There is a perception that only adults are affected by mental health issues. But children also face these problems. Some adults are able to deal with their problems through established coping mechanisms.
However, it is not easy for children to do the same, taking into consideration the various demographics of the child and their developmental stages.
If children are affected by mental health issues, it is the responsibility of the adults to identify the signs and symptoms, in relation to changes in behaviour, and respond by referring the child for assistance.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the mental health of children and adolescents is one of the world’s most neglected health issues. It says most mental health conditions arise early in life, with 50 per cent emerging before the age of 14.
As an NGO focusing on the provision of counselling and social support services focused on child protection, Empower Pacific, deals with cases involving children from various backgrounds.
Children Fijiwide have been provided with Mental Health & Psychosocial Support services via counselling and social work by Empower Pacific’s qualified counsellors and social workers.
The issues for which they are counselled range from custody issues to moral support and suicidal ideations, to name a few.
Dealing with children has been a crucial part of Empower Pacific’s work and the organisation is committed in the continuous work of child protection.
This is the story of an eight-year-old girl who was going through some mental health issues that affected her behaviour in school and at home.
It is a case from Nadi but due to confidentiality purposes, the child and her family members’ identity have been withheld.
Her 29-year-old sister went on the internet and found out about the 24/7 Empower Pacific toll-free counselling helpline 5626.
She said the reason she called the helpline was because of her younger sister’s disturbing behaviour at home and school, for which she needed counselling assistance.
Furthermore, she claimed that her sister had been having relationship issues with their mother for about four months.
The woman, who will be referred to in this story as “client”, was connected to the Empower Pacific’s Nadi-based counsellor Aarti Akaansha, who met up with the sister and her troubled sister.
Ms Akaansha learned that the girl was neither focusing on her school work nor listening at home.
Her parents were frightened to take disciplinary measures as they would be taken to task if they did, so the family sought professional counselling support.
The two sisters had three counselling sessions. In response to questions posed to her, the client said the sessions assisted her to understand her younger sister and learn to be more patient with her.
The client also learned not to give up on her younger sister but rather to focus on working together with her to bring about positive changes to her home environment and her overall upbringing.
“I feel really happy after our three sessions with counsellor Aarti.
She somehow made my sister understand more,” she said. The client said the issue that kept her worried and fearful was the relationship between her mother and her little sister.
However, she said, that had improved greatly after the counselling sessions. “My sister’s behaviour at home and in school has changed for the better and she has improved a lot,” she said.
Her advice to people facing mental health issues is to share their problems with others.
“Have a talk with the counsellors. You can shed some tears and feel that burden from your heart dissolve a little. Talk and share it. Don’t keep it inside you,” said the client.
This case has been one of Empower Pacific’s most recent successful cases.
The counselling sessions helped the client and her sister by bringing about positive changes and offering better coping methods in dealing with their issues and life.
According to UNICEF, mental health issues experienced in childhood could have long-term impacts on health, educational outcomes, and earning capacity.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is a key priority for UNICEF and as an organisation Empower Pacific has MHPSS services aligned to these key global priorities.
Together with its partners, UNICEF develops programs that improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children, adolescents and their caregivers,
globally.
Empower Pacific is proudly working in partnership with UNICEF to improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children.
Its team of qualified counsellors are available 24/7 on the toll-free helpline 5626.
Counsellors are also available at the head office in Lautoka and branches in Suva, Nadi, Tavua, Nausori, Labasa and Kadavu during normal working hours from Monday to Friday.
If you think that either you or your loved ones are affected by mental health issues and need someone to talk to, then just pick up your phone and dial 5626 at any time of the day or night.
