What are Depression & Anxiety?

Social IssuesCulture Oct 17, 2022 Tim Baker

There is a desperate and growing need in NZ for children to understand what depression and anxiety are and why these feelings occur.

A lack of understanding is leading many desperate parents to resort to medicating children with antidepressants. The latest data shows in 2021 at least 160,326 prescriptions of antidepressants have been issued to young people under the age of 19 including 27 prescriptions to infants under the age of 4. The latest science tells us, apart from very rare cases depression and anxiety are simply a natural reaction to the day-to-day traumas we inevitably face in life.

Traumas can be anything from moving country to breakdown and family dynamics ( parents separating) The death of a favourite pet, or the loss of a grandparent. It is indeed a very unforgiving world and every one of us carries the memories of our past in some way, shape or form.

This short animation was made with the oversight of a child psychiatrist and counsellors. It presents these emotions in a way that removes the stigma and brings about clarity for the child so that when he or she does inevitably feel these feelings, they can see it as a normal part of life.

We have created this animation for young children with the aim that its reassurance will reduce the likelihood of the child experiencing feelings of confusion and self-hatred which if left unchecked sadly can lead to self-harm and self-destruction in later life.

Finding Hope: Message to Young People Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Social Issues Finding Hope: Message to Young People Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Dear young one. If you're reading this, it's because you're feeling overwhelmed right now. It might seem like there’s no way out of the pain you’re experiencing. First, I want you to know that you're not alone. Many young people face these feelings, and there is hope. This message is for you. It’s a reminder that your life is precious and worth fighting for. Read Welcome To My Depression Social Issues Welcome To My Depression I’m writing this in the midst of a deep, horrific depressive episode. This doesn’t happen all that much anymore. Though I’ve been a depressive all my life, 95 percent of the time I’m now able to manage it. Meditation, aerobic exercise, gardening, reading, writing. Oh, and living on a seven-mile ocean beach is a pretty sweet factor as well. But when it hits, when the black, rock-hard comet comes out of nowhere and clobbers the hell out of me, no guided missile is gonna knock this alien celestial intruder off its path. Read Unconditional Love, Ageing with Dignity, and Recognising Narcissism Social IssuesCulture Unconditional Love, Ageing with Dignity, and Recognising Narcissism For nearly sixteen years, I worked as a diversional therapist at Princess Alexandra Retirement Village in Napier. Two weeks ago, I made the difficult decision to resign. Read Don't Forget Your Roots, My Friend. The Lost Art of Rongoa For Healing Trauma. Social IssuesCulture Don't Forget Your Roots, My Friend. The Lost Art of Rongoa For Healing Trauma. We recently decided to investigate a little-known practice of healing known as Romiromi - a sacred massage performed by Maori healers specifically for releasing unresolved trauma in the body. Our thinking was that since this practice is unique to Maori culture, it may... Read Lockdown Life 2: Thinking Traps PoliticsEnvironmentSocial IssuesCulture Lockdown Life 2: Thinking Traps There are various factors which are beyond our control during this COVID-19 pandemic and the appended lockdown, but what we do have a large degree of control over is how we think. This brings us quite naturally to the therapeutic modality with the greatest emphasis on understanding and changing our thought processes: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Read A huge thank you to Kiwis For Good Social Issues A huge thank you to Kiwis For Good Thanks to Kiwis For Good, I not only defended myself against unjust debt collection practices but also regained my sense of dignity. I encourage anyone facing similar challenges to reach out to Kiwis For Good. They are such a great help for those navigating financial crises and unfair debt collection practices. Read
Help Us Help Others!

Your donations are incredibly important for us, and enable us to use our initiatives to help our fellow Kiwis.

Donate today
Join Our Newsletter

For the latest news and projects, keep up-to-date with our newsletter. We promise not to spam you; we get enough of that ourselves!