Page 19 - IFV_Issue 8_2022

Sit back and list the things South
Africans deal with every day. Even
though we are so desensitised to much
of it, we don’t realise the burden it puts
on our mental health. Rampant crime,
perpetual load-shedding, and the
impossible task of obtaining a driver’s
license when the only machine in the
country is broken. Then there is the
sky-rocketing petrol price, widespread
corruption, crumbling infrastructure,
an ailing economy and inflation. Of
course, I can’t omit the part about
surviving a pandemic, which caused
fear, isolation and anxiety worldwide
– especially when parents found
themselves suddenly juggling work
from home routines and having to
navigate their kids through online
schooling.
I am sure that just reading that
paragraph was exhausting. Now, if you
consider how challenging it can be,
take a moment to think about our kids.
We can become caught up in it all and
imagine that many of those things go
unnoticed by children, but they are far
more aware of what is happening in the
world than we give them credit for. They
pick up on our stress and access what’s
happening in the world through social stigma attached to mental health issues. up revealing something completely
media and overheard conversations. And it needs to change. unexpected. It turned out they
Although some of us may go out of During the eight years that I taught had exceptional intelligence, were
our way to shield them from it, it’s also at a school for gifted kids, I picked up completely stifled by a system that tried
discussed on the school playground, on things regarding anxiety in children. to squish them into an ill-fitting box and
often in ways that can make it far more Bear in mind that gifted kids – as well were frequently crippled by anxiety.
frightening, without context. as many neurotypical kids – are chronic The assessments gave a very different
Then there’s the added academic overthinkers that worry constantly. perspective regarding the so-called
pressure, peer pressure and hectic extra And don’t assume this is limited to ADHD pandemic.
mural commitments with minimal adolescents. I was teaching Grade 4 Don’t get me wrong. I am not anti-
downtime. for most of my years there and often medication, and I fully believe that
encountered anxiety in my students. ADHD is real. I have spent enough
OUR CHILDREN ARE IN TROUBLE Many of the children were referred to time in the classroom to realise that
According to UNICEF, 65% of us when their previous schools asked medication can be life-changing
adolescents said they were struggling that they get assessments due to their when correctly prescribed in the right
with their mental health but didn’t seek distractibility, inattention, poor work circumstances. But what stood out to
help. Many said it was because they ethic and poor performance. The aim me was how anxiety often caused the
didn’t know where to get help, didn’t was to pursue a diagnosis of ADHD or same distractibility, inattention, poor
feel it was severe enough to speak to a similar learning challenge with the work ethic and poor performance that
anybody, or were afraid they would hope of getting them on medication like regularly accompany ADHD. And when
be judged. Although there is far more Ritalin or Concerta to help. the anxiety was tackled, the children
awareness than before, there is still a But the assessments often ended thrived.

The Villager • Issue 8 2022 • 17