FAR targets youth substance abusers

FAIRVALE Secondary School in partnership with fourth year UKZN psychiatric nursing students have started an outreach programme to assist pupils who are dealing with substance abuse.

During a presentation on Friday, 10 March the psychiatric students and members of the Malingbongwe Senior Citizens Club introduced the programme and Fairvale Awareness and Recovery (FAR) to the pupils and presented a selected group of pupils who have been chosen to be peer mentors in FAR.

As part of their training the nursing students were required to participate in a community project that touches on mental health.

Student, Chiragudeen Shaik said they have recognised the effect of drug in the Wentworth community. “We have seen what the exposure of substance abuse does to a young adult as well as the contribution towards a myriad of mental illnesses. Because of this, we have decided to focus on the awareness and preventative measures to help these children. Our focus is to also educate the youth and elders on the major effects of substance abuse, such as alcohol and drugs,” he added.

One of the main interventions of the programme is to identify potential pupils and provide them with necessary skills and training to develop them into peer mentors. “These peer mentors will be able to identify and help their fellow pupils in need. This programme will continue throughout the year,” he added.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)