1. How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems?

2. How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems
How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems? Provide a safe environment in which they feel comfortable speaking about the problem.

3. How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems
How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems? Listen and show concern; show that you care.

4. How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems
How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems? Provide advice or suggestions about resources, and point them in the right direction.

5. How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems
How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems? Reduce their sense of aloneness so that they feel “heard”

6. How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems
How do you deal with learners who approach you with problems? Follow up within a day or 2 to see whether the problem has been resolved, or what action the learner is taking to manage it.

7. When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

8. Gut instinct; the sense that you are getting into “deep waters”
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

9. When speaking to the learner about the problem, you are getting incongruencies; contradictions are clouding the picture.
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

10. Contact with a particular learner is becoming very time consuming; you are concerned about dependency issues.
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

11. What the learner is telling you is making you feel very uncomfortable
What the learner is telling you is making you feel very uncomfortable. You don’t know what to say, or how to respond.
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

12. After 2 weeks of trying to support the learner, there is no shift or change in their behaviour or experience of the problem.
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

13. You have a sense that the learner may be depressed or anxious to the extent that it is inhibiting their functioning on a daily basis.
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

14. The learner seems to be becoming increasingly disorganized in aspects such as personal grooming or appearance, management of work, and social interactions. Behaving totally “out of character”
When is it appropriate or even necessary to refer a learner for further intervention?

15. Symptoms of depression

16. Symptoms of depression
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness and helplessness
Symptoms of depression

17. Constant tiredness and decreased energy
Symptoms of depression

18. Irritability, restlessness and hostility
Symptoms of depression

19. Symptoms of depression
Feelings of sadness and tearfulness
Symptoms of depression

20. Symptoms of depression
Difficulty in concentrating, remembering and making decisions
Symptoms of depression

21. Symptoms of depression
Feelings of rejection, loneliness and isolation
Symptoms of depression

22. Symptoms of depression
Lacking interest and enthusiasm in activities that were once enjoyed
Symptoms of depression

23. Symptoms of depression
Insomnia, headaches, fluctuations of weight and other physical complaints but no physical evidence of a problem
Symptoms of depression

24. Symptoms of depression
Loss of interest/effort in aspects like personal grooming, relationships, work; just not caring about anything
Symptoms of depression

25. Symptoms of depression
Disturbed sleep; too much or too little. Change in eating patterns; eating too much, or loss of appetite
Symptoms of depression

26. Thoughts about death and dying
Symptoms of depression

27. Managing depression

28. reactive or endogenous
Managing depression
Types of depression ;
reactive or endogenous

29. The role of anti depressant medication
Managing depression
The role of anti depressant medication

30. Talking about the experience ; counseling or psychotherapy
Managing depression
Talking about the experience ; counseling or psychotherapy

31. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

32. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
9% of all teen deaths are caused by suicide
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

33. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
Only car accidents and homicides kill more youth between the ages of 15 and 24
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

34. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
1 in 5 teenagers think about hurting themselves and 1 in 12 actually do so
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

35. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
Most fatal suicides occur in the 15 to 19 year age group, while there have been children as young as 10 who have committed suicide
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

36. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
Most common precipitators: academic, relationships, family, financial, stress, psychological problems including substance abuse and depression.
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

37. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
Werther effect (copy cat)
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

38. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
75% of all people who commit suicide give warnings to family and friends
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

39. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa
20-50% of people who commit suicide have previously attempted to take their lives
Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

40. Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

41. Threatening to take their life, even if this done “jokingly”
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

42. Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation
Putting all his personal effects in order, including giving away personal possessions
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

43. Acquiring the means to commit suicide
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

44. Extreme anxiety, agitation or enraged behaviour
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

45. Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation
Utter hopelessness; saying things like “the world is a better place without me”
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

46. Talking as though they are saying goodbye or going away
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

47. Excessive drug and/or alcohol use
Warning signs that a learner is experiencing suicidal ideation

48. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation

49. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation
Talk directly to child; ask what is troubling him/her
What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation

50. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation
Ask outright whether he/she is thinking of taking his/her life, and if so what plans have been made
What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation

51. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation
Do not try to argue the child out of suicide, but rather just try to be there with him/her in his/her experience, showing that you care, and that he/she is not alone
What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation

52. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation
Do not leave child alone. Accompany him/her to the san/hospital where arrangements will be made for assessment by a doctor
What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation

53. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation
Advise the child that you will be notifying the school counselor/chaplain to come and see him/her ASAP
What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation

54. What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation
Keep reinforcing that he/she is not alone, people do care, he/she has support and help to get through this
What to do if a learner is expressing suicidal ideation