The 5 great challenges for schools in 2007

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg PhD MAPS 
Consultant Psychologist
Albert Road Centre for Health
South Melbourne Vic 3205

Challenge 1: Alcohol

  • 47% of those who begin drinking before 14 become alcohol dependent compared with 9% who wait until 21 (Hingson 2006)
  • 50% of Grade 5 children have had alcohol given to them by their parents (Toumbourou 2006)
  • Alcohol consumption in adolescence can permanently damages the wiring of the brain

More alcohol research

  • 80% of under 18’s drink
  • 50 % binge drink
  • 3 times more people die from alcohol than do illicit drugs

New Public Health Position

Recommends no alcohol consumption in 1st 3 years of high school - this is not a moral issue - it is a health issue.
 

Strong association between alcohol abuse and other health problems

  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Mental health problems
  • Sexual risk taking
  • Blood-borne viruses (Hep C & HIV/AIDS)
  • Violence

Where will your school stand?

  • Will you promote a zero tolerance view?
  • How will you get the message across?
  • How will you reach other  parents?
  • How will you counter the advertising/marketing


Challenge 2: Sleep

June 2005

Teenagers and Sleep

  • Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
  • the internal biological clock slows down in adolescence
  • meaning that teens need to go to bed later and sleep in for longer in the mornings.
  • 8.25 – 9.25 hours

Professor Russell Foster

  • respected Oxford University professor - students would learn more effectively if they started school later
  • students' natural body cycles meant they function better later in the morning
  • Begins to change about the age of 20
  • Later school times are needed
  • To accommodate teen sleep patterns
  • To improve academic performance
  • Delay can be between 2 - 4 hours compared to adults
  • Germany and USA reduced truancy and depression rate

What are the Consequences of Insufficient Sleep?

  • Decreased motivation
  • Sleepiness during the day
  • Irritability & low tolerance
  • Difficulties in focusing attention
  • Difficulties with self-control
  • Negative synergy with alcohol
  • Direct effects on learning, memory consolidation

Sleep is Important for Learning

  • Consolidate what has been learned
  •  Prepares brain to take in new information
  •  Learn new tasks faster
  • Retain newly learned information

Some secrets of a good night’s sleep

  • Dim lights/Implement a routine
  • Cool down
  • Avoid naps
  • Minimise anxiety
  • Avoid stimulants
  • Warm & soothing drinks

Good web sites

http://www.sleepoz.org.au

http://www.sleepbetter.com.au/

http://www.sleepnet.com/

Challenge 3: Identifying the student at risk

Why this is so important

  • 75% of all mental illnesses begin before 25 years of age
  • 1 in 5 students will have a mental health problem
  • 30% seek professional help
  • 50% of the students with the most serious issues never get recognized

Depression…

  • is not just feeling sad or down…
  • is a clinical illness…
  • causes significant distress…
  • impairs a person’s ability to cope or perform…
  • responds to treatment!
What the research tells us about the mental health of school students
  • 20- 30% have a mental illness (AIHW 2004)
  • Impacts upon their ability to get through their day to day routine
  • Can erode the foundation of relationships with family, friends and teachers
  • Be vigilant
  • Emphasis on PREVENTION

Look for changes that might suggest Depression

  • depressed or irritable mood
  • diminished interest or pleasure in most activities
  • significant change in weight or appetite
  • insomnia or hypersomnia
  • fatigue or loss of energy
  • feelings of worthlessness or guilt
  • impaired thinking, concentration or decision making
  • recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Reach Out Teachers’ Network

(www.reachoutpro.com.au)

  • Assist teachers in helping students improve their mental health
  • Why is this important?
  • 75% of all mental illnesses begin before 25 years of age
  • 1 in 5 classmates will have a mental health problem
  • 30% seek professional help 


Challenge 4: Cybersafety

All schools need a cybersafety policy

Best template  in the world downloadable at:   www.cybersafety.org.nz/kit/policy/index.html

4 types of cyberbullies (Aftab 2003)

  • The Vengeful Angel (righting wrongs, or protecting others)
  • The Power-Hungry or Revenge of the Nerds (empowered by the anonymity of the Internet and digital communication)
  • The “Mean Girls” (done, or at least planned, in a group, either virtually or together - done for entertainment)
  • The Inadvertent Cyberbully or “Because I Can”  (respond without thinking about the consequences of their actions) 

5 top tips for Parents

  • Negotiate an family online contract
  • best one  is www.fosi.org/resources/parents/familycontract/
  • Use consequential learning
  • Don’t be a doormat
  • Always say what you mean and mean what you say
  • Use non-verbal  management strategies
    (    turning off TV or  disabling a computer )


Challenge 5: Cybersafety

Challenge the Cult  of Celebrity                                                                                                                                      

  • For the first time ever
  • most popular, powerful, press hungry and poorly behaved celebrities in Hollywood are teenage girls
  • Mischa
  • Nicole
  • Paris
  • Nicky
  • Hillary
  • Jessica
  • Ashlee
  • Mary Kate & Ashley
Some Australian Girls
  • View these celebrities as heroes
  • Their misfortunes are followed breathlessly
  • Trend setters part of an extended social network of friends
  • They even post messages for them on myspace
  • They manipulate taste fashion and advertising

Celebrity worship syndrome

  • sufferer is a person that is obsessed with a person in the public eye i.e. a celebrity.
  • "Celebrity Obsession Syndrome" or "Mad Icon Disease“
  • 1 in 3 people is a CWS sufferer
  • 1 in 4 people is so obsessed with their idol, that it affects their daily life
  • 2% of all people have the most severe form of CWS.
  • Are these people worthy of adulation?