Feature
Does Mental Health Matter at school?
At vis it does!
How does mental health affect pre-teens and teens at school? The Fort speaks to MMSA Mental Health Coordinator Deborah Caruana about the issues teens face and how they should be dealt with.
According to the WHO, half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age, with depression being one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, globally. Yet most cases are undetected and untreated. The WHO further states that the consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions will extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health, limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
Mental Health Awareness is an important topic of discussion at VIS, whereby the school offers individual assistance to students. “This is done through individual counselling, group counselling and mentoring,” Ms Corinne Borg, Head of Student Support Services at VIS says. “Assessment of the concerns is carried and when necessary we liaise and collaborate with outside professionals. Students respond very well and often seek us out to talk about the adversities they are facing.”
To discuss the topic further, on Wednesday 7th October, our secondary school students were given the chance to reflect on mental health. Helping them do so, the Student Support Services invited the MMSA (Malta Medical Students’ Association) to share their insight on mental health.
“The MMSA were chosen because as medical students, they are very close in age to our Grade 11 and 12s,” Ms Corinne says. “As a result, our students relate better to them.”
During students’ advisory period, homerooms logged on for an interactive zoom session with representatives from the MMSA. The students were asked questions to help them reflect on mental health, and were given information on the topic.
With the students having had a chance to delve into the issue, how can parents, guardians and teachers be more aware of the mental health issues that affect pre-teens and teens? Ms Caruana shares her insights on the issue.
and mentoring,” Ms Corinne Borg, Head of Student Support Services at VIS says. “Assessment of the concerns is carried and when necessary we liaise and collaborate with outside professionals. Students respond very well and often seek us out to talk about the adversities they are facing.”
To discuss the topic further, on Wednesday 7th October, our secondary school students were given the chance to reflect on mental health. Helping them do so, the Student Support Services invited the MMSA (Malta Medical Students’ Association) to share their insight on mental health.
“The MMSA were chosen because as medical students, they are very close in age to our Grade 11 and 12s,” Ms Corinne says. “As a result, our students relate better to them.”
During students’ advisory period, homerooms logged on for an interactive zoom session with representatives from the MMSA. The students were asked questions to help them reflect on mental health, and were given information on the topic.
With the students having had a chance to delve into the issue, how can parents, guardians and teachers be more aware of the mental health issues that affect pre-teens and teens? Ms Caruana shares her insights on the issue.
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