Supporting Learners with Problems: Intervention Strategies

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

2. 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?Listen and show concern; show that you care.

4. 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? Reduce their sense of aloneness so that they feel “heard”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29. Managing depression The role of anti depressant medication

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

31. Teen suicide is becoming increasingly common in South Africa

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

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

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

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

50. 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