Mental health affects everyone, including teenagers.
In the past few years there has been an escalation in the number of teenagers suffering from anxiety and depression. Mental health disorders manifest in different ways in teenagers. Symptoms include a persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, as well as thoughts and behavioural patterns that impact negatively on the teenager’s well-being and general functioning.
Beth Mackay, a social worker with 18 years’ experience in areas of mental health, and Debbie Deutchmann, a yoga teacher, will present four workshops in Bloemfontein on how to cope with stress and anxiety.
It is estimated that 60% of youths felt they needed mental health support over the past year according to the latest Unicef South Africa U-Report poll in 2023. The findings show a 15% reduction from a similar poll in 2022 but little change among the age group 15 to 24 years, of whom 70% still needed help to improve their mental well-being.
“Keeping these stats in mind we have designed a workshop to help teenagers develop a coping toolbox based on evidence-based practices and techniques,” Mackay says.
“The workshop will comprise four sessions spanning roughly two months. Each session will have different topics with a strong focus on understanding how your nervous system works and how to use mindfulness and yoga practices to cope with stress and anxiety.”
She explains mindfulness means living in the present moment.
“Essentially, it means being (intentionally) more aware and awake to each moment and being fully engaged in what is happening in one’s surroundings with acceptance and without judgment.
“Why are we focusing on these topics? Because befriending and understanding the unique responses of your nervous system is a powerful antidote to the dysregulation that can arise from chronic or traumatic stress. When our nervous system does not feel safe, it is difficult for us to be collaborative and present,” Mackay explains.
The activities of the day will be fun, interactive and practical.
Mackay is also a Mindfulness Practitioner who gained her certification in mindfulness-based interventions through the Institute for Mindfulness South Africa (IMISA) in collaboration with the University Stellenbosch.
Deutschman holds a 200 hour Hatha/Ishta Traditional Yoga Teachers Training Certificate from Pathways Academy of Life. She is the author of her memoir Precious Gem, and has used yoga as a means of self healing for her own trauma.
The sessions will be presented from 09:00 to 16:00 on the following Saturdays: 18 March, 6 April, 20 April and 4 May. The cost is R400 per session or R1400 for all four sessions. Only 15 spaces is available.
Contact Deutschman on 082-467-1640 to book, or send an email to workshopbfn@gmail.com.
