour. Internal VUT stakeholders were joined by external partners, including Lifeline, Thuthuzela Care Centre, SYKED, and local wellness organisations, who provided valuable information and support to students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n October marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial period to highlight the importance of mental wellness. Addressing the gathering, the Student Counselling and Support team, acknowledged the mounting academic pressures students face, particularly during exam season, and the impact on their mental health. They encouraged students to utilise the broad range of support services available, from individual and group counselling sessions to programmes addressing stress, anxiety, anger management, and career guidance. The event emphasised that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and highlighted the collective responsibility to promote mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event\u2019s central theme, \u201cSmash the Stigma,\u201d encouraged students to confront their struggles creatively. Participants wrote their personal challenges on a canvas before pouring paint over their hands and symbolically smashing the stigma. This visually striking act represented a collective stand against the silence and misconceptions surrounding mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the day, students gathered on the lawn to engage in conversation, reflect on their experiences, and offer support to one another. Their active participation signalled a shift towards a more open, compassionate, and stigma-free campus culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the sun set, the energy of the event lingered. Many left feeling empowered, motivated to challenge myths, adopt healthy coping strategies, and advocate for mental health awareness within their circles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cSmash the Stigma\u201d activation was more than just an event; it marked the beginning of a campus-wide movement committed to fostering empathy, resilience, and collective wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Join VUT\u2019s Smash the Stigma Mental Health Day Activation to connect, raise awareness, and access support services promoting student mental […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":28294,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t![\"Smash](\"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Captured-by-Sifiso-1-1024x576.webp\")
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