Rynfield Primary embraces mental wellness

Thanks to a powerful programme by education and wellness advocate Kay Chaytanov, Rynfield Primary School learners will give mental health a ‘high five’ on September 26.

In a world where children suffer in silence, Cheytanov is breaking the cycle.

Through her High 5 initiative, the former rock musician is helping young minds find their voices on sensitive topics like anxiety and depression, and that help, hope and healing start with a conversation.

Speaking at the 25th birthday celebration of her other company, 3RC, at the Benoni International Hotel School on August 6, she said High 5 encourages adults to talk to children about anxiety and depression from an early age in a language they understand.

“So many of our children are dealing with huge emotions and don’t know what to do with them. We talk to grades One to Four learners for an hour in a fun and memorable way, touching on the things they or their friends might be dealing with and aren’t talking to anybody about,” she said.

She started High 5 after seeing the devastating impact bullying had on her daughter. She decided to do something to help.

“She didn’t tell me. All I saw was this gorgeous and vibrant young girl start getting quiet and the lights dimming. She started spending time on her own until an event that shook our family. I realised we needed to get her help.

“I realised that children find it hard to speak to adults about their issues. That’s how High 5 was born – to give children tools to deal with emotions, anxiety and depression. Also, to be able to speak out when somebody is hurting them.”

The programme is a live theatre production designed for children in grades One to Four, centred on five key values – kindness, safety, resilience, bravery and individuality.

“High 5 isn’t just a show. It’s a movement. A way of saying to every child, ‘You matter. You’re not alone’,” said Cheytanov.

Cheytanov has spent over two decades educating young people through creativity via 3RC, primarily high school learners, during the Rocking Future expos.

“The expos address the specific challenges faced by SA youth in terms of career development and employment by presenting them with a wide variety of choices.”

The Rocking Future expo began with four colleges and has since grown from January to May to 240 schools. This year, they visited Hoërskool Hans Moore in March and the Pinnacle College Rynfield in May.

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