Future-proofing our youth

It is becoming increasingly apparent that parental guidance and family issues have risen to the forefront of reasons why individuals seek support through LifeAssist. This trend underscores a significant desire among parents and guardians to assist young dependents in navigating the myriad challenges that they face.

A recent UNICEF South Africa U-Report poll conducted in October 2023 revealed that 60% of children and youth felt they needed mental health support over the past year. Alarmingly, 63% of those who needed help did not actively seek it, primarily because they were unaware of where to go for support.

Fortunately, LifeAssist is here to offer free counselling and coaching services to help people of all ages build resilience, acquire skills, and make healthy life choices. The goal is to support smooth transitions through various life stages.

The EWP frequently addresses a range of issues affecting youth, including:

Addiction
Adjusting to change
Anger and anxiety
Behavioural concerns
Bereavement and loss
Blended families
Conflict and depression
Divorce
Health and hygiene concerns
Identity and self-esteem
Lack of motivation
Puberty
Sexuality
Screen-time management
Sleep issues
Stress and substance abuse
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma

Life coaching is particularly effective for young people who are mature and self-motivated. This proactive approach focuses on building knowledge and life skills essential for future success. Common coaching topics include:

Boundary setting
Conflict management
Emotional intelligence
Financial literacy
Goal setting
Leadership skills
Finding meaning and purpose
Parenting preparation
Relationship skills
Resilience building
Role definition
Self-care practices
Social intelligence and empathy
Stress mastery
Wellness and healthy habits
Work/school/study-life balance

The EWP applies ethical guidelines for age-appropriate counselling, which essentially ensures that the needs of the child are always put first.

When seeking help through LifeAssist for a child-related matter (under 13 years), the initial step is to provide parental guidance, enabling parents to support their children effectively. Counselling can be offered to a child six years and older, at the discretion of LifeAssist, with the consent of parents or guardians. Adolescents aged thirteen and older can independently seek help from the programme without parental consent.

On the other hand, PEP [Post Exposure Prophylaxis] is available to everyone – including infants – in the event of a traumatic event like rape, assault, accident, or injury – where there is a risk of transmission of HIV or Sexually Transmitted Infections [STIs] through contact with another person’s blood or bodily fluids. If obtaining consent from the parent is a barrier to the child receiving care timeously (within 72-hours of an incident), then the discretion of the healthcare professional is applied to administer the preventative treatment without prior consent of the parent.

As a parent, you can play a proactive role in preparing the youth in your care for their future by making them aware of the benefits of counselling and coaching. Put your teens or young adults in touch with Health 24/7 by sharing the contact details so that they can access support as and when they need it. You can reassure them that their right to privacy and confidentiality will be respected.

zara2024-06-28T12:56:44+00:00

Mental Health Check Quiz

What is the difference between stress, anxiety disorder and depression?

Stress	Anxiety disorders – more about the mind and distorted ways of thinking	Depression – more about feelings – a disorder of mood
Stress is a normal response to any stimuli or event that is perceived to threaten our wellbeing and make us feel ‘under pressure’	The main features are fear related - fear of the future, fear for the children, fear about their health, fear of failure. People with anxiety disorder often say things like “I feel uneasy” or “I feel apprehensive”	The main feature is ‘deep, intense, heavy sadness’ and feelings of despair and hopelessness and loneliness
Stress is about the person’s ability to cope with the event (such as work overload or too many emotional crises at one time)	Chronic worry and anxiety. They are often called ‘highly strung’	No longer enjoy doing the things that they use to do. Enjoyment has been sucked out of their lives

Stress is not classified as a mental illness it is part of every-day life and only becomes problematic when there is too much stress for the person to cope with.

Anxiety disorder and Depression are classified as mental illnesses and therefore require specialized medical and psychological interventions.

Because not many people know the difference between the three conditions – an employee may have an anxiety disorder or a depression but may be calling it stress.

DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress) Questionnaire

Please read each statement and circle a number 0, 1, 2, or 3 which indicates how much the statement applied to you over the past week. There are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time on any statement.

The rating scale is as follows:

0 - Did not apply to me at all
1 - Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time
2 - Applied to me to a considerable degree, or aa good part of time
3 - Applied to me very much, or most of the time

I found it hard to wind down

0

1

2

3

I was aware of dryness of my mouth

0

1

2

3

I couldn’t seem to experience any positive feeling at all

0

1

2

3

I experienced breathing difficulty (e.g. Excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion)

0

1

2

3

I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things

0

1

2

3

I tended to over-react to situations

0

1

2

3

I experienced trembling (e.g. In the hands)

0

1

2

3

I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy

0

1

2

3

I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself

0

1

2

3

I felt I had nothing to look forward to

0

1

2

3

I found myself getting agitated

0

1

2

3

I found it difficult to relax

0

1

2

3

I felt down-hearted and blue

0

1

2

3

I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing

0

1

2

3

I felt I was close to panic

0

1

2

3

I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything

0

1

2

3

I felt I wasn’t worth much as a person

0

1

2

3

I felt that I was rather touchy

0

1

2

3

I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion (e.g. Sense of heart rate increase, heart missing a beat)

0

1

2

3

I felt scared without any good reason

0

1

2

3

I felt that life was meaningless

0

1

2

3

zara2024-06-28T09:31:03+00:00

Fast First Aid for Household Burns

Accidental burns can happen all too easily around the home – and when they do, it’s easy to panic and make things worse. Here are some quick tips for assessing and dealing with burns.

How to Recognise if a Burn is Serious

It’s important to be able to recognise how severe a burn is, so you can think fast about the best course of action or treatment.

First-degree: A first-degree burn is painful, but it is the least serious type of burn and the easiest to deal with. The skin will look red and may become inflamed or swollen. This can usually be treated at home.

Second-degree: A second-degree burn is more serious and more painful. The skin will look intensely red and splotchy, with blisters and swelling. It’s best to seek medical attention for second-degree burns, although very small ones may be treated at home.

Third-degree: A third-degree burn is very serious. It destroys both the outer layer of skin, and the layer underneath. The skin will either look blackened, or very dry and white. The burn victim might actually not feel any pain at the burn site, because the nerve endings will be damaged. This is an emergency situation that requires medical help immediately.

Do’s and Don’ts for Dealing with Burns

Most household burns are caused by hot liquids, fire, electricity or cleaning chemicals. Here’s what to do if a family member or friend gets burned.

First, quickly remove the source of the heat and smother any flames. Then assess the burn.

A third-degree burn requires professional medical care, and this might also apply to large second-degree burns. Call an ambulance or emergency healthcare hotline immediately. The tips below apply only to first-degree or smaller second-degree burns.

Do: Remove any clothing or jewellery at the site of the burn.

Don’t: Do not try to remove any material that is stuck to the skin. Rather run cold water over it, and then cut away as much as you can around the burn.

Do: Cool the burn, within the first 20 minutes if possible. Hold the burned area under cool (but not cold) running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides.

Don’t: Do not use ice or very cold water, as this sudden drop in temperature can cause the body to go into shock, especially in young children.

Do: Cover the burn using sterile gauze or a clean cotton sheet. Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on the burn site.

Don’t: Do not apply any ointment to the burn. This includes Vaseline, egg white, butter, and any type of oil or lotion.

Do: Give the victim an over-the-counter painkiller to relieve the pain of a mild burn.

Don’t: Do not give Aspirin to very young children, or to children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu.

If you keep a clear head and act quickly, you can minimise the pain and damage caused by common household burns.

Sources

Burns: First Aid. 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649

Burns: home treatment. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/burns-home-treatment

zara2021-04-09T11:53:31+00:00

May Newsletter

November 2024

Movember – Men’s Health Awareness Month
Quality Month
Red Ribbon Month

1-7 Int. Stress Awareness Week
2 National Children’s Day (RSA)
3- 3/12 Disability Rights Awareness Month (RSA)
6 SADC Malaria Day
6 Int. Day of Stress Awareness
8 World Radiography Day
12 World Pneumonia Day
13 Int. Social Media Kindness Day
13 World Kindness Day
14 World Diabetes Day
14 World Quality Day
15 Int. Stand Up to Bullying Day
16 Int. Day for Tolerance
17 World Prematurity Day
18-24 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
19 Int. Men’s Day
20 World Children’s Day
25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25- 10/12 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children
29 Black Friday (Retail)

November 2024

Movember - Men's Health Awareness Month Quality Month Red Ribbon Month 1-7 Int. Stress Awareness Week 2 National Children's Day (RSA) 3- 3/12 Disability Rights Awareness Month (RSA) 6 SADC Malaria Day 6 Int. Day [...]

Eat the Rainbow for Better Health

Did you know that the colours of the fruits and vegetables you eat can have a profound impact on your health? It’s not just about making your plate look beautiful—each colour offers its own unique [...]

Pick your Battles for improved Mental Health… and Relationships

The concept of "picking your battles" is key to managing stress and improving mental health, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month. Remember, you don't need to be right about everything! Before reacting to a situation, [...]

November 2024

Movember – Men’s Health Awareness Month
Quality Month
Red Ribbon Month

1-7 Int. Stress Awareness Week
2 National Children’s Day (RSA)
3- 3/12 Disability Rights Awareness Month (RSA)
6 SADC Malaria Day
6 Int. Day of Stress Awareness
8 World Radiography Day
12 World Pneumonia Day
13 Int. Social Media Kindness Day
13 World Kindness Day
14 World Diabetes Day
14 World Quality Day
15 Int. Stand Up to Bullying Day
16 Int. Day for Tolerance
17 World Prematurity Day
18-24 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
19 Int. Men’s Day
20 World Children’s Day
25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25- 10/12 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children
29 Black Friday (Retail)

Eat the Rainbow for Better Health

Did you know that the colours of the fruits and vegetables you eat can have a profound impact on your health? It’s not just about making your plate look beautiful—each colour offers its own unique benefits, and eating a variety of them can support your body in different ways. That’s why the concept of “Eating the Rainbow” has become such a popular approach to healthy eating.

One of the best ways to maximise the nutrients in these foods is to eat them as raw as possible. Over-cooking can sometimes reduce the amount of essential vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables, so enjoying them raw or steamed ensures you get the most out of their natural goodness.

Let’s break it down!

White foods like garlic, cauliflower, mushrooms and onions contain powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help your immune system fight infections. Try adding raw garlic to your salad dressings or finely chop onions for a fresh kick in your salsa.
Orange and yellow foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and oranges are rich in nutrients that enhance vision. Snack on raw carrot sticks or add orange slices to your water for a citrusy burst. Also, try cutting corn raw into your salad for extra crunch and sweetness
Red foods like tomatoes, strawberries, and peppers are your heart’s best friend. Slice up some fresh red peppers for a crunchy snack or mix strawberries into a morning smoothie.
Blue and purple foods such as blueberries, plums, and aubergines are brain-boosting superheroes, rich in antioxidants that support memory and slow ageing. Enjoy blueberries in a fresh fruit salad or try eating raw purple cabbage in slaws for a crisp texture and vibrant colour.
Green foods like spinach, broccoli, and kale are known for their detoxifying properties, and helping your body absorb more vitamins like folate and iron. Create a raw spinach salad with avocado, or blend kale into smoothies for a refreshing green boost.

To create the healthiest plates, aim for a mix of these colours and focus on incorporating raw or lightly steamed foods where possible. Salads, fruit bowls, and veggie platters are easy, nutrient-packed meals. Don’t forget to add a variety of seeds, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil or avocado to enhance flavour and texture.

Remember, the more natural and colourful your plate, the better your body will feel! You have FREE access to LifeAssist dieticians for a personalised eating plan to suit your needs. Kickstart your summer with a healthy boost!

zara2017-09-04T08:05:46+00:00

Uncategorized

What is the difference between stress, anxiety disorder and depression?

DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress) Questionnaire

Your Depression / Axiety / Stress Results

May Newsletter

November 2024