Department set-up helpline to assist learners with stress
“Their eagerness to succeed in the examinations may come with other pressures which can result in psychological challenges. These can also cause depression, which may trigger suicidal thoughts.”
MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga Department of Education has established a trauma and counselling service for learners as they continue to work hard towards the end of the 2015 examinations.
The department urges all learners who experience stress or related disorders to contact the departmental toll-free line at 0800-020-3116. They will be linked with a specialist who will be able to gladly assist them with their challenges.
The MEC for education, Ms Reginah Mhaule, said the majority of pupils continued to burn the midnight oil in the quest to do well in their final examinations. She added that it was time for the class of 2015 to prepare themselves for life beyond secondary school.
“Their eagerness to succeed in the examinations may come with other pressures which can result in psychological challenges. These can also cause depression, which may trigger suicidal thoughts,” said Mhaule.
She said depression or stress-related disorders were normal and caused by a number of reasons ranging from learners failing to live up to their academic abilities, low self-esteem, not discovering true potential, learning disabilities, choosing wrong subjects, and peer and family pressures.
“However, worth noting is the fact that while in the face of hardship and disappointments, it takes strength, courage and sheer determination to rise above the odds and regain victory,” said Mhaule.
She added that learners should realise that when they felt depressed or suicidal, it was not a character of weakness but a sign of deep-seated pain or intense emotional pain and they should learn to deal with stress in a healthy way.
Common signs and symptoms of depression:
• Physical pains (headache, back pain, aching muscles, stomach pains)
• Sleeping disorder (short-lived sleep or oversleep)
• Negative thoughts
• Eating disorder (loss of appetite or can’t stop eating)
• Irritability (short-tempered/aggressive)
• Non-participation in routine activities
Warning signs of suicide
• Talking about killing or harming oneself
• Acting recklessly
• Calling or visiting people to say goodbye
• Belittling oneself
• Switching from unhappiness to happiness (within a short space of time)
Coping strategies (stimulating a positive mind)
• Find someone to talk to (preferably face to face)
• Engage in daily routine activities
• Avoid being alone
• Positive thinking, don’t keep bad feelings to yourself
• Make your surrounding place safe
• Get out in the sun or into the nature (+30 minutes a day)
• Exercise (+- 30 minutes a day) just to boost your mood
• Make time for things that bring you joy
• Don’t do things that will make you feel worse
• Don’t accept rejection
• Take blame
• See failure as temporary
• Set realistic expectations relating to your strengths.
