Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, millions of people are facing financial struggles, thousands of families impacted by the grief of losing loved ones and the constant stress arising from the fears, anxieties and frustrations affecting South Africans of all ages. It’s not surprising that there are significant concerns about rising mental health disorders across the country.
“Secondary traumatic stress or compassionate fatigue can impact all areas of a teacher’s life, and the effects can range from mild to debilitating. It’s important for teachers to understand the risks, be aware of signs and symptoms, and take action to protect and enhance their mental health,” said Dr Diana De Sousa.
To support teachers during these uncertain times, the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) is offering a free Mental Health and Wellness webinar on the 10th of April 2021 from .9:00 to 10:30 am. The aim of this webinar is to equip frontline educators with the skills to help themselves and their students.
“Teachers are carrying a uniquely difficult burden right now. Managing their own stress and worry, but also tasked with supporting and guiding students through the subjects they teach during COVID-19,” added De Sousa.
During the webinar, teachers and educators will be joining a panel discussion with Registered Counselling Psychologist and SACAP Educator, Clare Chester; Educational Psychologist, Dr Anne Govender; and Educational and Research Psychologist and SACAP’s Head of Teaching and Learning Dr Diana De Sousa, highlighting the unique challenges they are facing and presenting solutions to help them improve both their learners’ and their own emotional well-being.
“The school community is expected to function normally in an abnormal situation. Teachers are under enormous pressure to deliver the curriculum as well as to catch up as much as possible, but their modes of operation are completely disrupted. Support structures that take into account the intense, mixed emotions of both teachers and learners need to be in place. Solutions-focused conversations and discussions around mental health play an important role in fostering resilience in the face of ongoing adversities,” said Govender.
As the leaders in their classrooms, a key element for teachers is their ability to recognize signs of mental health disorders in their learners, which often manifest in either disruptive or withdrawn behaviors. Clare Chester will help teachers understand the range of mental health disorders and to identify the signs that a learner needs additional support.
“The strategies that we will unpack during the webinar are aimed at equipping teachers to know the warning signs of distress in learners, understand how to connect learners with resources to help them and assist them in building supportive social connections with peers,” said Chester.
Participants will also receive a mental health toolkit which will provide teachers with simple, usable ways to practice daily self-care, and importantly, model these positive behaviors for their learners.
