The school environment can be stressful; in addition to any issues children bring from home, as children grow older they become extremely sensitive to their place in peer groups. At the same time, a greater awareness of the larger world around them can cause children to become vulnerable to anxiety.
At this age, friendships are key to a child’s self image, and the responsibility of becoming a role model to younger children in the school can bring out the best in the senior classes in a school.
The Workshop
You are a Hero! Friendship: How can you be a good friend to others?
You can’t be there for others if you don’t take care of yourself first!
Children are extraordinarily observant, and as they move outward into the world they want to take responsibility for their own wellbeing and that of other people, animals, the environment and so on.
Through discussion and role-play we introduce the idea that a real hero has self-awareness, can understand their own feelings and cultivate positive habits of thought, cares for their own mental health, knows their own strengths and develops skills to match, asks friends how they are doing, and knows how to listen well.
The You are a Hero! Activity Book gives tools for personal and social resilience, and invites children to become members of our Hero Club, ambassadors for friendship and self-fulfilment as they move towards adolescence.
"There is a page in the back of this workbook we ask the children to fill in and send back to us to receive their You are a Hero badge and a to be chance of winning a bigger prize, this can be done on an individual basis or as a class project. We want to hear the children's' voices we need their feedback."
The feedback from our programmes is very promising – we are currently completing an evaluation with the Mental Health Social Research Unit at NUI Maynooth. According to teachers’ ratings, children show more empathy and kindness and a greater ability to calm themselves down when they feel upset. Their social and emotional development has improved, the children showed improvement in the ability to think flexibly, and had cultivated the life skills that have been linked to health and success in later life.
Combined with the Buddy Bench as a visual tool in times of distress, the children were able to find comfort and support through each other rather than feeling upset and worried. It’s these small changes, spread across classrooms, that could make society more kind—and educate a new generation of more compassionate and connected adults.
In this workshop we ask that there be a small number of pre-chosen Buddy Ambassadors chosen from 6th class approx. 2 per hundred other students in the school., they can alternate. Their role will be to look after the younger children and monitor the Buddy Bench is being used correctly (within reason). Through our own internal evaluation we have found the more responsibility the children are given the better the outcomes.
To book us to come to your school and deliver any of our programmes email: hello@buddybench.ie
At the launch of Stevey's Epic Adventure and the stars of that day were the children of St Kevin's National School, Kilmanagh Dublin 24, they were great.
Stevey McGeown will begin another epic journey as he sets out from his home in Armagh On June 1st to complete the first day of sixty consecutive ultra marathons (39.3 miles). Running the entire perimeter of Ireland weaving in and around its cities, towns and villages whilst setting a brand new world record. He will be out on the roads running one continuous route, picking up each morning where he left of the previous day.
Starting from Armagh on 1st June, Stevey will head east to Newry, then north to Belfast and across the top of Ireland to Derry and Donegal as he weaves his way along. Then sweeping down the west of Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Limerick and all the way to the bottom of Ireland at Mizen Head. Then across to Cork and journeying all the way back up the midlands and the east coast to Dublin. The final leg of his journey will take a very scenic route all the way back home to Armagh. Finishing on Saturday the 30th of July at the historical site, Navan Fort.
The Goal
The goal is to raise €330,000 for 3 great organisations and inspire others to overcome some of their greatest challenges. Also to bring this exciting endurance event to every major town in Ireland and to set 5 new world records in the process.
If you have watched or read any news lately, it is likely you have heard some of the tragic stories about young people committing suicide.
Children killing themselves as a result of being bullied has been a particular focus in the media recently, sparking numerous debates and new anti-bullying legislation in a number of states.
It is truly disheartening that so many of our youth feel desperate enough to take their own lives, obviously feeling hopeless about ever feeling better. It makes it doubly tragic that so many parents must endure the mental anguish of losing a child—especially losing a child to suicide.
A rather new question that further adds to the tragic nature of many of these cases is: What role do antidepressants play in shaping this trend?
As more and more teens are prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs and drugs for ADD/ADHD, suicide rates have gone up rather than decreased. I'll explore this particular facet of this troubling trend in a moment.
Shocking Teen Suicide Statistics
As of 2007, suicide ranked as the third leading cause of death among young people (ages 15 to 24), exceeded only by accidents and homicides. Sadly, suicides account for 1.4 percent of all deaths in the U.S. each year, but comprise 12.2 percent of all deaths among 15-24 year-olds.
In other words, the proportion of deaths resulting from suicide amongst teenagers is nine times the proportion for adults!
There are approximately 11.3 youth suicides each and every day in the U.S. Every two hours and seven minutes, a person under the age of 25 completes suicide.
In the past 60 years, the suicide rate has quadrupled for 15-24 year-old males and doubled for females.
Males in this age group are 4-5 times more likely than females to completesuicide. However, females are more likely to attempt suicide. This is largely a result of males tending to choose more lethal methods (firearms) as a means of ending their lives, whereas girls more often choose less lethal methods (pills).
Between 1981 and 2007, suicide rates for children ages 10-14 increased by 50 percent.
In the U.S. in 2007, 119 children ages 10-14 completed suicide. In this age group, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death.
Guns are the most commonly used suicide method among youth, accounting for 45.9 percent of all completed suicides. Guns in the home have proved deadly to children.
It is estimated there are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses each year. According to the American College Health Association, 9.5 percent of college students have seriously contemplated suicide, and 1.5 percent have made an attempt.
Interpersonal Conflicts Top the List of Reasons Youth Commit Suicide
Interpersonal conflicts are often the core problem of your adolescent's reasons for suicide. One of the most serious conflicts an adolescent can encounter is the issue of gender identity. The social repercussions of this issue can be profoundly distressing to a teen, and unfortunately the bullying and "gay bashing" that sometimes occurs can result in a suicide attempt.
Forth Worth City Councilman Joel Burns captured the heart of the public recently by telling his own story about the bullying he faced as a gay teen at a public council meeting October 13, 2010. His powerful message to the nation's youth is a poignant example of the devastating effects bullying can have on a child.
Regardless of your feelings and beliefs about the gender identity issue, I think we can all agree this particular group deserves more support and compassion from society. As researchers have attempted to get a handle on youth suicide, they have identified several important trends:
Most adolescent suicides occur after school in the teen's home.
If you have a child in high school, it is likely three students in his classroom have made suicide attempts in the past year.
Not all suicidal children admit their intent. Therefore, any deliberate self-harming behaviors should be seriously evaluated.
Most teen suicide attempts are precipitated by interpersonal conflicts. The suicide behavior often represents a child's desperate attempt to change the behavior and attitudes of others.
If your child makes more than one nonfatal attempt, she is using this as a means of coping with ongoing stress. Children who do this need immediate help learning better ways of coping.
What cultural factors could be responsible for the fragile emotional health of our youth?
Teen Suicide is a Blend of Biological, Emotional, Spiritual and Social Factors
I believe today's rates of suicide in our young people stems from several key areas, including:
Vast increases in off-label psychiatric drug use for kids. Psychotropic drugs that have not been approved for children are nevertheless being prescribed for depression, anxiety, insomnia, distractibility, and even shyness or social awkwardness. Antidepressants top this list (which I will discuss in detail later).
Decreased parental involvement. Many kids are growing up in single-parent households, or those where both parents are working, so a large number of children are spending more time alone (or with peers) than with parents. Many are not receiving enough adult guidance and modeling, so they don't have the opportunity to learn the coping skills necessary to effectively deal with stress.
Increased toxins in your environment and food supply. Estimates show most Americans have somewhere between 400 and 800 chemicals stored in their bodies. Exposure to environmental toxins from your air, water and food supply has been linked to depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, and less ability to cope with stress.
No outlet for negative emotions. Children learn by example. If a child is never taught how to release his sadness or fear or other negative emotions, he may be at increased risk for depression and suicide. Early childhood stress can have a lingering effect on your child's health—mental AND physical.
Loss of connection with the Earth. Children today spend most of their time inside buildings, disconnected from the earth and its healing electrical field. Even when they are outside, they wear rubber-soled shoes that effectively shield them from the healing energy of the Earth. There is exciting new research underway about how reconnecting with the Earth (walking barefoot), also known as "earthing," can result in profound healing of your mind and body.
And then there's the new bully on the block: the cyberbully. No longer are encounters with bullies limited to the back alley on the way home from school.
21st Century Terrorizing: The Age of the Cyberbully
Cyberbullying is a relatively new means of abuse that has received a great deal of media attention lately.Cyberbullying is defined as follows:
"Cyberbullying is when a child or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones."
For the mean-spirited, the methods for cyberbullying are endless and limited only by a child's imagination and access to technology. Children have killed each other, as well as themselves, after being involved in cyberbullying.
A recent review of 37 international studies, which explored bullying and suicide risk, concluded that children who are victims, perpetrators, or even witnesses to bullying have an increased risk for suicidal thoughts.
With social networking and electronic media expanding the ways kids can bully, tease and otherwise malign their peers, a great deal of damage can be done in a very short period of time, devastating the victim's life. The use of electronic media allows the bully to retain some "perceived distance" and even anonymity from the victim, while doing extensive and irretractable damage.
With the Internet, there are no take-backs, even if the bully later has second thoughts!
This recent take on bullying has created new levels of stress for our youth, which directly impacts suicidal behaviors. It is vitally important that you monitor what your child is doing on the Internet. For more about how to prevent cyberbullying or stop it once it starts, go to
www.stopcyberbullying.org. In order to prevent teen suicide from all angles, it is vital to recognize what leads to it, and then address the causes.
How to Tell if Your Child is at Risk for Suicide
Unfortunately, there is no way to be one hundred percent sure if another human being is suicidal—even if it's your own child. There is no clear profile of the suicidal adolescent.
However, there ARE signs you can watch for. Epidemiological studies have identified variables correlated with suicide risk, and becoming familiar with them will stack the deck in your favor, giving you time to intervene before your child becomes desperate enough to harm himself.
According to the American Association of Suicidology and other organizations, most suicidal teens will have one or more of the following risk factors:
Prior suicide attempt
Expression of thoughts of suicide, death, dying, or the afterlife, in the context of sadness, boredom, hopelessness, loneliness or other negative feelings; risk is even higher if he has a specific suicide plan
Presence of a psychiatric disorder (e.g., depression, drug or alcohol abuse, behavior disorders, conduct disorder and/or incarceration, etc.)
Impulsivity, irritability, and aggressive behavior; frequent expressions of rage
Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
Exposure to another's suicide, especially a family member or friend
Recent severe stressor (e.g., struggling with gender identity, unplanned pregnancy, loss of a parent, recent trauma, anticipated losses, etc.)
Family instability or significant family conflict
The following is a general list of things to keep in mind when assessing your child for potential suicidal risk. The list is in no way comprehensive but will give you a general idea of the kinds of behaviors to notice. A child thinking about suicide may exhibit:
Sad, anxious or "empty" mood (for example, talking about being a bad person, unworthy or not good enough)
Sleeping too much or too little
Changes in weight, appetite, or eating habits
Deteriorating grooming habits
Talking about or preoccupation with death (for example, writing poems about death)
Declining school performance or poor school experience; feeling like he has failed to live up to his own or someone else's expectations
Signs of psychotic thinking, such as delusions, hallucinations or bizarre thoughts
Intolerance of praise or rewards
Loss of pleasure/interest in social or sports activities
Giving away prized possessions
Dramatic changes in personality—such as acting like a rebel when he's usually timid, becoming violent or aggressive, or running away.
Suddenly becoming cheerful after a period of sadness/depression
Deteriorating relationships with friends or family; trouble with a girlfriend or boyfriend; withdrawing from people he used to feel close to
Out of character boredom or trouble concentrating
Abuse of alcohol or drugs
Physical complaints that seem to have no physical basis, such as headaches, stomachaches, etc.
You might find this Teen Suicide Risk Calculator useful. However, keep in mind that every child is different, so I would caution you to not rely exclusively on one source of information or tool.
YOU know your child best!
The bottom line is, trust your gut feelings. If you are concerned, consult a professional for help. If you believe your child is in imminent danger, call a specialised suicide helpline/counsellor or call the police for help.Better to over-react than to do nothing.
QUESTION: Do You Have Any of These Common Misconceptions?
Dr. Robert A. King, professor at Yale University and a psychiatrist at the Yale Child Study Center, has done extensive research on adolescent suicide. According to Dr. King, there are three main misconceptions about teen suicide:
"My teenager might attempt suicide if he has a bad day." Although an upsetting episode is often the immediatetrigger, the vast majority of adolescents who commit suicide have had long-standing emotional problems, such as depression or substance abuse.
"If I ask my teenager about suicide, I might put the idea in her head." Research shows that distressed or previously suicidal adolescents actually feel LESS distressed or suicidal following surveys that ask them about it, rather than more so. So the best thing you can do if you are concerned that your child is suicidal is to ask. Open up honest dialog, and let her know you're concerned.
"I should start thinking about suicide prevention when my child reaches adolescence." Some of the most effective long-term prevention measures begin in early childhood. The earlier your child learns how to effectively deal with negative emotions, the less at risk she will be.
Kids are Increasingly Targeted With Antidepressants – A Dangerous Proposition that Might Be a Driving Factor for Rising Suicide Rates
Every year, 230 million prescriptions for antidepressants are filled, making them one of the most prescribed drugs in the United States. The amount of drugs being given to U.S. children is outrageous, and the extent of the problem becomes clear when you compare the statistics with other countries. U.S. children are getting three times more prescriptions for antidepressants as kids from Germany and the Netherlands, for example.
Depression can indeed progress to suicide if left untreated. But do antidepressants work to alleviate the symptoms of depression?
NO, they don't.
Studies continue to show antidepressant drugs are not any more effective than a placebo, and in some case less effective. A study published in the January 2010 issue of JAMA, concluded there is little evidence that SSRIs (a popular group of antidepressants that includes Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft) have any benefit to people with mild to moderate depression.
SSRIs were 33 percent effective, just like a sugar pill—but with far more adverse effects, including violence and suicidal thoughts and actions. Another study presented at the Neuroscience conference in 2009 tells a similar story.
Not only are these drugs ineffective, but there is much evidence that they intensify violent thoughts and behaviors, both suicidal and homicidal. It's rather telling that seven of the last 12 school shootings were perpetrated by children who were either on antidepressants or withdrawing from them! Besides introducing risk without benefit, antidepressants may be making depression more chronic.
So, antidepressants appear to be changing depression from a "transitory" illness into a more chronic illness. Antidepressants are clearly not the answer for a depressed child or adolescent. But if we take those off the table, then what is the answer?
A Technique Offering Great Hope—and it's FREE
My favorite technique for clearing out the negative emotions that sometimes lead to depression is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT isn't just for adults—it's being used by children for all sorts of different issues ranging from stomachaches to bedwetting, sprains and strains, phobias, social anxiety, learning problems, hyperactivity, sleep difficulties, stress management—and depression.
Children are generally quick learners, as well as being very open to learning something new. The earlier you teach your child EFT, the better.
Some innovative groups have developed wonderful EFT learning tools for children in the form of cuddly stuffed bears with the tapping points marked on them (TappyBear, Magic Buttons Bear), which makes EFT fun. Children can project their fears onto the bear and tap on him, which they sometimes find more fun than tapping on themselves.
One EFT practitioner, Mary Stafford M.Ed.,LPC,EFT-Adv, has even developed an EFT "shortcut" for kids, which simplifies the process by limiting the tapping points to only four (instead of 8 to 10) when teaching EFT to children.
Teaching your children how to do their own "emotional housekeeping" through EFT is a gift that will serve them well throughout their lives. The time to start is BEFORE issues begin to appear—so the earlier, the better.
Other Practical Suggestions for Nurturing Your Child's Mental Health
In addition to EFT, there are eight important strategies to employ if your child is struggling with his emotions. These strategies have nothing but positive effects and are generally very inexpensive to implement.
Take time to really talk to, and listen to, your child. Sometimes the difference between feeling helpless and feeling hope is just knowing that you are loved. Teach positive coping skills, and let your child know it is okay—even desirable— to ask for help.
Control access to potentially dangerous items in your home, such as guns and pills.
Make sure your child is getting adequate exercise. Regular exercise is one of the secret weapons against depression, helping to normalize insulin levels while boosting the "feel good" hormones in your child's brain. Getting them moving can do wonders for their mental health (and yours!) and is a major improvement over sitting in front of a television or computer.
Encourage your child to go outside and play in the sunshine. Safe sun exposure allows your child's body to produce vitamin D, which is great for his mood. One study even found that people with the lowest levels of vitamin D were 11 times more prone to depression than those who received adequate vitamin D. Just make sure your child doesn't overdo it and get sunburned.
Limit the amount of sugar, soda, grain, and processed food your child eats. Doing so will help normalize his insulin level and prevent his becoming another victim of childhood obesity. Sugar causes chronic inflammation, which disrupts immune function and can wreak havoc on the brain; sugar consumption is directly linked with depression.
Supplement your child's diet with a high quality omega-3 fatty acid, such as krill oil. This may be one of the most significant nutrients preventing depression. DHA is one of the Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and krill oil, and many children don't get enough of it. Low DHA levels have been linked to depression.
We hope by reading this article you as a parent, brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend will be equipped with the skills to recognise and understand suicide a little better. Education is key in tackling this what can sometimes seem like an epidemic among our young people of Ireland.
Please feel free to comment and we do encourage you to share.
The stresses children have to deal with today have increased enormously in recent years
Mental health issues are becoming more prevalent in today’s world. This is even truer for children and teenagers. Anxiety and depression in children and teenagers has been steadily rising for the last fifty years. According to some estimates, five to eight times as many school and college students meet the criteria for diagnosis of major depression or anxiety disorder as was true half a century or more ago.
Dealing with the symptoms of anxiety or depression can have a huge impact on children and their families. For the children themselves their quality of life can be severely limited. They may no longer be able to enjoy the things they should be enjoying; school, friends, sports, family time or simply being a kid. For the parents and other siblings the impact can be detrimental as well. The other children can feel sidelined as their sibling gets extra much needed attention, they may start acting out or withdrawing.The parents’ own relationship can be put under strain dealing with a child who needs more time and attention when time is already at a premium; and sometimes trying to figure out how to deal with the anxiety or depression can cause added strain as mum and dad often have differing viewpoints. I read somewhere that as a parent you are only as happy as your unhappiest child, while this may not always be true I think for the most part it is, especially if you have a child suffering from anxiety or depression. All these things combined can lead to an unhappy family life.
"I have treated children who miss school every week due headaches and tummy aches brought on by worry and anxiety, I have treated children who as young as 5 are worried about war and what would happen to them if there was a war, I have treated children too afraid to leave their parents to go to parties or play dates. These issues are not unusual, from looking at my practice and talking to colleagues this is becoming more and more the norm rather than the exception."
Why is this happening?
The reasons for the increase in mental health issues are varied. One way to think of anxiety levels is to add up all the daily stresses we have to deal with and subtract the ways we have to cope with them, the difference is our anxiety level.
The stresses children have to deal with today have increased enormously in the last fifty years; they are more over scheduled than ever before, schools and sports are more competitive, parents are increasingly worried about financial security and children’s safety, constant access to social media means children and adults are constantly bombarded with images and stories often of a negative nature. And with all this on the increase our coping mechanisms are diminishing; children have far less downtime, this has traditionally been the time they can tune out and process what has been happening in their lives, they have much less time outside exploring nature just being kids figuring things out for themselves which helps build self esteem and decrease stress.
There are ways to help kids overcome anxiety and depression. I help children and teenagers overcome anxiety and depression so they can feel like themselves again and their parents can begin to enjoy life again. I do this using homeopathic remedies and suggesting some other life changes that can be of benefit. Homeopathy is a holistic alternative form of medicine which is gentle yet powerful and effective but never toxic or addictive. Homeopathy treats a patient on all levels; mental and emotional as well as physical. It rebalances a person, boosting their immune system and bringing them back to themselves so they can enjoy life again. It can’t get rid of all life’s stresses but it can build children up so they are better equipped to deal with everything life has to offer; the good and the bad.
Along with homeopathic remedies I also recommend patients dealing with anxiety and depression try to incorporate some of these small life changes:
Exercise: The benefits of exercise on mental health are well documented, any level of activity helps, and it has a knock on effect, the more you do the better you feel so the more you feel like doing; even something small like walking or cycling to school a few days a week can make a big difference.
Sleep: Good sleep is key to good mental health; though sometimes bedtime is when anxieties can increase, especially in children. Rubbing lavender oil (diluted in a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil) into their feet at bedtime can relax children so they can sleep more soundly.
Meditation and mindfulness: Learning meditation will teach children to understand their emotions; it helps show them how to calm their minds and focus on their breathing which can decrease anxiety, anger or sadness. Mindfulness or living in the moment shows children how to focus on the present rather than go over and over the past or worry about the future. The Mindfulness Matters CD available from www.mindfulnessmatters.ie is a great way to get them started; it is geared specifically to children.
Increasing the time kids have to play or just hang out can have massive benefits, this gives children time to just be themselves, to think things through and to learn from what has been going on in their lives, having the time to stop and think and be bored rather than constantly running from activity to activity improves children’s mental health.
To help children offload their worries and anxieties it can sometimes be useful for them to write or draw the worries and put them into a special bag, pillow case or bin. By doing this they feel like the worries are gone from their minds. There is a toy designed for this called a Worry Eater, it can be bought at www.cogsthebrainshop.ie.
Anxiety and depression are on the rise and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by statistics and studies. But there are lots of things we as parents and care givers can do to help our kids and get them on the path to good mental health for now and for their future. Homeopathic treatment is one of these things, it rebalances a person, strengthening them from within and giving them the tools and the ability to deal with whatever life throws at them."
Written by Emma Almond a mother of 2 and a licensed homeopath living and working in Dublin; she runs her practice Almond Homeopathy from her clinic in Knocklyon and via Skype. She discovered homeopathy when looking for an alternative approach to dealing with her post natal depression. Emma uses homeopathic remedies on a daily basis for herself, her children and in her practice. Emma loves chocolate, running and reading. She runs almost daily and loves the mental and physical benefits she gets from it; after a long run she loves nothing more than sitting down with a good book, a cup of tea and a bit of chocolate!
We here at Buddy Bench Ireland find this article although short, very disturbing indeed. We ask you as parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncle or simply concerned members of society to talk to the candidates who will be knocking on your door to ensure mental health among our children and young people will feature in #GE16
Primary school principals say they are increasingly concerned about their pupils' mental health.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is due to address the Irish Primary Principals Network conference on emotional well-being this afternoon.
The organisation said that despite their students' young age, they are coming across deeply worrying situations on a daily basis in schools.
IPPN president Maria Doyle outlined the kind of issues teachers are dealing with.
"We have children as young as junior and senior infants displaying significant symptoms of depression," she said.
"We have children in primary schools speaking about suicide, we have them self-harming.
"Now this would not have been the case 10, 15 years ago, but it currently becoming a problem at primary level."
