Youth Mental Health Problems:

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!

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

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

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