Fresh off the Mat

CAMP CAMP CAMP CAMP CAMP CAMP

2009-04-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

CAMP CAMP CAMP

YC4MH camp happening this Thursday 09th to Monday 13th. We'll be traveling by the 'venga-bus' to NaDaVE for a thursday to monday camp of a lifetime.

already 20 something people have confirmed. if you wana get more info please let tiri noe asap

woohooo ..... youth champs rock

Dealing with Stress

2009-03-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Some questions you can ask yourself:

1. Assess the situation
Why am I stressed? What is causing the stress?

2. Isolate the emotions involved
How am I reacting to the stress? Am I angry, nervous etc?

3. Identify possible changes
How can I change it? What can’t I change? How can I make it better?

4. Manage your feelings
If I cannot control the situation, how can I manage the way I feel about it?

5. Identify those around you who can help you with your stress
Who are my Helping Hands?

6. Keep a positive outlook
How do I remain above the problem? How can I be resilient?

Look out for more notes on dealing with Stress

Anxiety

2009-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Anxiety is NOT a random, unknown, or uncontrollable disease or illness that you inherit or contract. Anxiety is a normal reaction to fear.

Everyone experiences anxiety to some degree. Anxiety is caused by the perception of fear, or in other words, by thinking fearfully.

For example, Webster’s dictionary defines anxiety as:

A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.
A state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a realistic or fantasized threatening event or situation, often impairing physical and psychological functioning.

Therefore, anxiety by itself is NOT a disease or illness, but turns into a disorder when a person becomes physically, psychologically, emotionally, or spiritually symptomatic, fearful, or distraught because of it.

Worry IS anxiety.

The Webster’s dictionary defines worry as:

a troubled state of mind, anxiety, distressed, persistent mental uneasiness.
Worry results from fearful thinking about a future event or circumstance.

While the negative effects of acute or chronic anxiety may feel like a random, unknown, and uncontrollable disease, they are actually quite reversible. The problem is that most people don’t know how.

Anxiety conditions appear for specific reasons and have definite reasons why they persist. Once these reasons are identified and properly addressed, anxiety conditions along with their symptoms can be eliminated. . .and for good.

Anxiety conditions persist only because the underlying factors that cause them aren’t properly addressed. That’s why those who take medication as their only form of treatment generally remain on medication long term, or find themselves going on and coming off over and over again. Until the underlying factors are properly addressed, anxiety generally persists.

Working with an experienced anxiety coach/counselor/therapist (preferably someone who has personally conquered anxiety in his or her own life and is medication-free) produces the most effective results.

Anxiety disorders are fully reversible. With the right information, help, and support, anyone can conquer anxiety.

National Youth Day, 2009

2009-03-25T16:13:00.001-07:00

Friday, 20 March was the designated day for the celebration of the National Youth Day in Suva and throughout the nation. It was a day that was much looked forward to by Youths, Youth groups and Youth NGOs from all over the country. The theme set by the Department of Youth was: Step Up for Positive Change. With a march planned, formal activities, a workshop on the Pacific Youth Festival to run throughout the day and a music festival to finish it off in the evening, this was a day that we all eagerly awaited and prepared for.

It was a major disappointment to hear of the cancellation of the day’s events by the Minister for Education, Filipe Bole. Everything planned from the march straight through to the Music Festival was recalled and all ministry officials were to pack up and leave. The biggest disappointment came from those groups of Young People who had already met at the Flea market from 7am in the morning to prepare for the march that was shortly after cancelled. Even though the Tsunami warning was withdrawn way before the formal activities, the plans for the day’s events still remained cancelled; this was very disheartening to hear and left a lot of young people in the dark as to what would happen to celebrate their day.

However, this news didn’t stop a group of resourceful young people to come together and put forward a program that ran from 9am till 4pm in Sukuna Park. Members of the Young People’s Concerned Network, Peter Waqavonovono and Tura Lewai along with the PYC President Jackie Koroi did an amazing job planning a full day’s event in short notice. Youth groups who hung around and played a major part in the impromptu celebration were: Pacific Youth Festival Alumni, RFMF Youth, Fiji Youths Against Racism, Youth Peace Facilitators, Youth Inc, Pasifika Voices choir, Youth Champs for Mental Health, Yarawa Youth, Lajei Youth, Rescue Mission, Ark of Hope Youth Group and the YPCN. Displaying banners and running around the Sukuna Park grounds in costume, dancing to the music on offer from the bands playing on stage, the young people brought life to what started out as an ominous day.

The crowd turnout, according to the YPCN press release, was an amazing 900 people by headcount alone, with the majority of them being Youths and school children who were released from schools by the Ministry of Education. Students from Suva Grammar School and Laucala Bay Secondary School took up the challenge to be a part of the celebration and sing on stage to a welcoming crowd. The only formalities of the program being a few words shared from various leaders of youth groups like Gary Rounds for the Youth Champs for Mental Health, Jackie Koroi for the Pacific Youth Council inspiring youths present to be a part of the positive change that is needed in our nation and also recognizing the issues that young people are desperate to get out to the mainstream. In a speech given by YPCN Vice President Peter Waqavonovono to youth activists that attended yesterdays Youth Day Celebrations at Sukuna Park called on Youth activists to ‘build bridges and focus on moving Fiji forward through a collective voice”. He also made a call to action, and encouraged youths to be “ready for the Pacific Youth Festival, and personally push for more youth inclusiveness on every facet of Fiji’s socio-political life”.

The day’s program was a resounding success for Youths and for the young people present; it was a clear demonstration that the Youths of this nation are willing and able to work towards the building of a better Fiji taking the step towards positive change that is desperately needed in these times. We have shown that we can cut through the various barriers present within society and forge a path leading to peace within our generation and for Fiji. Youths present count the Tsunami warning a blessing because without it, we wouldn’t have had the chance to showcase our skills and abilities in organizing a major event like what was experienced on Friday.

Major kudos goes out to all who participated and were a part of a true National Youth Day celebration coined by the same young people as the Youth Tsunami Day Celebrations.

Being a Youth Champ for Mental Health (+ an extra tidbit)

2009-02-14T20:24:00.000-08:00

This past year has been quite a blast for me. Being a part of the group that met and talked things over about creating a group focusing on Mental Health and Youth was a real golden opportunity. I had never heard of any group at all that was interested on the issues of Young people and their mental health. The Youth Champs for Mental Health have truly changed my life. They’ve changed my perspective on issues of mental health and suicide. The work has opened my eyes to see how limited and underappreciated the mental health services are in Fiji.

I believe that everyone has a story to tell that deals on an issue of mental health, most especially me. Here’s my story…

All my life, I grew up knowing and feeling different. From even before I was born, I was unwanted by my mother (she confessed this to me) and so everyday in each passing year, for everything that went wrong in the house, I was the scapegoat. My brothers picked up on my mother’s treatment on me and they heaped even more trouble on my head. You may look at me and think that I’m extroverted, but I’m not – I’m really an introvert. Growing up, I spent a lot of time piling things up within me and never releasing that stress. I would always take the pain in and never let it go. Sometimes I’d just cry myself to sleep, forcing my face into the pillow so that no one heard my pain. Being effeminate the treatment I received from my brothers became worse and as always I’d just take it all in and hide everything behind a mask of smiles and laughter.

This continued for 18 years until I was in Form Six and i just snapped. I remember getting up from bed in the middle of the night and going into the kitchen. I pulled out a cutting knife from the drawer and tried to draw up the will to slash my wrists or stab myself in the guts. It was at that moment that I had an almost out-of-body experience. A voice went off in my head saying to me “WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS ISN’T THE WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS”. I was so scared and put the knife away, ran into my bedroom and cried into my pillow yet again.

Two days after that experience, I was taken by my mother to an uncle for prayers (for my future) and in that session, all these feelings and thoughts just spilt out. I had literally scared my mother out of her wits. She never realised that what she was doing to me all those years as a kid would lead me wanting to take my life. She confessed to me that getting pregnant with me was the last thing she wanted and from that moment she hated me and took the frustration and pain of life out on me. We both cried and reconciled ourselves there at that point.

From that day onwards, things slowly changed for me at home. I was slowly accepted and life became easier. The only problem is that keeping things bottled inside me had become a habit of mine and it’s something I still battle with to this day.

Since joining YC4MH, I’ve come to know a group of friends who share my experiences and pains. They know and understand me, accept me for who I am and not pass judgments on my personality. I’ve got people I can trust to share my problems with and they know that they can do the same with me. My personal capacity building is just underway and I want to use my experiences to let other young people know that it’s ok to speak out about their feelings and not be ashamed to say that they’re feeling depressed or stressed out.

I thank Tiri and the guys from PCDF for their initiative and foresight to creating a group that’s truly amazing as this. I look forward to this year and what it has for us and I’m willing to embrace whatever life throws at me coz I know that there’s always someone I can lean on in the tough times.

Sailosi Toganivalu

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

It's 2009 and we welcome the New Year with much hope and anticipation for what it may bring to us the Youth Champs. Some things to look out for this year and on our blog for the coming months are:

1. The YC4MH camp (Details TBC by Tiri)

2. Personal Stories from the champs on their experiences in the past year will be posted up as they come in

3. The Champs preparation for participation in the Pacific Youth Festival 2009 hosted in Suva.

4. More info bytes on coping with stress

5. A closer look into the work of the Youth Champs for Mental Health

6. Stories of the Champs from the local media

All that and more will be posted in the coming months! Stay tuned.

Youth Champs Story on Fiji Sun

2008-10-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

Here's an excerpt from the Fiji Sun story on the Youth Champs:

Despite the gloomy political climate early this year, a youth consultation forum for a proposed National Suicide Prevention policy was organised.

The young participants represented other youth affiliations from a diverse group.

There were those from sexual minorities groups like the Chinese youth association, peer educators from the University of the South Pacific and several other youth advocates.

The forum was a success with participants sharing personal stories, views and experiences.
At the end of the forum the participants stood up and challenged each other to continue advocating mental health issues.

The organisation targets other youth because of the stigma attached to mental illness and that many young people refrain from accessing mental health services.

Youth and Mental Health project officer, Tiriseyani Naulivou said the champs’ main objective was to help reduce this stigma through their advocacy activities.

“Following that forum Partners in Community Development organised a few other Youth and Mental Health related activities, which many of these same young people attended,” she said. "This to us was an indication of the commitment level these dedicated young people had made to our work in addressing Mental Health issues.”

The cause resulted in the Partners in Community Development Fiji then organising an awareness camp for youths where they were provided with the basic Mental Health knowledge and skills that they would need in their work. The camp was such a success that from there raises a ‘Youth Champs for Mental Health group.

Beginning with only 14 members the champ numbers has grown to about 30 and are still getting expressions of interest from many people who are eager to join.

“This is an indication that young people are aware and concerned about Mental Health issues in Fiji. It’s just a matter of involving them, hearing them out and ensuring that their needs are being met in terms of mental health” Tirisiyani said.

They have an executive committee made up of a President, Secretary, Spokesperson and project leaders who are in charge of specific mental health activities for the year.

There is also a board of advisor made up of Tiriseyani Naulivou a member of the National Council for the Prevention of Suicide; a Ministry of Youth rep; and a Psychiatrist from the St Giles Hospital.

“Right now we are still Suva based. But we are working on creating champs in the other parts of Fiji through other Mental Health officers under the Ministry of Health” Tiriseyani said.

The YC4MH endeavor is to reduce stigma against mental illness through developing youth friendly mental health information, using the creative arts to create awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, working in collaboration with other mental health stakeholders in organizing mental health related activities, and advocating for mental health issues .

“Youth are most vulnerable to Mental Illness and Suicide because of the rapid changes they experience at this phase of life. The latest suicide statistics in Fiji shows that a great percent of these figures represent youth. Yet, there are no specific Mental Health services available to young people in Fiji” she adds.

The youth champs are taking on a ‘youth 4 youth’ approach where they go out and educate other young people and advocate together to ensure that specific youth targeted mental health services are available and accessible by youth. They also tap into young peoples’ creative talent to get them to start thinking positively about mental health issues.

“We worked with Rishikul Sanatan College in the development of their winning dance concept for Suicide Prevention. Partners in Community Development also sponsored the production of a Mental Health theme song, the lyrics to which was written by two of our youth a champ” She said.

The song was launched at the St Giles Open Day on Saturday 04, October. We hope to have this inspirational piece on the radio for young people to hear and be inspired and encouraged.
Tiriseyani said that the group is so grateful for all the support they receive.

“We have a lot of support from other Mental Health stakeholders, which is always strengthening us. These include the Ministry of Health, Psychiatric Survivors Association and the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific International” she adds.

Earlier this year, the youth champ met with counterparts from seven other island countries who were excited to see the work of the youth champs in Fiji.

“Since then, they have decided to go back to their own countries and create their own youth champ groups. So, the youth champs will start to have their own regional network. Here in Fiji, even though we are still Suva based, we are working closely with Mental Health Project Officers from other divisions to set up an extended youth network” Tiriseyani said

The future look bright for the youth champ and the plan for the future is well under way.

“Right now we’re still a young group and we’re working on figuring out how we are going to arrange our activities for the next few years This is a challenge because there is such a need for our work and existence that many individuals and organisations are keen to work with us. However, right now we are on a tight budget and need to plan our activities accordingly”

Some photos of Rishikul's performance

2008-09-16T16:37:00.001-07:00

Some good news

2008-08-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

Just some heads up on the latest developments on the mental health scene:

Rishikul Sanatan College, the only school in Fiji to take on Suicide Prevention as their theme for the Tadra Kahani - Dream Story Stage Show 2008 won the competition in the High School Category.

Rishikul's performance in the Tadra Kahani came about through the work of the Youth Champs for Mental Health and the National Council on the Prevention of Suicide (NCOPS).

We congratulate the students of Rishikul College on their well deserved win!

More updates on this story will follow later in the week!

About Depression

2008-07-04T02:48:00.000-07:00

Depression Depression is common. Symptoms can affect day-to-day life and can become very distressing. Treatments include talking treatments and antidepressant medicines. Treatment takes time to work but has a good chance of success. Some people have recurring episodes of depression and require long-term treatment to keep symptoms away.

What is depression? The word depressed is a common everyday word. People might say "I'm depressed" when in fact they mean "I'm fed up because I've had a row, or failed an exam, or lost my job" etc. These ups and downs of life are common and normal. Most people recover quite quickly. With true depression, you have a low mood and other symptoms each day for at least two weeks. Symptoms can also become severe enough to interfere with day-to-day activities.

Who gets depression? About 2 in 3 adults have depression at some time in their life. Sometimes it is mild or lasts just a few weeks. However, an episode of depression serious enough to require treatment occurs in about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men at some point in their lives. Some people have two or more episodes of depression at various times in their life. What are the symptoms of depression?Listen to section Many people know when they are depressed. However, some people do not realize when they are depressed. They may know that they are not right and are not functioning well, but don't know why. Some people think that they have a physical illness, for example, if they lose weight.

The following is a list of common symptoms of depression. It is unusual to have them all, but several usually develop if you have depression.
* Low mood for most of the day, nearly every day. Things always seem 'black'.
* Loss of enjoyment and interest in life, even for activities that you normally enjoy.
* Abnormal sadness, often with weepiness.
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or uselessness.
* Poor motivation. Even simple tasks seem difficult.
* Poor concentration. It may be difficult to read, work, etc.
* Sleeping problems: o sometimes difficulty in getting off to sleep.
o sometimes waking early and unable to get back to sleep.
o sleeping too much sometimes occurs.
* Lacking in energy, always tired.
* Difficulty with affection, including going off sex.
* Poor appetite and weight loss. Sometimes the reverse happens with comfort eating and weight gain.
* Irritability, agitation, or restlessness.
* Symptoms often seem worse first thing each day.
* Physical symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, chest pains, and general aches.
* Recurrent thoughts of death. This is not usually a fear of death, more a preoccupation with death and dying. Some people get suicidal ideas such as ..."life's not worth living". The severity of the symptoms can vary from mild to severe. As a rule, the more symptoms from the list above that you have, the more severe the depression is likely to be.

What causes depression? The exact cause is not known. Anyone can become depressed. Some people are more prone to it, and it can develop for no apparent reason. You may have no particular problem or worry, but symptoms can develop quite suddenly. An episode of depression may also be triggered by a life event such as relationship problem, bereavement, redundancy, illness, etc. In many people it is a mixture of the two. For example, the combination of a mild low mood with some life problem, such as work stress, may lead to a spiral down into depression. Women tend to develop depression more often than men. Particularly common times for women to become depressed are after childbirth (postnatal depression) and the menopause. A chemical imbalance in the brain might be a factor. This is not fully understood. However, an alteration in some chemicals in the brain is thought to be the reason why antidepressants work in treating depression.

Some myths and other points about depression Depression is common, but many people don't admit to it. Some people feel there is a stigma attached, or that people will think they are weak. Great leaders such as Winston Churchill have suffered depression. Depression is one of the most common illnesses that GPs deal with. People with depression may be told by others to 'pull their socks up' or 'snap out of it'. The truth is, they cannot, and such comments by others are very unhelpful. Understanding that your symptoms are due to depression, and that it is a common illness, may help you to accept that you are ill and need help. This may be particularly true if you have physical symptoms such as headache or weight loss. Some people ask "am I going mad?" It may be a relief to know that you are not going mad, and the symptoms that you have are common and have been shared by many other people. You may 'bottle up' your symptoms from friends and relatives. However, if you are open about your feelings with close family and friends, it may help them to understand and help. What are the treatment options for depression?Listen to section In general, treatments are divided into those used for mild depression and those used for moderate and severe depression. What if I dont have any treatment? Most people with depression would get better without treatment. However, this may take several months or even longer. Meanwhile, living with depression can be difficult and distressing (and also for your family and friends). Relationships, employment, etc, may be seriously affected. There is also a danger that some people turn to alcohol or illegal drugs. Some people think of suicide. Therefore, many people with depression opt to try some form of treatment.

Treatment options for mild depressionListen to section In general, mild depression means that you have some of the symptoms listed above, but are still able to cope reasonably well with normal activities. For example, you may still be able to do your normal job, and get by with household chores, but perhaps with difficulty. Your doctor may suggest one or more of the following.

Talking treatments (psychological treatments) Talking through feelings may be all that you need for mild depression. Sometimes talking with an understanding friend or relative is helpful. Your doctor may also 'talk things through' with you or refer you to a counsellor. A brief course of cognitive behavioural therapy may help (see below for further details of this.)

Specific counselling In some cases there is a particular problem that triggered the depression, or is making it worse. For example, marital problems, sexual problems, bereavement, previous childhood abuse, etc. Counselling directed at a specific area may then be helpful. Sometimes this may be done by a local agency or self-help group which deals with specific problems. For example, RELATE for marital or sexual problems, or a bereavement counsellor following a bereavement, etc.

An exercise programme Research has shown that regular exercise can help to ease symptoms of depression in some cases. A typical exercise programme to help ease depression would be three 'formal' sessions per week of moderate duration (45-60 minutes) for 10-12 weeks. Aerobic exercises are probably best such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, playing a vigorous team sport such as football or netball, etc. However, ideally you should try to get into the habit of doing some sort of exercise on most days in between any 'formal' exercise. For example, try to go out for a walk each day.

A self-help programme There are various pamphlets, books, and audio tapes which can help you to understand and combat depression. The best are based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy. There is some evidence to say that a 'guided self help programme' can help some people with mild depression to recover. That is, a programme where the materials are provided by a doctor or nurse, and where a doctor or nurse monitors your progress. These programmes take some motivation and effort to work through - a bit like doing homework. Computer and internet based self-help cognitive behavioural therapy programmes are recent innovations and may become more popular.

Antidepressant medicines Antidepressant medication (discussed in detail below) is not usually recommended for the initial treatment of mild depression. However, an antidepressant may be advised for mild depression in certain circumstances. For example, in people:
* with mild depression that persists after other treatments have not helped.
* whose depression is associated with a physical illness.
* who have had an episode of moderate or severe depression in the past.

Treatment options for moderate or severe depression In general, moderate depression means that you have several of the symptoms listed above, and you find great difficulty in coping with normal activities. Severe depression is even worse. In these situations, a doctor may suggest one or more of the following.

Antidepressant medicines Antidepressants are usually the first-line treatment for moderate or severe depression. A medicine cannot alter your circumstances. However, symptoms such as low mood, poor sleep, poor concentration, etc, are often eased with an antidepressant. This may then allow you to function normally, and increase your ability to deal with any problems or difficult circumstances. Antidepressants do not usually work straight away. It takes 2-4 weeks before their effect builds up fully. A common problem is that some people stop the medicine after a week or so as they feel that it is doing no good. You need to give it time. Also, if it is helping, follow the course that a doctor recommends. A normal course of antidepressants lasts up to six months or more after symptoms have eased. Some people stop treatment too early and the depression quickly returns. There are several types of antidepressants, each with various 'pros and cons'. For example, they differ in their possible side-effects. (The leaflet that comes in the medicine packet provides a full list of possible side-effects.) If the first one that you try does not suit, then another may be found that will suit. So, tell your doctor if you have any problems with an antidepressant. Antidepressants are not tranquillisers and are not thought to be addictive. About 5-7 in 10 people with moderate or severe depression improve within a few weeks of starting treatment with a prescribed antidepressant. However, up to 3 in 10 people improve with dummy tablets (placebo) as some people would have improved in this time naturally. So, you are roughly twice as likely to improve with antidepressants compared to taking no treatment. But, they do not work in everybody.

Talking (psychological) treatments If available in your area, an option is to be referred to a psychologist or other professional for a more specific type of talking treatment. Most psychological treatments for depression last in the range of 16-20 sessions over 6-9 months. For example: * Cognitive therapy. Briefly, cognitive therapy is based on the idea that certain ways of thinking can trigger, or 'fuel', certain mental health problems such as depression. The therapist helps you to understand your thought patterns. In particular, to identify any harmful, unhelpful, and 'false' ideas or thoughts which you have that can make you depressed. The aim is then to change your ways of thinking to avoid these ideas. Also, to help your thought patterns to be more realistic and helpful. Therapy is usually done in weekly sessions over several months. You are likely to be given 'homework' between sessions. * Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT). This is a combination of cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. Behaviour therapy aims to change any behaviours which are harmful or not helpful. In short, CBT helps people to achieve changes in the way that they think, feel and behave. (See separate leaflet for more details on CBT.) * Other types of therapy sometimes used include: interpersonal therapy, problem-solving therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy. For moderate depression, the number of people who improve with cognitive therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy is about the same as with antidepressants. These treatments may not be so good for some people with severe depression. This is because you need some motivation to do these treatments and people with severe depression often find motivation difficult. Also, there is a shortage of trained therapists who can perform psychological treatments. So, it might not be an option in your area, or there may be a long waiting list. Some research suggests that a combination of an antidepressant plus a talking treatment such as CBT is better than either treatment alone.

Exercise and counselling In addition to the above treatments, as with mild depression, regular exercise is thought to help to improve symptoms (if you are able to do some exercise). Also, counselling for a specific problem may help too if a particular problem is troubling you (relationship breakdown, bereavement, etc).

Other treatments St John's Wort (hypericum) This is a herbal antidepressant that you can buy from pharmacies without a prescription. It recently became a popular 'over the counter' treatment for depression. However, many doctors now do not advise that you take this because:
* It is not clear how well it works. Although some studies suggest that it may help depression, other studies have failed to confirm this.
* Side-effects sometimes occur. (Some people think that because St John's wort is 'natural' then it is totally safe. This is not true. It contains many chemicals which sometimes cause problems.)
* It may react with other medicines that you may take. Sometimes the reactions can cause serious problems. For example, you should not take St John's wort if you are taking warfarin, cyclosporin, oral contraceptives, anticonvulsants, digoxin, theophylline, or certain anti-HIV medicines. Also, you should not take it at the same time as certain other prescribed antidepressants. Specialist and hospital based treatments Other treatments such as specialist medicines or electrical treatment (ECT) may be advised if you have severe depression which has not improved with other treatments.

Some dos and don'ts about depression
* Don't bottle things up and 'go it alone'. Try and tell people who are close to you how you feel. It is not weak to cry or admit that you are struggling.
* Don't despair - most people with depression recover. It is important to remember this.
* Do try and distract yourself by doing other things. Try doing things that do not need much concentration but can be distracting such as watching TV. Radio or TV is useful late at night if sleeping is a problem.
* Do eat regularly, even if you do not feel like eating.
* Don't drink too much alcohol. Drinking alcohol is tempting to some people with depression as the immediate effect may seem to relieve the symptoms. However, drinking heavily is likely to make your situation worse in the long run.
* Don't make any major decisions whilst you are depressed. It may be tempting to give up a job, or move away, to solve the problem. If at all possible you should delay any major decisions about relationships, jobs, or money until you are well again.
* Do tell your doctor if you feel that you are getting worse, particularly if suicidal thoughts are troubling you.
* Sometimes a spell off work is needed. However, too long off work might not be so good as dwelling on problems and brooding at home may make things worse. Getting back into the hurly-burly of normal life may help the healing process when things are improving. Each person is different, and the ability to work will vary.
* Sometimes a specific psychological problem can cause depression, but some people are reluctant to mention it. One example is sexual abuse as a child leading to depression or psychological difficulties as an adult. Tell your doctor if you feel something like this is the root cause of your depression. Counselling may be available for such problems.

Will it happen again?Listen to section A 'one-off' episode of depression at some stage in life is common. However, some people have two, three, or more episodes of depression. You can have treatment for each episode. However, if you are prone to recurring episodes of depression, you may be advised to take an antidepressant long-term to prevent depression from recurring.

Some related conditions
Postnatal depression Some women develop depression just after having a baby. See separate leaflet called 'Postnatal Depression' for details.

Bipolar affective disorder In some people, depression can alternate with periods of elation and over-activity (mania or hypomania). This is called bipolar affective disorder or manic-depression. Treatment tends to include mood stabiliser medicines such as lithium. See separate leaflet called 'Bipolar Affective Disorder' for details.

Seasonal affective disorder Some people develop recurrent depression in the winter months only. This is called 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' or SAD. For people in the UK with SAD, symptoms of depression usually develop each year sometime between September and November, and continue until March or April. You, and your doctor, may not realize that you have SAD for several years. This is because recurring depression is quite common. You may have been treated for depression several times over the years before it is realized that you have the seasonal pattern of SAD. Treatment of SAD is similar to other types of depression. However, 'light therapy' is also effective. See separate leaflet called 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' for details. Other mental health problems Depression sometimes occurs at the same time as other mental health problems. * People with anxiety, panic disorder, and personality disorders quite commonly also develop depression. As a rule, depression should be treated first, followed by treatment of the other disorder. In particular, anxiety will often improve following treatment of depression. * Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia may accompany depression. In this situation the eating disorder is usually the main target of treatment.

Youth Mental Health Problems:

2008-06-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Youth Mental Health Problems:

What Are The Warning Signs

Ever watched Criminal Minds and Bones and wish you were a Character Profiler. Its is sad that you probably don't know that you are called to be a character profiler anyway.

The people immediately around you need you to be attentive to their charter changes and need you to constantly profile them. More so youths or teens. They need you the most.

The teen years can be tough for both parent and child. Adolescents are under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with their family and make important life decisions. Most of these pressures are unavoidable and worrying about them is natural. But if your teen: is feeling extremely sad, hopeless or·worthless, these could be warning signs of a mental health problem.

Mental health problems are real, painful and can be severe. They can lead to school failure, loss of friends, or family conflict. Some of the signs that may point to a possible problem are listed below. If you are a Parent or other caregiver of a teenager, pay attention if your teen:

Is troubled by feeling:

very angry most of the time, cries a lot or overreacts to things; ·
worthless or guilty a lot;
anxious or worried a lot more than other young people;
grief for a long time after a loss or death;
extremely fearful-has unexplained fears or more fears than most kids;
constantly concerned about physical problems or appearance;
frightened that his or her mind is controlled or is out of control.

Experiences big changes, for example:

does much worse in school;
loses interest in things usually enjoyed;
has unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits;
avoids friends or family and wants to be alone all the time;
daydreams too much and can't get things done;
feels life is too hard to handle or talks about suicide;
hears voices that cannot be explained.

Is limited by:

poor concentration; can't make decisions;
inability to sit still or focus attention;
worry about being harmed, hurting others, or about doing something "bad";
the need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines dozens of times a day;
thoughts that race almost too fast to follow;
persistent nightmares.

Behaves in ways that cause problems, for-example:

uses alcohol or other drugs;
eats large amounts of food and then forces vomiting, abuses laxatives, or takes enemas to avoid weight-'gain;
continues to diet or exercise obsessively although bone-thin;.
often hurts other people, destroys property, or breaks the law;
does things that can be life threatening.

To find help, discuss your concerns with your teen's teacher, school counselor or others such as a family doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, religious counselor or nurse.

There are psychiatrists and counselors almost on every corner in Fiji - PRAISE THE LORD! However they are underutilized by the fear that people have of acknowledging their mental health and also the lethargic attitude society has to reading the warning signs and reporting their children, family members, friends and parents. Suicides, Hate Crime, Rape and some high profile murders could have been avoided if people could be PROFILERS.

Maybe its time you become a PROFILER today.

Peter Waqa

Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

2008-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

This is the story behind our coffee bean logo
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff ? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendships you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.

May we all be COFFEE BEANS!

My Story - Gary Rounds

2008-06-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

I was a very energetic and out-going person. I went to Marist Brothers’ High School took part in Athletics, Basketball, Chess, IQ Active, Radio Quiz and Mathematics teams. I also held a couple of form captain and student council positions as well as being a School Prefect. I had countless friends and having fun was never excluded from my ‘to-do list.’ I was living life to the fullest. However, unexpected situational changes got the better of me and I was on the verge of being self-destructive.

I was working for Fiji TV as a News reporter after completing high school and like any young person who had managed to land a job fresh out from school, life for me couldn't be more ideal than what it was. After Fiji TV, I left and joined ANZ Bank as a teller. Unfortunately, by this time there were quite a few things that were plaguing my mind.

My surrogate mothers’ demise in 2004 dealt me a massive blow because apart from losing her, I was also dealing with a relationship break-up and having tons of negative thoughts. Without knowing it, I fell into acute depression and I tried to brush it all aside the best way I knew how – by binge drinking and indulging in marijuana. This was coupled with the lack of self worth, hope, faith and hygiene and I began to isolate myself. I thought to myself that if I was ‘wasted’ with alcohol and drugs, these thoughts and feelings would all go away and never bother me again.

I wallowed in self pity and at one point, stayed inside the house for a whole month – just contemplating what had happened in my life. My past was keeping me hostage and I was unable to move forward. I didn’t sleep for four days and when I went to work I just couldn't function. By this time, I was based at the ANZ USP Branch, my manager urged me to seek help. So with the help of the HR manager, I went to visit a psychologist.

This psychologist diagnosed me with Major Depression – a mental illness!!!!!! When I heard the term ‘mental illness’ I suddenly thought of how people would approach, socialize with or even judge me. Unfortunately, judgment by society got to me the most and it fed more to this huge cloud of depression, which hung over my head. I was prescribed Zoloft and Diazepam (tranquilizer and anti-depressant).

My depression was like a tumor growing exponentially in me and because I was so tired of being in a pandemonium I attempted suicide. I overdosed myself with the prescription hoping that when I close my eyes, they would never open again. I literally slept through New Years Day, 2006.

This is the poem that I recited during the Poetry Slam Contest APRIL 4th, 2008enjoy.... it portrays my suicidal attempt and how that affected my life completely

the unfortunate day, i remember
the sharp carving knife, i remember
over the veins of my wrist, i remember
i try to slit but i can't, i remember

i close my eyes, i remember
memories pleasant, memories regretted, i remember
pandemonium in my mind, HAVOC ! ! ! i remember
i begin to scream AHHH ! ! ! AHHH ! ! ! i remember
i cannot forget
...the tears
... ...the mucus
... ... ...the saliva
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...dripping
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...dropping
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...drooling

i jerk my head from side to side, i remember
death has his hands on my back
transferring his wiles into me, i remember
I CAN'T TAKE THIS FUCKEN SHIT ANY MORE ! ! ! i remember

diazepam, zoloft in my hand, i remember
bottoms up, down they go, i remember
i lay on my bed, i close my eyes, i remember
praying they never ever open, i remember

three days pass, i remember
i awake, i remember
hands over my face, i begin to cry... ... ...

i'll never forget

Fortunately, I awoke three days later. I was absent from work for weeks and my manager persuaded me to revisit the psychologist. The psychologist made me realize I couldn’t trust myself with my own life. He recommended I be institutionalized.

I never thought in my wildest dream that I would be admitted in St. Giles Hospital. However, looking back, I know that it was the best thing that happened to me for my own good. It took over three months of recovery – occupational therapy, confidence boosting with the help of staff, fellow patients, family and friends. With their support, I realized there was still hope for me in becoming an active member of society again. I was discharged in the beginning of April, 2006.

Unfortunately, I relapsed a year later. I began smoking marijuana and binge drinking and not looking after myself. After my second admission to Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital in February, 2007, I left ANZ completely and stayed with a cousin of mine. I was so depressed and paranoid that I stayed home for the better bit of 6 months.

this poem is based on the constant battle that i'm in with regards to my mind...
the poem was recited back friday 13th June, 2008 @ AUSAID Building, Theatre Space, USP Campus during the Poetry Slam Contest

our only hope is that you take heed of this message
we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

contemplate on this message
we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

revise this message
we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

be advocates of this message
we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

spread the gospel of this message
we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

you uneducated, unsympathetic, hypocritical definition
of me and other's like me are:
crazy, wacko, psycho, lialia*, pagla*,
nut, mental, ulukau*, etc, etc

but we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

today, tonight,
we're gonna expose;
..................remove;
..................annihilate;
......this stigma,
......this facade,
......this deception,
..........that perpetuates the discrimination
..........& stereotype definitions

and we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

i'm no doctor;
i'm no psychologist;
i'm no psychiatrist;
i just the voice of another psychiatric survivor shouting

we are gonna keep on walking ! ! !

having crossed to the other side and back,
i now appreciate & acknowledge
...................my mental illness
...................my mental health
...................my sanity

and i'm gonna keep on walking ! ! !

there was this one time, i stayed home for 6 whole months
i was of the thought that people, once they saw me,
...........they'd start gossiping about me
...........spread rumors about me;
...........spread lies about me;
...........laugh about me;
...........laugh at me;
...........tease me;
...........be out to get me;

i was having a static moment
and i couldn't move because of this stigma
..........this mark of shame ! ! !
..........this scarlet letter ! ! !
..........this mark of cain ! ! !

my past was keeping me hostage from my future;
and i couldn't face those challenges in life

but then one day
................one day ! ! !
................one day ! ! !
................and on that day ! ! !
i stepped out of my comfort zone into,
once know,
the world unknown

......and i went for a walk ! ! !

i had to face my enemy;
my enemy is my mind;
and the battlefield is my mind

......so i kept on walking ! ! !

nokonoko rd, jerusalem rd, fletcher rd,
drivers, passengers, all eyes on me
.....but i kept on walking ! ! !

thru bhindi subdivision, grantham rd,
up, down, up milverton rd,
why are you looking at me? stop staring at me
....but i kept on walking ! ! !

rewa st, flagstaff, laucala bay rd,
the odd look, the persevering stare,
the pregnant pause glimpse,
....but i kept on walking ! ! !

and for the first time in my life
i walked from one end of fletcher road to the other
.... and i kept on walking ! ! !

jerusalem rd and all the way home
....i kept on walking ! ! !

and to this very day i am still walking ! ! !

standing here before all of you tonight
....i am still walking ! ! !

yes, i'm a prisoner of my own mind
but my words will set me free
and help you see
that those who are mentally challenged are also human,
....who don't need your curses
....who don't need your judgment
....who don't need your verbal gimmicks

....but they need your acceptance
....they need your love
....and they need your support

i know you have a loved onew
ho is mentally impaired
....who are fringed
....who are shunned
....who are mocked
....who are disrespected
....who are discredited

our only hope is that you take heed of this message

WE ARE GONNA KEEP ON WALKING ! ! !

[*local vernacular terms/gimmicks]

The stigma associated with St. Giles was a huge obstacle I had to overcome. It was a challenging factor in my life. The poem above is obviously about how I found a way both to defeat my depressive and paranoid state and at the same time advocate mental health and let people know that all mental health consumers are not aliens or untouchables. The stigma of mental illnesses results in stereotyping and discrimination. There are members of society who create a barrier of discrimination when they meet or hear of anyone associated with St. Giles.

It’s a sad truth – it needs to be tackled.

I have always had a love for poetry since my days in high school. I figured poetry would be and is an essential medium by which to articulate the message, advocate and reduce the stigma associated with mental health. I take every opportunity to participate in poetry slam contests and take advantage of being under the spotlight and recite my poems which are based on my experiences as well as the journey I’m now taking.

After my first discharge from Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital in April 2006, I have had the opportunity be part of a documentary that was produced by a friend and co-worker of mine at FIJI TV. The documentary was based on suicide and how it affects everyone both at the grassroots and national level. Twice, I was honored to have talked about my experience to a senate-select committee for mental health, chaired by the then Speaker of the House of Representatives Pita Nacuva.

I am also honored to be involved in a group of young, energetic, innovative, dedicated and passionate youth who call themselves “YOUTH CHAMPS FOR MENTAL HEALTH” (YC4MH) which was formed on July 1st, 2008.

YC4MH has recognized the need to advocate for positive mental health for youths in particular and have taken on the challenge of addressing this issue and working together with stakeholders in shaping mental health awareness in the country. We are now working on projects on how we can best create more awareness on Mental Health

The ball is in our court. The ball is rolling and YC4MH is excited and determined to keep the ball rolling and come out full force. We’re here to work and walk towards our vision, complete our mission and fulfill our purpose.

….and that’s a wrap from “…an ego-centric, limelight wannabe, paranoid schizoid mental health consumer"

Name: Gary Karl Charles Rounds
Age: 24

Suva, FIJI

President
Youth Champs for Mental Health
Ph: (679) 3398335
Mb: (679) 9516941

e-mail: groundsique@hotmail.com
website: http://www.bebo.com/groundsique

Our first Press Release

2008-06-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

Bula Vinaka

We, the Youth Champs for Mental Health (YC4MH), are concerned about the recent tragic death of Shereen Khan of Valebasoga High School in Labasa.

The YC4MH is a group of youth advocates for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. We have recently come together to form a network to combat the stigma and rising tide of Suicide and encourage awareness on mental health issues.

Firstly, our condolences go out to the family and friends of Shereen Khan.

Fiji has the third highest suicide rate per ratio in the world today. Reported cases of suicide have placed figures at 700 deaths since 2000. This is the tip of the iceberg. The instance of suicide deaths amongst young people is a growing problem.

Shereen Khan’s suicide would have been prevented if school authorities paid special attention to the rights and needs of student such as Shereen. School administrations have the duty and responsibility to protect and safeguard their student’s rights. No school body has the right to prevent their students from entering into a relationship and establish friendship.

This is also an instance where the education system has failed to provide proper and professional counselling help to its students. Since Fiji is a multi-cultural society, all communities must encourage friendships to mutual understanding of each other if we are to become a caring, accepting and harmonious community.

We recommend that the Ministry of Education investigate the factors that led to the death of Shereen Khan and determine the appropriate recourse.

All schools should endeavour to have professional counselling services available to its students.
A school should be a sanctuary, a place of learning where students feel safe and their rights are protected. Not a place where students feel intimidated and bullied by teachers.

Vinaka