Ending our Relationship with Tobacco
~ Alexis Goffe, Counselling Psychologist
On February 16 2012, I attended the Jamaica Cancer Society’s Anti-Tobacco Forum that was attended by over two hundred high school students. While much information was presented, three main facts stood out for me:
1) Tobacco is a serial killer – In the 20th century, tobacco killed 100 million people worldwide. If the current trend continues, by the end of the 21st century, tobacco will kill 1 billion people worldwide. In Jamaica, reports show an increase in the number of tobacco-related chronic illness cases with Government hospitals reporting 2,255 cases in 2006 and 3,893 in 2008. Extrapolations based on data from the U.S.A estimate that of the 3,200 Jamaicans who die from cancer yearly, 960 are tobacco related.
2) Tobacco is a gold digger –The cost of a pack of cigarettes typically ranges from $550 to $700. If a Jamaican smokes one pack a day, they can easily spend over $200,000 a year. That is not an inconsequential amount of money. How many trips to the grocery store does that cover? How many gas tanks can that fill? How many university credits could be bought? Tobacco not only breaks individuals’ pockets, but it targets the country’s pocket as well. Jamaican health care institutions have spent an estimated US$4 billion since 1980 on tobacco-related illness.
Tobacco wants a high maintenance
abusive
potentially deadly relationship with us
yet 1 in 5 Jamaicans have used tobacco in their lifetime
and over 80,000 youth in Jamaica smoke cigarettes.
Why?
There are the common reasons given: peer pressure, to be cool and learned behaviour from family members. However, in my work counselling adolescents there is a major reason that requires attention; it is one of the most common ways youth have found to cope with the immense challenges of modern times. As a result, telling someone to stop smoking can be the equivalent to telling them to stop a relationship with their best friend.
This leads me to the third fact:
3) Tobacco control is a must –
- On a macro level, Jamaica signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 and there is a bill waiting to be passed in Parliament. This bill includes measures such as banning smoking in public places, banning the sales of tobacco to minors, stricter regulations on advertising and sales and placing graphic health warnings on packs of cigarettes. If passed, this will make Jamaica the third smoke-free CARICOM country along with Barbados and Trinidad.
- On an individual level, we must provide our children and adolescents with healthy coping strategies. Get them involved in church activities, sports, reading and artistic and creative outlets. Help our children and adolescents develop healthy relationships with peers and positive role models. We must ensure that they have people and activities that support them in their good and bad moments.
On February 16 2012, I joined the movement to help
Jamaicans say NO to tobacco
and
YES to a better and more fulfilling life.
Will you?
Alexis Goffe is a counselling psychologist at Caribbean Tots to Teens. He can be reached at alexis@caribbeantotstoteens.com
Learn MoreBabies on Planes: Its War ~ ABC News
We all have horror stories of out-of-control toddlers on a plane. I for one believe that parents must engage and take control. 90% of the solution is in their hands (or glacial stares..) This is no time for a laid-back hands-off approach! I was surprized to see that pilots where actually removing families with tantrum-crazed toddlers from their flights. *wow* that’s serious!
Plan ahead: pack small new toys! This is important for distraction and capturing your little ones attention…but the bottom line is YOU the parent will be the entertainment and distraction all flight long.
This article from ABC news has some good tips for managing a child on a long and cramped plane ride. What have You found that really helps settle the young’uns on a plane ride? Please share your suggestions with us.
Texting improves Language Skills?!?!
Texting improves language skills?! So says a report by BBC News based on research by Coventry University, looking at pre-teens who text. The study was published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology
Learn MoreForget the spoonful of sugar…
Sometimes a spoonful of sugar just does not work!
Here’s some Great “how-to” advice from Troublesome Tots for getting medicine into your little one by using a syringe to minimize losses and more accurately estimate the need for re-dosing.
Learn MoreYou can’t hurry love: Handling your child’s Valentine’s Day blues
Heart Hands
by Alexis Goffe
The unfortunate truth is: Valentine’s Day is not a special day of love, flowers or chocolates for everyone. What is even more unfortunate is that the negative feelings of being unloved, not special, rejected, lonely or even unattractive on Valentine’s Day can be experienced by our children. This truth can be extremely hard for children as early as prep/primary school. A guidance counsellor once told me that his granddaughter who is in Grade 2 was heard asking a male classmate, “Do you love me? It’s ok, I can handle the truth!” Being hurt knows no age; or gender for that matter. We tend to think that Valentine’s Day is a potentially challenging time for girls. However, boys are just as susceptible to these feelings as girls.
Here are four suggestions for handling your child’s experiences around Valentine’s Day:-
Listen
Find out if your child is experiencing any feelings surrounding Valentine’s Day. Do they have plans? Are they planning to ask someone to be their valentine? How are they feeling about having a valentine or not having a valentine? During this conversation, listen to your child and listen well. Give them your undivided attention and create a space for your child to be open and honest.
Offer support
Once you know the child’s thoughts and feelings surrounding Valentine’s Day, thank them for allowing you into their world. Let them know how important it is to be able to tell safe people about their feelings in good and bad times. You can do two things at this point: i) Ask them how best you can support them or ii) Ask for their permission to give them some advice.
Validate feelings
This is one of my favourites. Let your child know it is ok to feel down if they do not have a valentine. One of the best ways to normalize their feelings is to tell them a story of a time you experienced similar feelings and how you handled them. It is important not to trivialize your child’s feelings or categorize it as “being young.” Legitimize their feelings as much as possible.
Encourage family time
Times of loneliness for our children are prime opportunities to reinforce the love you have for your child. Planning family activities on Valentine’s Day can be a great way to lessen negative feelings and strengthen the family bond. Possible activities include watching a movie, having a special family dinner, playing a game, creating an arts and craft project or seeing a play.
Parents must provide an environment of love, acceptance and warmth for their children. Show them the type of love and respect you want them to expect, demand and experience in their future relationships.
We know children may want to find love and find it quick. So parents, take this opportunity to remind your child that – while they can’t hurry love, they will just have to wait and it doesn’t come easy – the love you have for them is already present and everlasting.
Alexis Goffe is a counselling psychologist at Caribbean Tots to Teens. He can be reached at alexis@caribbeantotstoteens.com
Learn MorePreparing for the Doctor’s Visit 1: Who and When
When to set appointments:
Schedule a time that will allow you to arrive about 10-15 minutes early. This will give you leeway for those “unpredictables” like tantrums and bathroom visits. It will also give you enough time to complete the administrative paperwork prior to meeting the doctor. This is critical to the smooth running of the office and easy delivery of health care for you. Be sure to fill in ALL of your (and other care givers) relevant contact information. You may also use his time to find out what the contact arrangements for follow-up and emergencies are for the practice in general and for your personal physician.
Who should come:
If this is the first time the child is going to see this doctor, or first trip for a referral then all care-givers should be there. All care-givers, aunts, grandparents, nannies etc, who are familiar with or manage parts of the child’s daily routine and especially those who will be implementing the changes and treatments recommended, should be present at the visit.
This can very tricky for working and / or out-of-town parents and caregivers, but the time spent coordinating everyone will make it MUCH easier for the doctor to get the facts right and give clear meaningful instructions the first time.
Nobody likes to have to go to the doctor, but if you are prepared,
the whole visit can be a truly helpful, healing experience
and a learning opportunity for all involved.
.
Intro: The Doctor’s Visit
For the beginning of 2012, we will be posting tips and advice about visits to the doctor with your child. Whether you are going to stop in at your health centre, see your family doctor or your paediatrician or visit a referred specialist for the first time, we will walk with you, and help you to be truly prepared.
The more prepared you are, the better the visit will be for everyone.
Please feel free to share your own tips and ideas, we LOVE to learn from you! You can share with us on tumblr, twitter or facebook; you can send comments via our website;
We at Caribbean Tots to Teens, want to hear from YOU.
Learn More