Mental health support and education urgent

I read Aly Vicente’s letter “'Ignorance Shocking” (DD Oct 14 ) – which itself was in response to the DD article “Mystery Illness Strikes Mthatha School Again” (DD Oct 10) – with despair.

The lack of awareness in East London and Eastern Cape schools in relation to mental health awareness is beyond comprehension.

Vicente hopes that the education the children are getting will change the views of adults like the department spokesperson, who surmised that schizophrenia was infectious, and of parents who believe in spirit possession, but sadly I don’t think this will be the case.

The mental health epidemic around the world has been highlighted for a number of years, yet in South Africa there is still so little awareness and prevention.

I understand from personal experience that some mental health conditions are lifelong and require treatment and longterm interventions.

Other people suffer through periods of depression, anxiety, stress and bereavement at certain times in their lives, during which they need support.

Children should be receiving education about these conditions and they should be given coping strategies and support to enable them to know the signs, both for themselves and their peers.

Self-harming and drug dependency are just a few of the ways adolescents and even younger children try to cope.

Is this what we want for the children in our society? There are measures and interventions that those in education should be implementing to give children a chance to develop coping strategies.

Education and health authorities should also be raising awareness among parents and carers so that they can also support their children’s wellbeing and mental health.

But instead we get these preposterous statements suggesting schizophrenia is contagious! What an insult for those who suffer with this lifelong condition. How can you even begin to blame a serious mental health condition for what is happening at one school on such a large scale?

And the solution was to pray. Don’t even get me started. The education department needs to take a good, hard look at itself and then move into the 21st century.

Ignorance is no excuse. I fear for the children and the lack of support they receive. Maybe some of the so-called “elite” schools could start setting the standard and promoting positive mental health awareness.

But sadly, all that seems to matter there is exam results.

– Claire Macdonald, via e-mail