Our tamariki are the future of Aotearoa. Their health and well-being are essential for their own development and happiness. However, many of our children face significant challenges that can affect their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.
In this article, we will discuss four of these key challenges: mental health, obesity, bullying, and substance abuse. We will also explore how we at Life Education Trust utilise five key teaching strands to address these challenges and inspire tamariki to make positive life choices.
1. Mental Health
Mental health is the state of well-being in which a person can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community. Many tamariki struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and self-harm. According to a report by the Ministry of Health, children and young people involved with Oranga Tamariki have higher mental health and well-being needs than the general population. They also face significant barriers and service gaps when getting enough of the right kinds of support.
Some of the factors that can affect tamariki mental health include:
Whānau relationships
Cultural identity and belonging
Socioeconomic status and poverty
Abuse and neglect
Bullying and peer pressure
School environment and achievement
Media and social media influences
To support our tamariki mental health, it is important to provide them with:
Safe and nurturing environments
Positive role models and mentors
Opportunities to express themselves and participate in decision-making
Access to appropriate and timely services and resources
Education and awareness on mental health issues and coping strategies
2. Obesity
Obesity is the condition of having excess body fat that can impair health and well-being. Obesity can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. Obesity can also affect self-esteem, confidence, and social skills. According to the Ministry of Health, one in eight children aged 2–14 years were obese in 2019/20, and one in five were overweight but not obese. Obesity rates were higher for Māori (18%) and Pacific (30%) children than for European/Other (8%) children.
Some of the factors that can contribute to obesity include:
Genetic predisposition
Dietary habits and food choices
Physical activity levels and sedentary behaviours
Environmental influences such as availability and accessibility of healthy food options
Cultural norms and values around food and body image
To prevent and manage our tamariki’s obesity, it is important to promote:
Healthy eating habits and balanced diets
Regular physical activity and active lifestyles
Positive body image and self-acceptance
Whānau involvement and support
Education and awareness on nutrition and health benefits
3. Bullying
Bullying is the intentional and repeated use of power to hurt, harm, or exclude someone. Bullying can take many forms such as physical, verbal, social, or cyberbullying. Bullying can affect tamariki’s well-being in various ways such as:
Causing physical injuries or illnesses
Reducing academic performance or attendance
Lowering self-esteem or confidence
Increasing anxiety or depression
Triggering suicidal thoughts or actions
According to the Education Review Office, bullying is a widespread problem in New Zealand schools. In 2019, 29% of primary school students and 26% of secondary school students reported being bullied at least weekly. Bullying rates were higher for students who identified as Māori (34%), Pacific (33%), Asian (31%), or LGBTQIA+ (39%).
Some of the factors that can influence bullying behaviour include:
Personal characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or disability
Family and whānau relationships such as parenting styles or domestic violence
Peer relationships such as friendship groups or social status
School culture
Societal attitudes such as stereotypes, prejudices, or discrimination
To prevent and address tamariki bullying, it is important to foster:
Respectful and inclusive relationships among students, staff, families, whānau communities
Empathy and compassion for others’ feelings and perspectives
Communication and conflict resolution skills
Bystander intervention and support for victims
Reporting and responding systems for bullying incidents
4. Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is the harmful or excessive use of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or other drugs. Substance abuse can affect tamariki health and well-being in various ways such as:
Impairing brain development and cognitive functions
Damaging organs and systems such as liver, lungs, heart, or nervous system
Increasing the risk of accidents, injuries, or violence
Affecting mood, behaviour, or personality
Leading to addiction, dependence, or withdrawal
According to the Youth19 survey, 23% of secondary school students reported drinking alcohol in the past month, 14% reported smoking tobacco, 13% reported using cannabis, and 3% reported using other drugs. Substance use rates were higher for students who identified as Māori (31%, 21%, 20%, and 5%, respectively) or LGBTQIA+ (33%, 24%, 23%, and 8%, respectively). Some of the factors that can influence tamariki substance use include:
Curiosity or experimentation
Peer pressure or social norms
Stress or coping mechanisms
Availability or accessibility of substances
Family or whānau history or influence
To prevent and reduce tamariki substance abuse, it is important to provide:
Accurate and relevant information on the effects and risks of substances
Positive and healthy alternatives to substance use such as hobbies, sports, or arts
Skills and strategies to resist peer pressure or cope with stress
Support and guidance for tamariki who are using or affected by substances
Referral and treatment options for tamariki who need help with substance issues
How Life Education Trust Addresses These Challenges
Life Education Trust is a charity that educates and empowers tamariki to make healthy choices so they can live full and healthy lives. Our Educators with their mascot Harold the Giraffe travel to schools in mobile classrooms to deliver our programme. They utilise a shared planning approach with schools to create individualised lessons to suit the needs of tamariki. Our teaching strands have been developed based on the four key challenges that tamariki face to their health and well-being while growing up as outlined above. You can learm more about the modules and options here. Our teaching covers content across five key strands:
Food and Nutrition: This strand helps tamariki understand the importance of eating a variety of food, where food comes from, how food affects their bodies, and how to make healthy food choices.
Human Biology: This strand helps tamariki learn about their body systems, how they work, how they are connected, and how to keep them healthy.
Substances: This strand helps tamariki learn about the effects and risks of different substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or other drugs, and how to make informed decisions about substance use.
Relationships and Communities: This strand helps tamariki learn about the qualities of friendship and being friendly, how to be part of a team, how to deal with peer pressure, how to be an upstander against bullying, and how to keep themselves safe.
Identity and Resilience: This strand helps tamariki learn about their identity and reputation, their strengths and challenges, their emotions and feelings, their coping skills and strategies, and their goals and aspirations.
By engaging with Life Education Trust’s programme, tamariki can develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will enable them to overcome the challenges they face and enhance their health and well-being.
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