Managing stress, identifying people with it key: Official

MANAGING stress and identifying people with it is important in order that those affected are helped when needed, PNG Counsellors Association trainer Ruby Matane says.
“People must know how they can manage it and to really know the root causes of stress, where it comes from and what to do in order to limit its effect on people,” she said.
Matane made the statement during a three-day training for people who help others through stressful or crisis situations in Lae yesterday.
The training involves teachers from primary and secondary schools and technical and vocational schools in Morobe.
The 29 participants were shown how stress could be better managed at the family and community level and in schools.
The training provides the knowledge and skills to people who want to be effective helpers to understand the needs of survivors in providing support.
According to Matane, the training targeted church leaders, women and youth leaders, medical professionals, police, Correctional Services, court officials, human rights defenders and others that deal with people.
“Papua New Guinea continues to witness growing human rights abuse. The need to protect those who are vulnerable to abuse and experience stress and trauma is urgent,” she said.
Matane told The National that the training with the teachers was to help them with work load and for them to self-identify stress and find ways to address it earlier.
“This community-based helpers training for teachers will benefit,” she said.
“Teachers deal with student discipline and it is like they are dealing with the symptoms and not the actual cause of it.
“Many times when this happens, children are vulnerable to bullying and other forms of abuse and most times these are not captured in the disciplinary action.
“Families are also the source of the stress that is affecting the child and a lot of times we do not know that.”