There has been a 20 percent increase in referrals for children presenting with attempted suicide and deliberate self-harm this year compared to last year. This has been revealed by Empower Pacific CEO Patrick Morgam to fijivillage News, who says that depression continues to be a major contributing factor towards suicidal thoughts among children.
Morgam says the cases are identified through its hospital-based and community-based referral systems, as well as its 24/7 counselling helpline. He says they have found that children referred for counselling often face multiple layers of emotional distress stemming from a breakdown in family support, poor communication between parents and children, exposure to domestic violence, and social pressures such as cyberbullying or unrealistic family expectations.
He says it is important to detect early warning signs of emotional or mental distress in children, which include sudden isolation, loss of interest or enthusiasm, low self-esteem, sadness, anger outbursts, and being easily triggered.
Morgam says these signs are often overlooked in homes and classrooms, particularly when teachers are responsible for large groups of students or when the child’s behaviour is dismissed as normal due to their background or environment.
He stresses that more awareness and training is needed to help both parents and educators identify the early signs and provide proper support to children.
He is calling for the integration of emotional literacy into the school curriculum, with trained teachers and experienced counsellors placed in schools.
Morgam also says that stigma around help-seeking remains a major barrier in Fiji, especially where cultural beliefs discourage emotional expression.
He says the link of the child to his or her background, should the child live in an area that is not of good reputation or should the child be known as an “out of control” child from home and in their community, is often considered to be a part of the child’s identity, not realizing the root cause, which can be because the child is exposed to domestic violence at home and thinks violence is normal behavior.
Morgam has called on the Government, NGOs, civil society, and faith-based organisations to prioritise mental health for children and youths. If you are facing issues and need to talk to someone, please contact Empower Pacific on toll free line 5626.
