BULLYING and body shaming may not be a common occurrence in schools in Fiji but they are known to happen.
Some students are able to either fight off the bullies or tell their teachers, parents or someone else about them.
But, there are others who tend to keep things bottled up thus resulting in them developing mental health issues such as depression and so forth.
It is evident in this case
This is the story of a 23-year-old university student who was the victim of bullying and body shaming when she was in high school a few years ago.
Even though she left school and is in university now, what she experienced then was affecting her mental health until recently.
The woman, whom we shall call client, was referred to one of the Empower Pacific branches in the Western Division by a doctor for counselling a few months ago.
She had suicidal ideations, a very low self-esteem, anger issues and was also on medication for having seizures.
Empower Pacific counsellor Akene Lagilagi said in the first counselling session, the client stated she did not want to see a counsellor because she was seeing a mental health nurse.
But she then agreed to undergo counselling.
Ms Lagilagi said she spoke to the client in the first counselling session and explored what triggered her to have suicidal thoughts, a very low self-esteem, and tried to address her anger.
She noticed the client’s demeanour change at the end of the first counselling session, following which she had tele-counselling sessions with her.
“The client was bullied when she was in high school and this lowered her self-esteem, and even made her change school in Year 12,” Ms Lagilagi said.
“From that school, she went to another school and all this happened in one year when she was in Year 12.
“But the bullies from her first school always met her in town after school and body shamed her. They used to say things about her physical appearance.
“Whatever she experienced affected her mental health and it stayed with her even after she had left high school.”
Ms Lagilagi said the client revealed that everything was good when she started university as there was no bullying or body shaming, but what she had experienced in high school affected her mentally.
She started doing a nursing course but what she always heard from her school mates in high school and even from a teacher was troubling her state of mind.
“The client said while sitting in class at the university one day, all the words she used to hear in high school kept revolving in her mind. She started crying, then picked her bag and walked away.”
Ms Lagilagi said through counselling, she helped the client regain her self-esteem as apart from her high school, she also had bad experiences elsewhere.
“She has been able to gain a lot of confidence and is also able to control her anger. She is confidently able to travel alone to town and back home now. She takes care of herself and watches her diet.
“The client has stopped having suicidal ideations or thinking about harming herself because after counselling she has realised that she has the abilities and other reasons to live.
“Even though she has lost friends because of her experience, she’s happy and moved on with her life. She has good coping skills.
“Through counselling support, she has learned not to depend on anyone.”
Ms Lagilagi said the client was doing an Information Technology (IT) course in university now and her mental health was good.
This client’s case was a little different to those normally handled by our qualified team of counsellors and social workers around the country.
Considering the partnership that Empower Pacific has with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to provide holistic mental health and psychosocial care, hospital personnel often refer patients to our NGO.
Like this client, other people facing mental health issues because of various things going on in their lives are now living happily after receiving mental health and psychosocial support.
Empower Pacific has counsellors and social workers available at its head office in Lautoka and in the branches located in Suva, Labasa, Nausori, Nadi, Tavua and Kadavu during normal working hours.
People can also call our 24/7 toll free counselling helpline 5626, which is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and talk to a counsellor if they are having any problem affecting their mental health.
AVINESH GOPAL is the media and communications officer for Empower Pacific.
