A high school teacher faced significant challenges that negatively impacted her sleep and teaching career. Struggling with persistent negative thoughts, anxiety attacks, and stress, her difficulties stemmed from increased responsibilities after a co-teacher’s transfer early in the year. This shift led to her handling two classes, resulting in overwhelming stress, frequent headaches, and insomnia.
Seeking help, she visited a sub-divisional hospital where a doctor referred her to Empower Pacific, an organization that collaborates with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services to provide mental health support. Following the referral, the teacher, referred to as a client, met with Marica Siliwaqa, a counsellor at the NGO.
During their sessions, the client shared her experiences with teaching and the resultant stress. Despite receiving assistance from colleagues, she found her workload stressful. Siliwaqa worked with her to transform negative thoughts into positive ones and introduced relaxation techniques to help alleviate her anxiety. The client was encouraged to recognize her strengths and identify changes needed in her life to cope with her workload better.
Siliwaqa advised the client to discuss her concerns about her workload with her school head, a step she took. After a few weeks, Siliwaqa followed up and noted a positive change in the client’s tone during their conversation. The client’s previously soft and emotional voice was now replaced with joy and happiness, indicating her progress and the effectiveness of their sessions.
The client expressed gratitude for the support, stating that she could now sleep peacefully and focus on her teaching career with a renewed mindset. Through counselling, she discovered her strengths and regained enjoyment in her work.
Empower Pacific continues to assist individuals from various backgrounds facing mental health challenges, often through referrals from government-managed hospitals. According to the World Health Organization, a positive work environment is crucial for mental health, while poor conditions such as excessive workloads and job insecurity can lead to mental health risks.
Empower Pacific, as a non-governmental organization, offers counselling and social support services accessible through a 24/7 toll-free helpline and other channels.