HIGHER HEALTH, as the national agency of the Department of Higher Education and Training dedicated to student and staff wellbeing, is leading a comprehensive post-schooling education sector response to COVID-19.

Its latest intervention addresses the mental health needs of over two-million students and staff who make up this sector.

As stated by the United Nations, the World Health Organization and local experts, the mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is an urgent priority.

Under the guidance of the Department of Higher Education and Training and in support with the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), HIGHER HEALTH has mapped the mental health and substance abuse priorities related to COVID-19 within the post-schooling sector. A tailor-made three-tier programme considers why and how students and staff may be impacted and how to assist individuals who experience problems.

At the intervention’s primary level, HIGHER HEALTH’s student-led peer-to-peer programme plays a key role in creating awareness and introducing initiatives to increase psychological resilience, recognise and reduce anxiety, stress and depression and prevent suicide. Peer-to-peer counselling is enhanced through mental health self-risk assessments and various communication initiatives.

Notably, addressing factors and detrimental psychosocial and physical effects of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at the secondary level entails a HIGHER HEALTH 24-hour toll-free student and staff helpline, in alliance with SADAG which enables the provision of help when needed in 11 official languages. The service will provide free telephonic – or SMS – counselling, crisis intervention and support, and referrals to mental health professionals and other psychosocial resources to students and staff across all campuses. Where needed, HIGHER HEALTH will assist individual institutions with capacity building and implementation.

HIGHER HEALTH is appointing 10 clinical psychologists, across all our provinces, who will provide counselling and refer relevant cases to the appropriate professionals.

The mental health initiative for the HIGHER HEALTH 24-hour student and staff helpline can be accessed as follows:

• Toll-free call 0800 36 36 36
• SMS 43336

We are confident that the mental health service will go a long way to helping students and staff cope with the heightened complexities of this academic year, but it is also a valuable investment in the future health and wellness of our students and staff.

Source: Higher Health press release

Heredity appears to play a large role in determining a person’s susceptibility to drugs’ effects. For instance, the rate of alcoholism among sons of alcoholic parents is four to five times higher than among children of non-alcoholics. If there is a history of substance abuse in your family, tell your child this. Perhaps knowing that she might have inherited a gene predisposing her to addiction will serve as a deterrent.

In addition to genetic traits, certain social and environmental factors raise the odds that a boy or girl may be drawn to alcohol and controlled substances. The greater the number of risk factors, the greater an adolescent’s vulnerability.

Do any of the characteristics apply to your child?

• Untreated psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and personality disorder. For these youngsters, as well as for those with untreated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other learning problems that interfere with academic and social success, taking illicit drugs may be their way of self-medicating.
• Temperament: thrill-seeking behavior, inability to delay gratification and so forth.
• An eating disorder.
• Associating with known drug users.
• Lack of parental supervision and setting of consistent limits.
• Living in a family where substance abuse is accepted.
• Living in a home scarred by recurrent conflicts, verbal abuse and physical abuse.

Know The Facts

Coming to this discussion well informed will enhance your credibility with your teenager. You’ll also be better able to spot problems in the early stages, when they’re most treatable.  Here is some homework a minimum, parents should know:

• The different types of drugs and their street names.
• What each drug and any associated paraphernalia look like.
• The physical and behavioral signs of drug abuse.
• How to get a child help if you suspect that he or she has a substance abuse problem.

Help is out there. Know who to call:

Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa: National helpline: 0861 HELPAA (435 722).
Worldwide fellowship for alcoholics supporting those choosing to be sober. Only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. See the AA website for a directory of provincial contact numbers and local “meeting rooms”.

Narcotics Anonymous SA: National 24-hour helpline: 083 900 MY NA (083 900 69 62)
NA is a non-profit organisation for recovering drug addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. Website: www.na.org.za

SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

• Sanca – Johannesburg: 08611 REHAB (73422) or (011) 673-0400 or sanca-jhb.org.za
• Sanca – Western Cape: (021) 945 4080/1 or www.sancawc.co.za

Sanca provides specialised and affordable prevention and treatment services for alcohol and other drug dependence. A national body established in 1956, it has independently operated societies and counselling centres in all nine provinces.

Dept. of Social Development’s Substance Abuse Line: National toll-free helpline: 0800 12 13 14 or SMS 32312

Offers support, guidance and help for people addicted to drugs and alcohol as well as their families. Run in partnership with the SA Depression and Anxiety Group.

 

Key Tips for Parents:

• Keep communication constant, open, and honest: Your children should not only know that they can talk to you about anything, you have to be committed to broaching topics of concern and do so openly. Talk about your own experiences and fears when you were an adolescent. Let them know that they are not alone; nor are their anxieties unique.
• Understand that mental health disorders are treatable: Arm yourself with information about the most common mental health disorders among adolescents; speak with your family doctor, your religious leader, and your child’s school representatives about what sorts of information are available from them.
• Be attentive to your teen’s behavior: Adolescence is, indeed, a time of transition and change, but severe, dramatic, or abrupt changes in behaviour can be strong indicators of serious mental health issues.

Mental Health “Red Flags”:

• Excessive sleeping, beyond usual teenage fatigue, which could indicate depression or substance abuse; difficulty in sleeping, insomnia, and other sleep disorders
• Loss of self-esteem
• Abandonment or loss of interest in favorite pastimes
• Unexpected and dramatic decline in academic performance
• Weight loss and loss of appetite, which could indicate an eating disorder
• Personality shifts and changes, such as aggressiveness and excess anger that are sharply out of character and could indicate psychological, drug, or sexual problems

Key Mental Health Issues:

Depression

While all of us are subject to “the blues,” clinical depression is a serious medical condition requiring immediate treatment. Watch for:

• Changes in sleep patterns
• Unexpected weeping or excessive moodiness
• Eating habits that result in noticeable weight loss or gain
• Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Paranoia and excessive secrecy
• Self-mutilation, or mention of hurting himself or herself
• Obsessive body-image concerns
• Excessive isolation
• Abandonment of friends and social groups

Eating disorders

Body image concerns can become obsessions, resulting in startling weight loss, severely affecting the adolescent’s health:

• Anorexia: Avoidance of food and noticeable changes in eating habits should trigger concern.
• Bulimia: Purging (forced vomiting) after eating — be alert for both dramatic weight loss without changes in eating habits (which could, of course, indicate other health issues that require a doctor’s attention) and also for immediate trips to the bathroom or other private spot after a meal.

Drug abuse

In addition to peer pressure, mental health issues can lead adolescents not just to experiment with alcohol and drugs, but also to use substances for “self-medication.” And in addition to being aware of the behavioural and physical signs of alcohol and drug abuse — drug and alcohol paraphernalia or evidence, hangovers, slurred speech, etc.

Parents should also:

• Be alert for prescription drug misuse and abuse: Prescription drug misuse by adolescents is second only to marijuana and alcohol misuse.
• Know that over-the-counter-medications can be abused as well: Teenagers also frequently abuse OTC cough and cold medications.

Concern about your adolescent’s mental health should first be addressed with your child. Encouraging open communication goes a long way toward fostering sound adolescent mental health habits.

If your concerns are serious, discuss them with your family doctor. Because so many mental health issues display physical manifestations — weight loss being the most dramatic but not the only one — your doctor can offer both initial medical assessment and also refer you to appropriate mental health organizations and professionals for counseling and treatment if called for.

Source: Healthychildren.org

“It’s been reported that as many as 57% of South African students have been bullied at some time during their high-school careers. When one considers that we have 2.2 million school-going children in this country, those percentages translate into truly staggering numbers.” – SACAP: SA College of Applied Psychology

Whether at school or college, in the neighborhood park or mall, children of all ages can find themselves the target of bullies. When that happens, these bullies can:

• Cause feelings of worthlessness
• Cause bodily injury
• Cause ongoing mental health problems that affect your child’s development and future career prospects

So what can you do?

• Tell your child not to give bullies what they want. A bully likes dominating and instilling fear in others. If your child shows they are intimidated or scared, that response usually makes the bullying behavior continue. Your child should try to keep calm and simply walk away. Then, tell you, the parent, or a responsible adult he/she trusts, what is going on as soon as possible.

• If ignoring a bully’s taunts are not effective, take a firm stance.  Suggest that your child stands tall, looks the bully in the eyes, and clearly and loudly makes a statement like, “Stop doing that now. If you keep on bothering me, I’m going to report you to the principal (or the police).” Or, “I’ll talk to you, but I’m not going to fight.” Sometimes, a strong statement will make the situation better, and the bully will leave your child alone. If your child is not used to talking firmly, help by rehearsing what to say and what tone of voice to use.

• Encourage your child to form strong friendships. A child who has loyal friends is less likely to be bullied, and will have peers who stand up for him/her.

• Talk to your child’s teacher, school counselor, or to the principal of the school if the situation with the bully does not stop. You might not want to get involved because you think your child is embarrassed to have you do so, or because you believe your child needs to learn to deal with these situations on her own. No. That doesn’t work. If you want to protect your child’s physical or mental health and well-being, you need to take action. Your child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive, and positive environment, even if it means both you and the school staff need to become more involved.

·         Let a neutral adult authority figure confront the bully. This is generally a better approach than having you speak with the bullying child or his parents. Rather ask the school/college head or a trusted teacher make the approach on behalf of you and your child.

Source: Healthychildren.org

Show your love

Positive attention is a must for teens. Spend time with your teen to show him or her that you care. Listen to your teen when he or she talks, and respect your teen’s feelings. Don’t assume that your teen knows how much you love him or her.

If your teen doesn’t seem interested in bonding, keep trying. Regularly eating meals together might be a good way to connect. Better yet, invite your teen to prepare the meal with you. On days when you’re having trouble talking to your teen, consider each doing your own thing in the same space. Being near each other could lead to the start of a conversation.

Keep in mind that unconditional love doesn’t mean unconditional approval. You can discipline your teen while showing that you won’t withdraw your love based on his or her behavior. If you’re pointing out something that your teen could do better, keep your criticism specific to the behavior rather than making personal statements about your teen.

Set reasonable expectations

Teens tend to live up or down to parental expectations, so set your expectations high. But instead of focusing on achievements, such as getting straight A’s, expect your teen to be kind, considerate, respectful, honest and generous.

When it comes to day-to-day accomplishments, remember that teens gain confidence through success, which can prepare them for the next challenge. As your teen takes on more difficult tasks, instead of setting the bar yourself, support him or her to determine what he or she can handle. If your teen comes up short, react supportively and encourage him or her to recover and try again. It’s more important to praise your teen’s effort than the end result.

Set rules and consequences

Discipline is about teaching, not punishing or controlling your teen. To encourage your teen to behave well, discuss what behavior is acceptable and unacceptable at home, at school and elsewhere. Create fair and appropriate consequences for how your teen behaves. When setting consequences:

·         Avoid ultimatums. Your teen might interpret an ultimatum as a challenge.

·         Be clear and concise. Rather than telling your teen not to stay out late, set a specific curfew. Keep your rules short and to the point. Make consequences immediate and linked to your teen’s choices or actions.

·         Explain your decisions. Your teen might be more likely to comply with a rule when he or she understands its purpose. There might be less to rebel against when your teen knows that a limit is being imposed for his or her safety.

·         Be reasonable. Avoid setting rules your teen can’t possibly follow. A chronically messy teen might have trouble immediately maintaining a spotless bedroom.

·         Be flexible. As your teen demonstrates more responsibility, grant him or her more freedom. If your teen shows poor judgment, impose more restrictions.

When enforcing consequences, reprimand your teen’s behavior — not your teen. Avoid lecturing your teen about his or her shortcomings and the abstract, far-off consequences, which can motivate your teen to prove you wrong. Don’t use a sarcastic, demeaning or disrespectful tone. Embarrassing your teen can instill a sense of shame, put him or her in a defensive position, and distract him or her from reflecting on what he or she has done wrong. Before you speak, consider asking yourself if what you’re about to say is true, necessary and nonjudgmental.

Prioritise rules

While it’s important to consistently enforce your rules, you can occasionally make exceptions when it comes to matters such as homework habits and bedtime. Prioritizing rules will give you and your teen a chance to practice negotiating and compromising.

However, consider beforehand how far you’re willing to bend. Don’t negotiate when it comes to restrictions imposed for your teen’s safety, such as substance abuse, sexual activity and reckless driving. Make sure your teen knows that you won’t tolerate tobacco, alcohol or other drug use.

Set a positive example

Teens learn how to behave by watching their parents. Your actions generally speak louder than your words. Show your teen how to cope with stress in positive ways and be resilient. Be a good model and your teen will likely follow your lead.

Source: The Mayo Clinic

]]> https://careerplanet.co.za/adolescent-depression/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adolescent-depression-what-parents-can-do-to-help Mon, 26 Nov 2018 18:01:58 +0000 http://edevstage.co.za/cp/?p=118440 The recent South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey revealed some disturbing trends among South African youth. It found that 24% of those surveyed between Grade 8 to Grade 11 had experienced feelings of depression, hopelessness and sadness, while a further 21% had attempted suicide at least once.

Alarmingly, the same studies show that in the large Cape Town metropole area, 41% of teens surveyed experienced depression, 16% anxiety and 21% Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

What are the warning signs?

Although any of the signs outlined below can occur in children who are not depressed, when seen together, nearly every day, they are red flags for depression and should never be ignored. Remember, your teen is not making the symptoms up. What looks like laziness or crankiness can be symptoms of depression. Here are the signs to look out for:

• A sad or irritable mood for most of the day.
• Not enjoying things that used to make them happy.
• A marked change in weight or eating habits.
•  Sleeping habits – too little at night or too much during the day.
• No longer wanting to be with family or friends.
• A lack of energy or feeling unable to do simple tasks.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Low self-esteem.
• Trouble focusing or making choices.
• A drop in school grades.
• Not caring about what happens in the future.
• Aches and pains when nothing is really wrong.
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicide.

What should I do if I think my teen is depressed?

• Talk to your child about his/her feelings and the things happening at home and at school that may be bothering him/her.
• Talk to your family doctor. Some medical problems can cause depression. Your doctor may recommend psychotherapy (counseling to help with emotions and behavior) or medication for depression.
• Try and arrange for a medical professional to screen your teen for depression every year from ages 12 through 21 (suicide is now a leading cause of death among adolescents). Treat any thoughts of suicide as an emergency.

How can I help?

Promote good health

• The basics for good mental health include a healthy diet, enough sleep, exercise, and positive connections with other people at home and at school.
• Limit screen time and encourage physical activity or just fun interactions with friends or family to help develop positive connections with others.
• One-on-one time with parents, praise for good behavior, encouragement for seeking help and affirming your child’s strengths will help build the parent-child bond.

Provide safety and security

• Talk with your child about bullying. Being the victim of bullying is a major cause of mental health problems.
• Look for grief or loss issues. Seek help if problems with grief do not get better. If you as a parent are grieving a loss, get help and find additional support for your teen.
• Help reduce stress! Most teens have low stress tolerance. Your stress or other stresses at home or school are amplified and affect your child’s health.

Help your teen learn thinking and coping skills

• Help your teen relax with physical and creative activities. Focus on his/her strengths.
• Talk to and listen to your child with love and support. Encourage teens to share their feelings including thoughts of death or suicide. Reassure them that this is very common with depression.
• Help your teen look at problems in a more positive and constructive way.
• Break down problems or tasks into smaller steps so your teen can be successful.

Make a safety plan

• Follow the treatment plan. Make sure your teen attends therapy and takes any medicine as directed.
• Treatment works, but it may take a few weeks. The depressed teen may not recognize changes in mood right away and may become discouraged with initial side effects of treatments (such as antidepressants).
• Develop a list of people to call when feelings get worse.
• Watch for the risk factors for suicide. These include talking about suicide in person or on the internet, giving away belongings, increased thoughts about death, and substance abuse.
• Locate telephone numbers for your teen’s doctor and therapist, and the local mental health crisis response contact details.

SADAG SA Depression and Anxiety Group 24hr Helpline:  0800 12 13 14

Suicidal Emergency contact: 0800 567 567.

Childline South Africa – 24-hour toll-free helpline: 08000 55 555. Website: www.childline.org.za

Assistance from trained counsellors. Information, support and assistance to children and their families. Issues dealt with include physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, behavioural problems, legal advice, and trafficking.

Our Source Ref: IOL
Local statistics: Healthy Children

Helping your child make the emotional transition to college can be a major undertaking. Know how to identify whether your child is having trouble dealing with this new stage of life — and what you can do to help.

What is college depression, and why are college students vulnerable to it?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. College depression isn’t a clinical diagnosis. Instead, college depression is depression that begins during college.

College students face challenges, pressures and anxieties that can cause them to feel overwhelmed. They might be living on their own for the first time and feeling homesick. They’re adapting to new schedules and workloads, adjusting to life with roommates, and figuring out how to belong. Money and intimate relationships also can serve as major sources of stress. Dealing with these changes during the transition from adolescence to adulthood can trigger or unmask depression during college in some young adults.

What are the signs that a student is dealing with college depression?

Many college students occasionally feel sad or anxious, but these emotions pass within a few days. In contrast, depression affects how a person feels, thinks and behaves and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

Signs and symptoms that a student might be experiencing depression during college include:

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
• Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures, or blaming yourself for things that aren’t your responsibility
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Your child might also start having academic problems not consistent with her or her previous performance.

What should I do if I suspect my child is experiencing college depression?

Signs and symptoms of depression might be difficult to notice if your child isn’t living at home. College students also might have difficulty seeking help for depression out of embarrassment or fear of not fitting in.

If you suspect that your child might be dealing with depression, talk to him or her about what’s going on and listen. Encourage your child to share his or her feelings. Also, ask him or her to make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. Many colleges offer mental health services.

Remember, depression symptoms might not get better on their own — and depression might get worse if it isn’t treated. Untreated depression can lead to other mental and physical health issues or problems in other areas of life. Feelings of depression can get in the way of your child’s academic success. They can also increase the likelihood of high-risk behaviors, such as binge drinking, other substance abuse, and having unsafe sex, and increase the risk of suicide.

How can I help my child cope with depression during college?

In addition to seeking treatment, your child can take steps to feel better. For example, encourage him or her to:

• Take it one step at a time: Encourage your child to avoid doing too many things at once. Instead, break up large tasks into small ones.
• Care for himself or herself: Urge your child to get daily exercise, eat well, spend time in nature, get enough sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs. Use of alcohol and drugs is a poor way to cope with stress. Keep in mind that when people abuse alcohol and drugs, depression can develop. Using stimulants to stay up and study also can lead to mood changes.
• Seek support: Encourage your child to spend time with supportive family members and friends or seek out student support groups.
• Have fun: Encourage your child to go out with friends and try to have fun. He or she might be surprised to find enjoyment.

How can I help prevent college depression?

There’s no sure way to prevent depression during college. However, helping your child become accustomed to his or her college campus before the start of the school year might prevent your child from feeling overwhelmed by the transition. Encourage your child to visit the campus and talk to students, peer counselors or faculty about what to expect and where to turn for support.

If your college-bound child has risk factors for or a history of depression, make sure he or she takes the disorder into consideration when applying to colleges. Talk about whether choosing a college close to home or a small college might make the transition easier. In addition, help your child become familiar with campus counseling resources. If necessary, consider finding a doctor or therapist closer to campus to provide therapy or monitor medication. Once at college, keeping a short, daily record of key symptoms might help your child recognize if his or her symptoms are getting worse.

Remember, getting treatment at the earliest sign of a problem can relieve symptoms and help students succeed in college.

Source: The Mayo Clinic