Motivation

The Motivation Behind a Unique and Vital Mental Health Initiative

 

Viva College – a First in South Africa!

 

I am the mother of 30 year old twin boys, one of which was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at 16 years old.

 

1% of our population is affected by Schizophrenia.

 

The suicide rate for these kids is very high (40% attempt and 10% succeed).  My own son made an attempt – luckily he did not succeed.

 

I have found a way – after much research into the illness and facilities that were available in South Africa at the turn of the millennium – to assist decrease the devastating symptoms of this illness and other related neuro-biochemical disorders as well as to promote long term wellness and normality of life by way of assessing that:

 

There were no appropriate facilities in South Africa at that time for our teenagers and young adults who were affected and who were in the wellness phase, i.e. stabilized on medications. More was being done for those who were chronically ill on a clinical basis.

 

The facilities that existed at that time were based in questionable areas where the peddling of illegal substances was rife. These facilities catered for all ages and most of those people were chronically mentally ill.

 

It is a culture shock for students who have attended normal schools to suddenly be locked up in Psychiatric Hospitals, and then in their wellness phase to find themselves in Rehabilitation Centres bordering the city amongst chronically ill people who are generally older than themselves.

 

This sudden deviation from the life they are used to is not only conducive to discouraging wellness but, due to the depression of it all, could also induce a further relapse which could further compromise the mental state of the individual. 

 

The more relapses one has the more devastating the effects and the poorer the prognosis for future quality and functionality of life!

 

Most of the parents who have contacted me, due to the extensive media coverage we have received prior and after launching the Viva Initiative, have been keen to enrol their children who have been at home watching television all day, feeling extremely lonely due to having lost their friends during their illness phase and also not motivated after their hospitalisation as they have been leading an insular life. It is extremely depressing and frustrating for our youth due to the time and functionality that they have lost in their prime  years.

Most of these students are likely to encounter another relapse due to lack of stimulation, motivation and hope for their future.  There has been, in the past, due to lack of pro-active facilities very little quality of life for both parent and child!

 

The objectives to having formed an appropriate early intervention facility such as The Viva Youth College/Life Skills Centre for adolescents / young adults include:

 

• Students will have the prospect to resuming their lives from a normal perspective after hospitalisation for a psychotic episode.  The average relapse rate of this age group is generally two to three episodes. Intellectual functioning therefore may still be redeemable.  Students are normally only discharged from hospital once they are in their wellness phase as the neuroleptic medications prescribed have begun to re-balance the neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Therefore all full-time students enrolled at Viva College have the hope to be on the path to wellness and maintenance of same.  They should be medication compliant and those with a dual diagnosis who have abused substances must become clean and allow the Viva Team to assist them in their willingness to remain so.
• Full-time residential and day care students have the opportunity to bond with new friends as, due to their illness, most may have lost touch with their original peer group which is, in itself, devastating to any young person.
• Viva students are nurtured and uplifted in a personalised and structured secondary ‘family systems’ environment which is sensitive to their individual overall functioning at the time of enrolment. The Viva Program assists students to cope with stress, manage their illness intelligently and recoup, the aim being to maintain their mental faculties / abilities well into their future. The Viva Team also strive to re-functionalise the primary family system and work closely with the parental/guardian authority figures in order to modify all behaviours effectively so as to encourage long term cohesive relationships.
• Viva College’s Upliftment Program aims to prepare students to resume their lives in a normalised way - may it be completing their schooling, university, college or procuring / creating employment.
• Viva has, for the last two years, run a study centre under the auspices of the British International Distance College and most high school students are enrolled for the Cambridge Course and are able to enjoy one on one tutelage facilitation at Viva. Viva can cater for primary students from 12 years old on a day care basis.
• A long-term follow-up research Program has been set up as it is essential to monitor the students who have left and their success rate in this regard.
• The Viva objective is for students to ease back into society after 12 to 18 months – or whenever they are ready - feeling capable to continue with their lives and most importantly feeling the hope and motivation to do so.
• Over 20’s participate in the Viva Life Skills Program which include  therapeutic value sessions.

 

 

On my research journey I have met with many relevant Mental Health Government Departments and NPOS as well as, Professor Allwood, Head of Psychiatry at the Wits Medical School. All have agreed that this huge gap needed to be filled on a National Basis.  The first College was launched successfully on August 1^st, 2002 and is also service-supported by Wits Mental Health. A consultancy branch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was launched in September 2012.. 

 

The positive response from professionals and volunteers has been awe –inspiring and a daily working team of Tutors, Life Skills Coaches and Professionals with Medical/ Psychosocial and Psychiatric controls for Viva is an asset to our students.

 

Apart from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Viva also caters for reactive attachment disorders, borderline and cutting disorders as well as many other emotional , personality  and behavioural challenges. 

 

What these young people with so much unrealised potential need, is guidance, support and direction from caring and holistically qualified persons.

More importantly, the VIVA team, has a sound understanding of these neuro -biochemical disorders and their related effects, and will assist in the training of these young adults in social skills and will help develop their self confidence to a level where they can enter the workplace with a realistic chance of success. 

 

I have not yet managed to source any other Pro-active Upliftment Facilities anywhere in the world that cater for our youth diagnosed with these chemical imbalances.  Viva College is still a first and its conception and implementation has been long overdue.

 

Paola Macqueen

Contact Details:

Tel:  083 256 2121

Fax:  082 503 7626

E-mail:  paola@vivacollege.co.za/vivacollege@vivacollege.co.za

Website: www.vivacollege.co.za

Mobile landline Viva offices:  082 896 4444

Postal Address: P O Box 31999 Kyalami 1684

Physical Address: 14 Koedoe Street cnr Summit Road  Timsrand (bordering Midrand and Centurion)