WEBVTT - TOPIC: Why Every Teenager Needs Mental Health Screening

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<v Speaker 1>That is the issue of mental health screening for teenagers.

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<v Speaker 1>We're speaking to doctor Lizza Street, who's a pediatrician and

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<v Speaker 1>co founder of a Judah. But just you know, for

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<v Speaker 1>a bit of background, there's lots happening. I mean, I've

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<v Speaker 1>been saying that it's such an important conversation to have

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<v Speaker 1>in light of the youth that we have right now

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<v Speaker 1>and the circumstances that they live under Number one, there's

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<v Speaker 1>so much that's different from what the youth of twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty five are experiencing compared to the youth twenty thirty,

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<v Speaker 1>forty years ago. The screen time that they spend, the

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<v Speaker 1>content that they're exposed to, all are found to be

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<v Speaker 1>contributors or potential contributors to their mental health challenges. In fact,

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<v Speaker 1>according to a UNISE study from twenty twenty one, thirty

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<v Speaker 1>two percent of South African teens showed symptoms of anxiety depression.

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<v Speaker 1>If you told parents ten fifteen, twenty years ago that

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<v Speaker 1>their children could be suffering from depression they're thirteen, fourteen

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<v Speaker 1>year old, I think they would be shocked, they would know,

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<v Speaker 1>they'd wonder, what do you mean. But now the reality

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<v Speaker 1>is just it's right there and so many parents are

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<v Speaker 1>aware of the potential and the risks. So we had

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<v Speaker 1>a conversation this evening around why every teenager needs mental

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<v Speaker 1>health screening, and our guest, Liza's Street, a pediatrician and

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<v Speaker 1>co founder of a Juda, joins us now Live. Liza,

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<v Speaker 1>thank you so much for joining us and welcome to

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<v Speaker 1>seven oh two.

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<v Speaker 2>Good evening, Kmoso, thank you for having me on your

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<v Speaker 2>show this evening.

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<v Speaker 1>Doctor I don't want to is it Lizard Eliza, It's Lisa, Lisa, okay, cool,

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much for that. Maybe let's just start

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<v Speaker 1>a doctor Street with I mean, what mental health screening

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<v Speaker 1>actually is and if it's something that just teen should

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<v Speaker 1>be doing or if we should all be getting screened

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<v Speaker 1>for mental health issues.

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<v Speaker 2>So any screening is it's very important to differentiate between

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<v Speaker 2>what a screening is and what a diagnostic test is.

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<v Speaker 2>So a diagnostic test is something we're actually going to

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<v Speaker 2>find out the root of the problem. It's a blood

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<v Speaker 2>test that will tell you that you have a low

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<v Speaker 2>blood a low sugar, or a urinee make et cetera.

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<v Speaker 2>But when it comes to screening, a screening is a

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<v Speaker 2>suggestive test that is quick, quick, it's cost effective, it

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<v Speaker 2>can be done at scale. It can be done in

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<v Speaker 2>a community like for example, schools, and we can assess

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<v Speaker 2>large groups to see who is at risk of developing

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<v Speaker 2>the condition and therefore been needing to be diagnosed. So

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<v Speaker 2>screening isn't the diagnosis. It is really just a way

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<v Speaker 2>to find out who is a high risk person or

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<v Speaker 2>child that needs further evaluation, and that by doing that

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<v Speaker 2>then they can be directed to the professionals that can

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<v Speaker 2>then do that that proper further evaluation and diagnosis.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, And I mean I'm always speaking about teens here

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<v Speaker 1>in particular, but the screening is this something that we

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<v Speaker 1>should all.

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<v Speaker 2>Be considering doing one percent? You know already now we

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<v Speaker 2>find that with corporate wellness, it is already brought into

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<v Speaker 2>the programs. In corporate wellness when they're checking blood pressures

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<v Speaker 2>and sugars and cholesterol levels, they often do do what

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<v Speaker 2>we call a PHQ nine. It's a very well known

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<v Speaker 2>validated screening tool with nine questions that adults are asked

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<v Speaker 2>and to find out how they're doing, you know, in

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<v Speaker 2>terms of the depression. Fans and some medical aids also

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<v Speaker 2>have it on the for their members to be able

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<v Speaker 2>to do so. It has already been spoken about within

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<v Speaker 2>the within amongst adults. However, amongst teenagers, we're not finding

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<v Speaker 2>that it's been spoken about. It's not being done. And

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<v Speaker 2>it's extremely important because we're dealing with a crisis in

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<v Speaker 2>our hands with our teens. As you mentioned earlier, it's

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<v Speaker 2>on the rise mental health issues and we need to

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<v Speaker 2>start acting now and making a change otherwise things that

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<v Speaker 2>can just get worse.

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<v Speaker 1>And I mean, in terms of teens, what are some

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<v Speaker 1>of the reasons why we should consider prioritizing screening for them.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean I mentioned screen time, which I know is

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<v Speaker 1>a is a big part about social media, the influences

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<v Speaker 1>of social media. Those are all reasons to consider screening

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<v Speaker 1>for them.

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<v Speaker 2>Right absolutely. And you know why it's so important because

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<v Speaker 2>I always say, don't screen for something unless you can

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<v Speaker 2>do something about it. So the reason we screen is

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<v Speaker 2>because they're an adolescent period. It is vitally important for

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<v Speaker 2>us to detect if there is if a child is

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<v Speaker 2>showing funds of depression or suicidal thoughts or anxiety, we

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<v Speaker 2>can actually give them the coping mechanism, the tools to

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<v Speaker 2>support so that they can learn to cope with it

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<v Speaker 2>and not either commit suicide, which is the worst case

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<v Speaker 2>scenario or for them not to for them to learn

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<v Speaker 2>the current mechanisms that don't become adults with these chronic

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<v Speaker 2>conditions and prevent them from having mental health problems with adults.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, the brain is very plastic in a teenagers,

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<v Speaker 2>they can it's maliable. We can change the trajectory of

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<v Speaker 2>these kids' loves. So for me, the importance of the

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<v Speaker 2>screening is because we can intervene and we can change

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<v Speaker 2>how the synapses are growing and all the you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't want to get into medical jargon, but you

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<v Speaker 2>know we can change they rewire their brain so to speak,

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<v Speaker 2>to put it simply, and therefore they will have a

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<v Speaker 2>coping mechanisms so they're not land up with medication as

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<v Speaker 2>an adult or with a diagnosis as an adult. So

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<v Speaker 2>for screening for teenagers is so important. For one, you

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<v Speaker 2>want to risk identify any high rist child and be

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<v Speaker 2>able to intervene and get them the help and support

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<v Speaker 2>immediately that they need. Number two is to say those

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<v Speaker 2>that are showing sounds that they need support, getting them

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<v Speaker 2>in the correct care pathway so that we can support

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<v Speaker 2>them and then at least as adults, then we're not

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<v Speaker 2>going to have a crisis that already we're seeing more

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<v Speaker 2>and more adults presenting the signs of anxiety and depression

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<v Speaker 2>as well.

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<v Speaker 1>What are some of the science to look out for.

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<v Speaker 1>As a parent, who might you know, have a teen

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<v Speaker 1>to think maybe I should take much child for screening.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, it's very, very difficult for parents. It's actually,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, adolescents are moody and emotional and you just

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<v Speaker 2>don't know as a parent. I think, you know, it's

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<v Speaker 2>hard for parents to put it on themselves and expect

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<v Speaker 2>to identify the science and the symptoms. You know. However,

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<v Speaker 2>having said that, we need to be like you mentioned earlier,

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<v Speaker 2>social media is a huge problem in today's teenagers. They

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<v Speaker 2>are worried about how many likes they have and who

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<v Speaker 2>they're following, and even when they're not looking for certain things,

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<v Speaker 2>it will find them on social media and they will

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<v Speaker 2>be influencing ways that really we need to be protecting

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<v Speaker 2>our teams. In many countries they ban social media from

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<v Speaker 2>the end of the age of sixteen, but even when

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<v Speaker 2>as a sixteen seventeen year old, the infant of social

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<v Speaker 2>media and the effects of depression and diety is huge,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's well known, and so as parents, We need

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<v Speaker 2>to be responsible in the social media usage and what

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<v Speaker 2>we allow our kids to do at home. And then

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<v Speaker 2>you know, asking them if your child not eating well

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<v Speaker 2>and not a behavior has changed more than what you

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<v Speaker 2>would imagine a normal teenager would behave speak to them,

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<v Speaker 2>Talk to them, make sure you're communicating because it's going

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<v Speaker 2>to be hard for you to know just from a

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<v Speaker 2>few sympsons and science, So it's important to you have

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<v Speaker 2>good communication as a family. You know, the traditional round

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<v Speaker 2>the table is vitally important to know what's going on

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<v Speaker 2>in their list, what's happening at school? Are they being bullied?

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<v Speaker 2>Are they having relationship difficulties that are they just need

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<v Speaker 2>help and support to cope through. There's so much that

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<v Speaker 2>can be addressed from communicating with your kids that we

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<v Speaker 2>now don't spend enough time doing so. I think that

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<v Speaker 2>is vitally important and often the teenagers will come forward

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<v Speaker 2>and tell you a lot if you just spend time

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<v Speaker 2>asking them. The screening we've done is for those teenagers.

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<v Speaker 2>You know that they're not comfortable we're talking to parents.

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<v Speaker 2>They haven't got the opportunity and really for them to

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<v Speaker 2>have a chance to be heard, because they do want

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<v Speaker 2>to be heard. We've done this test on many children

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<v Speaker 2>and they really do tell the truth and they want

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<v Speaker 2>to be heard and they want support, they just don't

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<v Speaker 2>know where to find it. Unfortunately.

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<v Speaker 1>We're talking at screening mental health screening for teens. My

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<v Speaker 1>guess this evening is doctor Lisa Street and she's a

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<v Speaker 1>pediatrician and co founder of Judah Zree double one double

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<v Speaker 1>A three seven two. We want to hear from you

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<v Speaker 1>if you have teens that you think might require some screening,

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<v Speaker 1>and actually says it's a difficult one, right because teenagers

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<v Speaker 1>are so difficult to figure out and just decipher. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>they are emotional, they can be moody, So get in

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<v Speaker 1>touch with us. She's here to take some of your

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<v Speaker 1>questions around the screening of what it looks like and

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<v Speaker 1>we're and how you can go about getting screening for

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<v Speaker 1>your teens. Doctor, maybe let's just start with what the

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<v Speaker 1>typical mental health screening involves.

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<v Speaker 2>So what we've decided to do is we try to

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<v Speaker 2>create an environment within the school environment to do the

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<v Speaker 2>screenings and therefore we can do it in a large

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<v Speaker 2>scale and when the kids are all at school and

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<v Speaker 2>comfortable in a normal lesson where we give them it's

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<v Speaker 2>a test. It's paper based. We didn't want to use

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<v Speaker 2>a digital format, even though we'd be much easier for

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<v Speaker 2>data capturing and forgetting results. We decided for the anonymity

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<v Speaker 2>of it and for the comfort of what children are

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<v Speaker 2>used to with writing tests. We do a pepper based

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<v Speaker 2>screening test, and we've used tools that are validated that

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<v Speaker 2>are well known. The tools that we've used are specifically

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<v Speaker 2>in teenage language, so to speak. It's not an adult

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<v Speaker 2>test that we're now giving to teenagers. It's specifically from

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<v Speaker 2>the ages of twelve to eighteen, and in that test

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<v Speaker 2>that are answer a number of questions. The first tool,

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<v Speaker 2>there are about twenty five questions, and in that we

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<v Speaker 2>can determine whether their signs of anxiety or depression. They

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<v Speaker 2>can't score that themselves in the test. We need to

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<v Speaker 2>take that test into our offices and we get it

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<v Speaker 2>professionally scored, and then based on those scores, we can

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<v Speaker 2>get feedback back to the school to give them an

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<v Speaker 2>overview of what's going on in their school. The screen

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<v Speaker 2>really the goal of it wasn't so much to diagnose,

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<v Speaker 2>like I say, your child has anxiety or your child

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<v Speaker 2>has depression, and to make them feel they've been singled

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<v Speaker 2>out and identified amongst a group of peers. It was

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<v Speaker 2>rather for us to go back to the schools and

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<v Speaker 2>to say, this is what's going on in your school.

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<v Speaker 2>We've got a school of a thousand kids from grade

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<v Speaker 2>eight to twelve. Your grade eights are struggling with this,

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<v Speaker 2>or your grade twelves are striving with depression, whatever it

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<v Speaker 2>may be. So that they can within the school and

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<v Speaker 2>target strategies specifically to that year or that class to

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<v Speaker 2>facilitate the conversation and to make sure that they are

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<v Speaker 2>helping these students to get help and to know where

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<v Speaker 2>they can get help. So we're facilitating this at scale

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<v Speaker 2>within the school's environment. We're not doing screenings one on

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<v Speaker 2>one in the doctor's rooms. When you're going into the

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<v Speaker 2>doctor's room or the psychologist psychiatrists, that will be more

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<v Speaker 2>of a diagnostic test because that's one on one personalized attention.

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<v Speaker 2>The screening we're doing is really to say, to give

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<v Speaker 2>the school an opportunity to really understand what is happening

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<v Speaker 2>in the mental health of the students attending their school.

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<v Speaker 2>The second part of it is we have a high

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<v Speaker 2>risk identification. So, like I said, it's anonymous. However, there

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<v Speaker 2>is an opportunity for kids who are suicidal and our

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<v Speaker 2>higher risk to identify themselves and say I need help,

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<v Speaker 2>help me. This is my name, this is my number,

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<v Speaker 2>this is my mom's name. Because then what we have done,

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<v Speaker 2>we're working with SADAC, which is a South African anxiety

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<v Speaker 2>and depression group, and we will then be able to

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<v Speaker 2>call those children and give them the countany and the

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<v Speaker 2>support that they need. And then if they are hirisk

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<v Speaker 2>and need to be admitted into a facility, we can

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<v Speaker 2>then facilitate that happening so that they are not left

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<v Speaker 2>on their own and something bad can happen. And then

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<v Speaker 2>the final part of the assessment is social media, and

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<v Speaker 2>we've touched it. What's notice about the social media assessment

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<v Speaker 2>is that they can self school, so they can do

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<v Speaker 2>the test of social media and they can then see

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<v Speaker 2>what is their social media doing to them? How is

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<v Speaker 2>it affecting? Do you have healthy habits or are your

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<v Speaker 2>habits actually unhealthy intoxic? And you need to slow down

0:12:33.160 --> 0:12:35.360
<v Speaker 2>a little bit. And that's a great tool for them

0:12:35.400 --> 0:12:37.640
<v Speaker 2>to be able to self engage and reflect on.

0:12:37.960 --> 0:12:40.559
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so what happens after the screening.

0:12:40.200 --> 0:12:44.040
<v Speaker 2>Then, so after the screening, we collect everything, we collect

0:12:44.040 --> 0:12:46.760
<v Speaker 2>all the tests. We immediately check new high risk. We

0:12:46.920 --> 0:12:51.560
<v Speaker 2>identify those students and we individually, individually go in and

0:12:51.600 --> 0:12:53.520
<v Speaker 2>tell the school who these kids are so that they're

0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:57.800
<v Speaker 2>not exposed. It's very private and confidential. We then get

0:12:57.800 --> 0:13:00.600
<v Speaker 2>those children that are high risk help the rest of

0:13:00.640 --> 0:13:04.640
<v Speaker 2>the kids. Then we will then intervene from a group

0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:08.960
<v Speaker 2>counseling and we work with the psychologists or the social

0:13:08.960 --> 0:13:13.080
<v Speaker 2>workers based in the school to facilitate strategies to help

0:13:13.120 --> 0:13:15.160
<v Speaker 2>these kids cope.

0:13:15.880 --> 0:13:18.480
<v Speaker 1>And I mean, you know, we spoke about how kids

0:13:18.520 --> 0:13:22.679
<v Speaker 1>are just so difficult to figure out, but what are

0:13:22.679 --> 0:13:27.920
<v Speaker 1>some of the primary causes of mental health challenges among teens?

0:13:28.840 --> 0:13:31.400
<v Speaker 2>So you know, there's different causes, you know, a lot

0:13:31.480 --> 0:13:34.400
<v Speaker 2>of the lot. Unfortunately, I'm saying it over and over.

0:13:34.440 --> 0:13:36.800
<v Speaker 2>The social media has become a big red flag in

0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:40.520
<v Speaker 2>our teens. But there can be disruptions at home, they

0:13:40.520 --> 0:13:45.280
<v Speaker 2>can be you know, problems within the family unit at home,

0:13:45.760 --> 0:13:49.240
<v Speaker 2>and bullying is another very big cause. Unfortunately, the bullying

0:13:49.280 --> 0:13:51.319
<v Speaker 2>is often linked to social media. So that's why we

0:13:51.840 --> 0:13:54.360
<v Speaker 2>flag the social media because the bullying doesn't just stay

0:13:54.360 --> 0:13:56.679
<v Speaker 2>at school, it follows them on the devices. When they

0:13:56.679 --> 0:13:58.280
<v Speaker 2>go home and they never seem to be able to

0:13:58.400 --> 0:14:02.640
<v Speaker 2>escape it. So and then obviously if there is any

0:14:02.640 --> 0:14:06.560
<v Speaker 2>substance abuse or thing like that that can trigger some

0:14:06.600 --> 0:14:10.520
<v Speaker 2>sort of mental health issue like depression or a psychosis,

0:14:10.480 --> 0:14:13.680
<v Speaker 2>et cetera. So they multiple causes, but it depends on

0:14:13.760 --> 0:14:16.920
<v Speaker 2>the children. And like we say, the big bad one

0:14:16.960 --> 0:14:19.440
<v Speaker 2>at the moment is social media and bullying and.

0:14:19.360 --> 0:14:21.640
<v Speaker 1>A lot of some of the symptoms that parents should

0:14:21.760 --> 0:14:25.200
<v Speaker 1>absolutely not ignore among their children because you know, with

0:14:25.840 --> 0:14:29.360
<v Speaker 1>the moodiness and sometimes the emotion, you know, you can say,

0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:30.680
<v Speaker 1>are they being teens?

0:14:31.120 --> 0:14:34.880
<v Speaker 2>But what should you not ignore? You know, if they

0:14:35.000 --> 0:14:37.640
<v Speaker 2>are not able to eat and they're refusing to eat,

0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:41.360
<v Speaker 2>and they are not able to sleep, and if they

0:14:41.560 --> 0:14:46.760
<v Speaker 2>are completely withdrawn and noncommunicative at all and more so

0:14:46.960 --> 0:14:50.840
<v Speaker 2>than normal, you know, your parents really feel that they've

0:14:50.880 --> 0:14:54.440
<v Speaker 2>been shut out of their lives. They must start really

0:14:54.480 --> 0:14:57.440
<v Speaker 2>intervening and getting someone to help communicate with their child,

0:14:57.800 --> 0:15:00.440
<v Speaker 2>to say, what is going on? Why you so distance?

0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:03.080
<v Speaker 2>What is why are you're not eating? You know, those

0:15:03.080 --> 0:15:07.320
<v Speaker 2>are simple funds that show you, okay, these there's there's

0:15:07.480 --> 0:15:09.800
<v Speaker 2>lack of will. These kids don't have no will to

0:15:09.840 --> 0:15:11.720
<v Speaker 2>do anything. They don't want to go to school, they

0:15:11.760 --> 0:15:13.000
<v Speaker 2>don't want to do their work, they don't want to

0:15:13.000 --> 0:15:16.120
<v Speaker 2>be with their friends. They withdraw quite a lot to

0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.520
<v Speaker 2>be with themselves. And because they feelings are sad and

0:15:19.600 --> 0:15:22.840
<v Speaker 2>so lonely, those parents, let's just keep an out. They're

0:15:22.840 --> 0:15:26.840
<v Speaker 2>not interested in interacting with their friends as per normal.

0:15:27.480 --> 0:15:29.600
<v Speaker 2>There's a red flag to get some help.

0:15:30.760 --> 0:15:32.720
<v Speaker 1>And I mean just for a bit of a step

0:15:32.720 --> 0:15:34.880
<v Speaker 1>by step guide for parents. So if they if they

0:15:34.880 --> 0:15:37.400
<v Speaker 1>see these symptoms, where do they go? What's what do

0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:37.760
<v Speaker 1>they do?

0:15:38.840 --> 0:15:42.360
<v Speaker 2>So what is great is that you can actually contact

0:15:42.360 --> 0:15:45.320
<v Speaker 2>SATAK there's South African anxidity depression group that do have

0:15:45.360 --> 0:15:48.880
<v Speaker 2>a helpline and the parents can counterct them and say

0:15:49.000 --> 0:15:51.800
<v Speaker 2>where they what the area that they live in is

0:15:52.160 --> 0:15:55.520
<v Speaker 2>and they can then direct you to your closest facility

0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:58.880
<v Speaker 2>based on what the symptoms are. So SADAK will follow.

0:15:59.120 --> 0:16:05.320
<v Speaker 2>They have trained comes within the services that will determine

0:16:05.480 --> 0:16:07.720
<v Speaker 2>what is the risk. Here are we dealing with a

0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:10.240
<v Speaker 2>child that is at high risk that needs intervention immediately

0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:12.040
<v Speaker 2>and needs an ambulance to go and fetch them and

0:16:12.080 --> 0:16:15.120
<v Speaker 2>bring them into a hospital. They can arrange exactly that.

0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:18.040
<v Speaker 2>They have very strict protocol. They know how to do that.

0:16:18.640 --> 0:16:21.120
<v Speaker 2>If it is a parent that just needs counseling and

0:16:21.120 --> 0:16:24.000
<v Speaker 2>support to be able to facilitate their child, they will

0:16:24.040 --> 0:16:25.760
<v Speaker 2>then be able to give in that ongoing they do

0:16:25.840 --> 0:16:28.520
<v Speaker 2>two or three sessions, they can do then telephonically, they

0:16:28.560 --> 0:16:32.560
<v Speaker 2>can do them on zoom and they can then decide, okay,

0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:34.480
<v Speaker 2>well we've done a couple of sessions, but now we

0:16:34.560 --> 0:16:38.320
<v Speaker 2>actually need to go and see a psychologist or psychiatrist

0:16:38.360 --> 0:16:42.400
<v Speaker 2>and get the further diagnosis and treatment. So the actual

0:16:42.440 --> 0:16:46.120
<v Speaker 2>councilors in Sadak are incredible and they're doing an amazing

0:16:46.240 --> 0:16:49.240
<v Speaker 2>job and their work in South Africa is really being

0:16:50.520 --> 0:16:53.480
<v Speaker 2>it's fantastic, and so they are the best people to

0:16:53.600 --> 0:16:56.320
<v Speaker 2>call for parents that are worried and they think something's

0:16:56.360 --> 0:16:59.000
<v Speaker 2>going on, and they can really they'll go through all

0:16:59.040 --> 0:17:01.480
<v Speaker 2>the step by step question and then their protocol and

0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:04.159
<v Speaker 2>decide what kind of interventions are needed or counseling and

0:17:04.200 --> 0:17:05.560
<v Speaker 2>direct the parents accordingly.

0:17:06.840 --> 0:17:08.720
<v Speaker 1>And you know, I know you spoke about doing the

0:17:08.760 --> 0:17:11.960
<v Speaker 1>screening at schools, but you know, unfortunately we live in

0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:15.639
<v Speaker 1>South Africa and inequality is the reality. I mean, how

0:17:15.840 --> 0:17:19.960
<v Speaker 1>how widespread or how how how how yeah, I mean,

0:17:20.200 --> 0:17:23.480
<v Speaker 1>is it available at most schools. Is this the reality

0:17:23.560 --> 0:17:24.440
<v Speaker 1>that most schools have.

0:17:25.640 --> 0:17:28.760
<v Speaker 2>So what's so interesting is we did the first screening

0:17:28.840 --> 0:17:32.520
<v Speaker 2>when we did it last year. Initially we were working

0:17:32.640 --> 0:17:38.520
<v Speaker 2>at a in a in a township that was getting

0:17:38.640 --> 0:17:42.080
<v Speaker 2>free screenings for ours is and dental and because the

0:17:42.160 --> 0:17:44.280
<v Speaker 2>children we were screening we're an older age group, we thought,

0:17:44.320 --> 0:17:46.480
<v Speaker 2>let's slip in a mental health assessment as well, and

0:17:46.520 --> 0:17:49.080
<v Speaker 2>so we got consent for doing all the different types

0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:51.800
<v Speaker 2>of screening and we did this mental health assessment and

0:17:52.200 --> 0:17:54.919
<v Speaker 2>we were it was opening to see the results and

0:17:54.960 --> 0:17:57.320
<v Speaker 2>we thought, Okay, now we've got a clear problem. Yeah,

0:17:57.359 --> 0:17:59.480
<v Speaker 2>what are we going to do? And so we made

0:17:59.520 --> 0:18:02.840
<v Speaker 2>sure we created a full, clear pathway for all those

0:18:02.880 --> 0:18:05.840
<v Speaker 2>teenagers to get help. The school where we did it

0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:09.600
<v Speaker 2>was incredible. They've now got ongoing counseling. These kids are

0:18:09.640 --> 0:18:12.440
<v Speaker 2>all getting support and surina can be done. There are

0:18:12.480 --> 0:18:15.840
<v Speaker 2>facilities available for these kids to get help. So, as

0:18:15.840 --> 0:18:18.439
<v Speaker 2>we've now obviously grown and we've realized this needs to

0:18:18.480 --> 0:18:23.399
<v Speaker 2>be a more widespread intervention, we're targeting both the private

0:18:23.440 --> 0:18:26.400
<v Speaker 2>and the public schools. It's not one not the other.

0:18:26.880 --> 0:18:30.199
<v Speaker 2>And what is impressive is that our public schools the

0:18:30.400 --> 0:18:34.560
<v Speaker 2>principles are extremely involved and are caring and they know

0:18:34.680 --> 0:18:36.840
<v Speaker 2>that there is a problem. They see it with their

0:18:36.880 --> 0:18:40.239
<v Speaker 2>social workers are inundated with children. It's going into their

0:18:40.240 --> 0:18:45.080
<v Speaker 2>office and requiring help. And so they have really they

0:18:45.119 --> 0:18:48.119
<v Speaker 2>have found budget within their school to make sure that

0:18:48.160 --> 0:18:50.840
<v Speaker 2>they can cover the minimum costs. You know, it's really

0:18:51.200 --> 0:18:53.560
<v Speaker 2>not a big cost, but it's just to be able

0:18:53.640 --> 0:18:57.560
<v Speaker 2>to make sure that these kids have all the helpline

0:18:57.560 --> 0:19:00.840
<v Speaker 2>available to them. The ongoing counseling and think and the

0:19:00.880 --> 0:19:03.800
<v Speaker 2>schools that have been quite incredible with coming on board

0:19:03.600 --> 0:19:05.880
<v Speaker 2>and intervening for these kids.

0:19:06.760 --> 0:19:09.720
<v Speaker 1>And I suppose this is something that's you know, many

0:19:09.760 --> 0:19:12.800
<v Speaker 1>might be wondering what exactly are the questions that are

0:19:12.840 --> 0:19:14.680
<v Speaker 1>asked as you do the screening.

0:19:15.359 --> 0:19:17.720
<v Speaker 2>So I'm not there. Like I said, the first test

0:19:17.880 --> 0:19:21.320
<v Speaker 2>is quite comprehensive. It's twenty five different types of questions,

0:19:21.359 --> 0:19:25.280
<v Speaker 2>and it will be things like that you're feeling It's

0:19:25.320 --> 0:19:29.320
<v Speaker 2>been spoken in very much inappropriate teenage language, and it'll

0:19:29.320 --> 0:19:32.920
<v Speaker 2>be like, are you feeling sad or empty inside? Are

0:19:32.960 --> 0:19:35.960
<v Speaker 2>you worrying when you think that you've got something poorly?

0:19:37.240 --> 0:19:39.359
<v Speaker 2>Do you feel afraid when you've been at home on

0:19:39.440 --> 0:19:42.920
<v Speaker 2>your own? Things like that. So there's very specific questions

0:19:42.960 --> 0:19:44.720
<v Speaker 2>that they can answer and they can say it's never,

0:19:44.760 --> 0:19:48.560
<v Speaker 2>it's sometimes, it's often always, and it's a validated tool

0:19:48.720 --> 0:19:51.320
<v Speaker 2>that then we can score at the end of the

0:19:51.320 --> 0:19:54.080
<v Speaker 2>twenty five questions and it will point to what we're

0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:55.679
<v Speaker 2>dealing with with these kids.

0:19:57.280 --> 0:20:01.320
<v Speaker 1>Doctor Eliza, maybe just tell us where we can find you.

0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:03.760
<v Speaker 1>If parents are looking for you, how can they get in.

0:20:03.720 --> 0:20:07.440
<v Speaker 2>Touch perfect they can email us at schools at a

0:20:07.520 --> 0:20:11.080
<v Speaker 2>judo dot dotza. We can bring the mental health screen

0:20:11.200 --> 0:20:13.760
<v Speaker 2>to their school and make sure that it's been implemented

0:20:13.840 --> 0:20:16.679
<v Speaker 2>and all the supports, you know. Just to note it's

0:20:16.720 --> 0:20:19.080
<v Speaker 2>not only about the day of the screening, it's more

0:20:19.359 --> 0:20:23.040
<v Speaker 2>the support thereafter that is so important with these children.

0:20:23.280 --> 0:20:25.680
<v Speaker 2>It's one thing to say there's a problem, but it's

0:20:25.760 --> 0:20:29.680
<v Speaker 2>really the most critical thing is to intervene thereafter. So yes,

0:20:29.760 --> 0:20:30.320
<v Speaker 2>So if you just