ISSUE 11 MARCH 2019

INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

ESP NewsNEwSlETTER OF ThE EMPlOYEE SUPPORT PROGRAMME

WelcomeWelcome to the first issue of 2019; we hope you had a good start to the year. In this issue we wanted to shed some light on the challenges of parenting teenagers. We frequently hear about how hard it is to connect with teenagers and how easily their mood changes. The article will provide some tips on how parents and caregivers can find ways of connecting with their teenagers. Another common issue we see in our clients is the experience of panic attacks. Whilst panic attacks may be frightening for the person experiencing them, with the right support and skills, individuals can control and learn to stop panic attacks before they start. We also share with you some tips on how to show appreciation and gratitude to others as it is through simple everyday actions that we impact the lives of those around us and our own as a result.

Regards,

Stelmart KhalilAssistant Director(People Wellbeing & Support)People & Standards Division

The challenges ofPARENTING TEENAGERSAdolescence can be a challenging period for both parents and teenagers.

It is common for families to experience problems between family members at some point during this time. What is important to keep in mind is the way to handle problems once they arise.

Teenagers experience a lot of physiological and psychological changes. As part of entering puberty they have to deal with many hormonal changes, which may leave them feeling overwhelmed and misunderstood, most often by adults. They also start wanting to become independent from their parents and wanting to test their own limits.

During this time parents may start to realize that parenting methods that worked before are no longer working. This may leave them feeling frustrated, angry and even helpless in front of the new situations they are now facing.

01 The challenges of parenting teenagers

02 How to support someone experiencing a panic attack

03 Showing appreciation and gratitude

04 News & Events

Inside this Issue

• Deteriorationinschoolperformance:This may include disagreeing with the choice of subjects a teen wishes to study, dealing with bad grades and missing lessons.

• Datingandsexuality:Thismayinclude issues on sexual identity, promiscuity and educating teens about the risks involved in engaging in sexual behaviour.

• Goingout:Theremaybedisagreements over the time teenagers are allowed to stay out as well as the places they choose to go to.

• Experimentingwithalcohol,smoking and/or drugs

• Choiceoffriends:Parentsmaynotalways approve of their teen’s friends.

Some common problems that families may face during adolescence:

ESP Newsletter 1

how should parents or caregivers deal with these issues?

CommunicationLack of communication between parents and teenagers might be the cause of unwanted tension in the household making it even more difficult to deal with problems the relationship may be experiencing. If something is upsetting you, talking it out calmly with your child could help to clear things out and to eventually reach a solution together.

Finding a balance between discipline and understandingTeenagers want to feel understood, heard and accepted for who they are yet at the same time they are still at an age in which they need guidance from an adult figure to oversee the choices they make. When approaching a challenging situation, ask yourself, “Am I being firm enough, yet considerate of my son’s/daughter’s feelings?’

Keep yourself informedYouarenotaloneduringthistime.Gatherinformationaboutthesubjectby reading books and articles about teenagers, discussing with other parents, or joining an online forum. The more you learn, the easier you will find it to cope with issues once they arise.

Spend time togetherMake time to spend with each other doing things that you enjoy. Apart from being fun, it’s a great way to strengthen your relationship.

Family counsellingYou may want to seek the help of professionals to guide you and your family further, should you feel like the situation is out of your control. In the case of teenagers engaging in risky or aggressive behaviour, getting outside support can be helpful for all the family.

12

3

45

how to cope with a panic attack?The good news is that one can learn to cope with panic attacks and the intensity and frequency of panic attacks can be reduced. It is important to deflate the danger and to keep in mind that a panic attack can be a very frightening experience, but it is not physically dangerous.

It is also important not to fight the panic and to accept what your body is doing and to allow time to pass. Panic is caused by a sudden surge of adrenaline and if one does not fight the bodily reactions, much of this adrenaline will decrease in a few minutes. It also helps to make reassuring statements toyourselfsuchas:“Thistoowillpass”,“I’ve handled this before and I can handleitnow”,“Thisisanxiety,thisisisn’tdangerous”.Talkingtoasupportiveperson, seeking professional help and engaging in physical activity also help to learn to cope with panic attacks and to reduce their frequency and intensity.

what happens when a person experiences a panic attack?• Anxietybeginssuddenlyand

unexpectedly and soon mounts to an almost unbearable level.

• Thepersonsweats,feelsdizzy,trembles and gasps for breath. Nausea, chest pains, choking, feelings of numbness and hot flashes are also common.

• Apanicattackcanhaveatraumatic impact, leaving the person feeling terrified about the possible recurrence of the attack.

Having one panic attack does not mean that the person will develop a panic disorder. It is also important to keep in mind that there are some medical conditions that have symptoms similar to panic attacks. Therefore, it is important to have a medical assessment to determine whether the symptoms experienced are due to a physical or psychological reason.

Dealing with Pa n i c a t t a ck s

ESP Newsletter 2

SHowiNg APPRECIATIONANd GRATITUdE

Skip the email and verbalize your thanks to a co-worker. Showing gratitude by verbally acknowledging someone can really make his or her day

Take a snack or sweets at work to share with your colleagues for no particular reason1.

2.Take some time to listen to others

3.

Perform an act of kindness towards a colleague or a family member

Be patient

4.5.

ESP Newsletter 3

NEWS & EVENTS

For more information on how the Employee Support Programme can help you ortomakeanappointmentpleasecontactuson:

Tel: 2200 1210 • Email: esp.opm@gov.mt • website: www.esp.gov.mt

The aim of this newsletter is to raise awareness and provide information for educational purposes.

The service is confidential and free to use. Employees do not need permission from their supervisors to access and use the service.

For queries relating to employment conditions or further assistance, you can contact the One-Stop-Shop for Public Employees by phone (2200 1225), email (one-stop-shop.psd@gov.mt), or by visiting us within the People & Standards division at 3, Castille Place, Valletta.

CONTACT US

we value your feedback!If you have any suggestions

or comments please feel free to contact us.

Training

During the past few months, the ESP Unit

has been very busy with training delivery,

particularly within different schools as part

of the wellbeing campaign with the Ministry

for Education and Employment. Other

departments that invited us for sessions

includedMCASTwherewedeliveredtraining

on mental health awareness, and Jobsplus,

where training focused on self-care

and wellbeing.

Also, the ESP Unit facilitated a half-day

seminar within the Ministry for Transport

and Infrastructural Projects for management

on Mental Health Awareness at Work.

The Permanent Secretary addressed the

introduction to the seminar which was very

well attended and received.

We thank Ms Miguela Cassar,

Employee Support Assistant,

for her service within the ESP Unit and

we wish her well for her new position.

Ms Christine Grech, Social Worker, joined the ESP Unit in November 2018.

Welcome!

The ESP Unit has once again organised

another SAFE training session related to

substance abuse and the workplace in

collaboration with Sedqa.

The aim of this training session was to

provide participants with the opportunity

to discuss the physical and psychological

effects of substances, the risk of working

under the influence, recognising the signs

and symptoms of substance abuse, how to

identify and approach employee who may be

experiencing such issues as well as referral to

available support services. The SAFE training

session was held at the University of Malta,

Valletta Campus on the 22nd March 2019.

ESP Unit Team Building

In line with our belief on the importance of fostering healthy teams and wellbeing at

work,theESPUnitorganisedatrekinGozoon Saturday 9th March 2019, with the aim of team building and to encourage more

physical activity and time in nature.

ESP Newsletter 4