Latest news with #SASOP
IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Hidden in plain sight: the silent struggles of women with undiagnosed ADHD
This Women's Month, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is urging the public to reframe how we understand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder particularly in women and girls. Image: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) isn't just about hyperactive little boys who can't sit still. That's the outdated image many of us were taught, and it's part of the reason why so many women are silently living with undiagnosed ADHD, blaming themselves for years of mental overload, emotional exhaustion, and never feeling 'together enough'. This Women's Month, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is urging the public to reframe how we understand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, particularly in women and girls. For too long, ADHD has worn a masculine mask, hiding the often invisible reality of how it presents in females. 'ADHD in women is not less severe. It's just less visible, says Dr Wisani Makhomisane, psychiatrist and SASOP member. These women aren't lazy, disorganised or overemotional; they're living with a neurodevelopmental condition that's been misunderstood through a gendered lens.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Women are more likely to have the inattentive type of ADHD, marked by forgetfulness, poor time management, disorganisation and emotional overwhelm not the impulsivity and hyperactivity more common in men. It often gets brushed off as stress, or worse, personality flaws. Image: Why does ADHD get missed in women? Research backs it up. According to the CDC, boys are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD (14.5%) compared to girls (8%). As they grow older, the gap only widens – with many women waiting 4–5 years longer than men for a correct diagnosis. Women are more likely to have the inattentive type of ADHD, marked by forgetfulness, poor time management, disorganisation and emotional overwhelm, not the impulsivity and hyperactivity more common in men. It often gets brushed off as stress, or worse, personality flaws. In South Africa, the general awareness around adult ADHD is still in its infancy; this gendered misreading has serious consequences. Many women are first misdiagnosed with depression, anxiety, or even borderline personality disorder – leading to years of ineffective treatment and growing self-doubt. When "coping" means hiding Trying to keep up with societal expectations to be emotionally composed, productive, presentable, and endlessly organised, women with ADHD often develop masking behaviours. They overcompensate with perfectionism. People-pleasing. Overcommittin g and rigid routines to avoid being "found out". It works until it doesn't. Burnout becomes a regular occurrence. So does chronic guilt, shame, and the sinking feeling of 'What's wrong with me?' Makhomisane explains, 'Women use sophisticated coping mechanisms that can appear successful from the outside, but are mentally exhausting. These can include emotional withdrawal, impulsive spending, binge eating, or risky behaviours, not because they're reckless, but because their brains are overwhelmed. "We urge healthcare professionals, educators, and families to be more attuned to how ADHD manifests in women. It often presents not as overt behavioural issues, but as ongoing feelings of overwhelm, perfectionism and emotional burnout." Hormonal fluctuations throughout menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause also complicate the picture. Estrogen has a known effect on dopamine regulation in the brain, which means ADHD symptoms can worsen during low estrogen phases. This makes diagnosis and treatment in women even more complex, especially when symptoms spike in reproductive transitions and are dismissed as 'hormonal mood swings.' Meanwhile, studies suggest testosterone may offer some protective effect against ADHD symptoms, which may partly explain the higher visibility of hyperactivity in boys compared to girls, who tend to display inattentive and emotionally internal symptoms. Daily life for undiagnosed women with ADHD can feel like walking through molasses while carrying the emotional load of an entire household. Tasks like grocery shopping, managing school runs, or responding to emails become mountains. 'Women use sophisticated coping mechanisms that can appear successful from the outside, but are mentally exhausting. Image: Anna/pexels
IOL News
25-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Cyber bullying: deadly mental health crisis in SA schools
Bullying at South Africa's schools is no longer just about dealing with bruises. The advent of social media brings a whole new facet of bullying and pupils' mental health. SOUTH Africa's schoolchildren are in the grip of a mental health crisis, with many turning to suicide and self-harm to cope with emotional pain. The cause, experts say, is bullying, which has reached epidemic levels. Reports suggest that between 40% and 75% of pupils fall victim to it at some stage. One organisation says the situation is so dire that at least 11 children take their own lives each day. Dr Alicia Porter, a board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), says bullying can also intersect with race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds more likely to experience bullying in diverse, multi-ethnic environments. 'We're not just dealing with bruises anymore,' says Porter. 'I work with children and families, and there's just been such a significant increase," she says. "Before, bullying would be contained just in that environment. But with this now intersecting with the digital space, things can go viral at the click of a button, and once it's out there, you might delete it, but it cannot stop the spread.' Porter refers to a study by the Children's Institute, which found that 40% of school-going children in the country have experienced some form of bullying. She says primary and high school pupils are anxious, depressed, and in some cases suicidal. When bullying is compounded by digital shame, the psychological damage can be lifelong. 'It's no longer limited to fists and name-calling; voice notes, group chat exclusions, photo manipulation and public shaming via platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok create humiliation that leaves the child feeling even more vulnerable and helpless. For many victims, there's no escape.' Porter warns that bullying has led to increased rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and even suicide. 'It's like almost a pandemic of unkindness that has been unleashed,' she says. 'Kids are making videos of kids being bullied, and while that sort of exposes what happened, we never really think about the victim and the shame and what that might do to their mental health.' More worrying, says Porter, is that schools often don't have clear or consistent ways of dealing with bullies, or even policies in place. 'So oftentimes, the victim is further traumatised by interacting with the school system, and then they're made to feel even worse, they are made to blame, or they're not taken seriously.' She recalls one case in which a school decided a 10-year-old child who had been bullied must be sent to a hospital for 21 days. Bullying, she says, is one of the main reasons why children self-harm. 'They're in distress so they cut themselves. They don't want to go to school, or their marks start to suffer, or you see a change in their behaviour. So we react to the behaviour without really understanding what might be the underlying reason.' The trauma doesn't end when a child leaves school, but follows them into adulthood, she warns. 'Mental health issues don't start in adulthood. You start developing risk factors in childhood,' Porter says, calling it a 'silent, seeping wound.' But while the victim is traumatised, the bully often needs help too. 'Bullies are also victims of trauma, neglect, or violence at home,' says Porter. 'They target those they perceive to be weaker to elevate their social standing and to fit in.' Children from disadvantaged communities, or who face differences in race and ethnicity, are especially vulnerable. Girls and boys are both at risk, but the forms of bullying differ. 'With boys, it's definitely more overt. So they are more victims of physical bullying, verbal bullying. Whereas with girls, it's a lot more subtle — exclusion, name-calling, spreading rumours, isolating them. Girls are more likely to be targets of relational or verbal bullying.' Porter doesn't believe banning digital devices is the answer. 'We're going to need to learn how to navigate rather than just take it away, because what does that do? It just buys us maybe a little bit of time. The digital age has arrived, and as parents, it's uncharted territory. We can't phone a friend or your grandma and ask her, how did you do this? We're making up the rules as we go along, but we do need to make up rules. But we haven't — and so it's kind of exploded.' She says most of her patient referrals come from teachers and has advocated for them to be trained to handle bullying and mental health issues. 'It only takes one child to lead the charge, but peer pressure turns cruelty into performance,' she says. Despite laws protecting children, many schools lack consistent policies, training, or accountability, particularly in rural or under-resourced areas. 'This is a crisis hiding in plain sight,' warns Porter. 'The emotional violence of bullying is as real as any physical wound. And unless we intervene now with urgency, compassion and a commitment to justice, we are failing an entire generation.' Danie van Loggerenberg, CEO of the National Centre for Child Protection (NCCP), says mental health complications among children are the highest they've ever been. 'Eleven children die by suicide every day,' he says. According to van Loggerenberg, up to 83% of pupils will be bullied at some stage, and because children often feel they have no one to turn to, many are turning to ChatGPT for help. He says bullying has evolved into a digital battlefield, with children creating 'shade rooms' and 'channels' on WhatsApp where they run polls on who is 'hot or not', complete with victims' photos. Their research shows that 160,000 children skip school every day because of bullying. About 90% of bullying is child-on-child, and boys are more likely to be physically violent, while girls can be far more cruel. 'That's why you won't get a movie called Mean Boys — only Mean Girls,' he says. Adeshini Naicker, Director of Childline KZN, says while physical bullying is more common in primary school, emotional and psychological abuse, including cyberbullying, intensifies in high school. 'With the rise of social media, emotional bullying now extends beyond the classroom, making it harder to escape and more damaging over time. Effective prevention needs to start early, involve schools, parents, and communities, and address both physical and emotional forms of harm,' says Naicker. The Department of Education could not be reached for comment.
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Excessive screen time is harming children, says psychiatrist
South Africa's soaring screen addiction is fuelling a growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents, with serious consequences for their emotional, physical, and academic well-being. That's the stark warning from Prof Renata Schoeman, psychiatrist and member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), who says the country's screen habits are among the worst globally. 'If we as adults are addicted, how can they not be?' Schoeman asks. 'We cannot expect children to moderate their screen time when they see adults constantly glued to their phones. Children learn by observing. If we don't model healthy digital behaviour, we are silently endorsing screen addiction.' South Africans spend an average of nine hours and 37 minutes daily on digital devices, with nearly a third of their waking hours consumed by scrolling, swiping and tapping mostly on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. This overexposure, Schoeman says, is having a devastating impact on the nation's youth. Adolescents who spend more than five hours per day on screens are 70% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviour than those with less than one hour of screen time. Even moderate use, such as four to six hours daily, has been linked to increased anxiety and depression. Recent international studies echo her concern, showing that mobile phones not only distract students from learning but can derail focus for up to 20 minutes after each interruption. Simply having a phone nearby with notifications on is enough to disrupt attention in the classroom. According to Schoeman, excessive screen time in children is linked to a cascade of mental health issues, including increased risk of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It is not just the mind that suffers. Physically, screen-heavy lifestyles contribute to obesity, headaches, eye strain and poor posture in children. 'Technology itself is not the enemy,' Schoeman clarifies. 'It is about how, when, and how often we use it. There is a big difference between a family movie night and hours of mindless scrolling or unmonitored gaming. The key is balance and intention.' She urges parents to take the lead by setting boundaries and modelling healthy habits. Her recommendations include: – Limit screen time by age: No screens for under-2s, max 1 hour per day for ages 2 to 5, and ideally no more than 2 hours per day for older children. – Encourage offline activities, particularly outdoors, to support holistic development. – Establish screen-free zones and times, such as during family meals or the hour before bedtime. – Model digital discipline by taking regular breaks and prioritising face-to-face interaction. – Take overnight custody of children's devices to support healthy sleep habits. – If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, contact SADAG's 24-hour Helpline at 0800 456 789. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
News24
20-06-2025
- Health
- News24
Rethinking screen time: Are we modelling healthy habits for our kids?
Noel Hendrickson, Getty Images South Africans rank among the highest in global screen time usage, with adults averaging nearly 10 hours daily on devices, raising concerns about the impact on children observing these habits. Experts warn of the mental, emotional, and physical risks excessive screen time poses, from anxiety to poor academic performance. By making small lifestyle changes, such as having device-free family time and using built-in screen-time tools, parents can lead by example and promote a healthier, more balanced approach to technology. South Africa has earned a dubious distinction: its citizens spend more time glued to screens than most other nations. With the average South African adult devoting a staggering nine hours and 37 minutes daily to smartphones, nearly a third of their waking hours, it's clear we're in the grip of a digital addiction. But as parents scroll through social media (which alone consumes 22% of daily usage), what lessons are we teaching our children about healthy technology use? The disturbing cost of screen obsession The SA Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) warns that our screen addiction is fuelling a mental health crisis among young people. The statistics paint a troubling picture: - Adolescents spending more than five hours daily on devices are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those with less than an hour of screen time. - Even moderate use (four to six hours) increases risks of anxiety and depression compared to peers with just two hours less exposure. - Studies across 14 countries found cellphones consistently disrupt learning - with notifications alone requiring up to 20 minutes for children to refocus. Psychiatrist Professor Renata Schoeman explains the ripple effects: Excessive screen time links to depression, anxiety, poor sleep, declining academic performance, social withdrawal, and exposure to harmful content like cyberbullying or eating disorder promotion. Physical consequences include obesity, eye strain, and poor posture. Parents' confessions: Holding a mirror to our habits Before reading SASOP's findings, I started to think about what my phone usage looks like to my four-year-old after she chastised her father for always being on his phone. After reading SASOP's warning, I wondered about my own usage stats. According to the dashboard in my device's Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls centre, I spend four to five hours on my phone daily. Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot I contacted other South African parents about their screen habits for this piece. Here's what they shared: Khaya (8h25m): Acknowledges work demands that necessitate usage but vows to be more present. Tinashe (eight to 10 hours): Admits his daughter associates him with his computer. Marilynn (5h45m): Calls her usage 'excessive' and feels guilty. Iavan (5h50m): Justifies nighttime scrolling as 'downtime'. Lerato (7h40m): Shares devices with kids watching YouTube. Hein (10h20m): Acknowledges that his screen time doesn't set a healthy example. Their honesty reminds me of an uncomfortable truth: children learn by observation. 'I don't think it's the healthiest example because my daughter associates me with my computer a lot, however I do try and manage her screen time and encourage breaks for outdoor time or other activities. Sometimes I'll switch everything off and leave music in the background,' says Tinashe. Lerato's screen time. As Schoeman notes: 'We cannot expect children to moderate screen time when they see adults constantly glued to phones.' Practical tools for change The solution isn't shaming ourselves and others or abandoning screens but finding balance. Both Apple and Android devices offer built-in tools: - Screen Time Tracking (iOS/Android): Shows daily/weekly usage per app. - App Limits: Set daily caps on usage for specific apps. - Downtime/Focus Mode: Blocks non-essential apps during set hours. - Bedtime Mode: Silences notifications and grays out screens. - Do Not Disturb: Pauses alerts during family time or work. Schoeman also recommends: - No screens under age two; less than one hour for ages two to five; less than two hours for older kids. - Device-free meals and bedrooms. - Modelling breaks and offline activities. - Overnight device custody for teens. Small changes, big impact As Lerato discovered, simple swaps, like outdoor chores with kids, can reshape family habits. Reflecting on her goals, Marilynn says: 'Ideally, I'd like to take that number down to two hours or so. With all the research around the negative impacts of increased screen time, I feel quite guilty that I'm not setting a better example and do hope to do better.' 'Children don't need perfection,' reminds Schoeman, 'they need consistency.' Putting phones away at dinner or disabling notifications during homework sends powerful messages. With South Africa's screen stats among the world's highest, I find it ironic that we must not forget that our children are watching (us). The question of what our solution to the crisis highlighted by SASOP isn't just about their screen time but ours, too. As the parents, we spoke to demonstrate that awareness is the first step toward change. What will your screen time teach your child today? - To check your screen time on an Android device, open your settings and scroll to Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls or a similar setting. You can find your screen time report on an Apple device in your control centre.
News24
18-06-2025
- Health
- News24
Is your child's screen time creating a mental health problem? Experts weigh in
In a country where adults spend nearly a third of their waking hours scrolling through smartphones, South African children are silently suffering the consequences of our collective screen addiction. The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is sounding the alarm on what has become a genuine mental health crisis among the nation's youth. The concern has grown so widespread that 'brain-rot'—the term describing the impact of consuming excessive low-quality online content—was recently crowned Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year. For South African families, this isn't just a clever phrase but a daily reality with serious implications. The numbers tell a troubling story Research reveals a direct connection between screen time and mental well-being. Adolescents spending more than five hours daily on digital devices are 70% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or actions compared to those with less than an hour of daily screen time. Even moderate usage (4-6 hours daily) significantly increases symptoms of anxiety and depression. South African adults are setting a problematic example, averaging 9 hours and 37 minutes daily on smartphones. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok consume more than 22% of this time. 'If we as adults are addicted, how can they not be?' questions Prof. Renata Schoeman, psychiatrist and SASOP member. 'We cannot expect children to moderate their screen time when they see adults constantly glued to their phones. Children learn by observing. If we don't model healthy digital behaviour, we are silently endorsing screen addiction.' Read more | 3 reasons why you should trade screen-time for cuddles with your little one Beyond mental health: The full impact The consequences extend beyond mental health concerns. Studies across 14 countries found that mobile phones consistently distract students from learning. Even having a phone nearby with notifications interrupts concentration, and once distracted, children may need up to 20 minutes to refocus. Professor Schoeman outlines several specific mental health impacts linked to excessive screen use: Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem Disrupted sleep, especially when screens are used before bedtime Declining academic performance due to concentration issues and reduced motivation Social withdrawal as digital interactions replace face-to-face connections Exposure to harmful content including cyber-bullying and messages promoting disordered eating Physical health also suffers, with screen-addicted children experiencing higher rates of obesity, headaches, eye strain, and poor posture. Finding balance in a digital world Despite these concerns, SASOP isn't advocating for complete digital abstinence. 'It's not about banning screens, it's about balance,' explains Prof. Schoeman. 'There's a big difference between a family movie night and hours of unmonitored scrolling or gaming. The key is to be mindful, involved and consistent.' Read more | Boys in Crisis | A look behind why boy children are 'left' behind in society For parents seeking guidance, Prof. Schoeman offers practical recommendations: Age-appropriate limits: no screens for children under 2 years; maximum 1 hour for ages 2-5; ideally no more than 2 hours daily for older children Prioritise offline activities, particularly outdoors, to support overall wellbeing Model responsible habits by taking breaks and switching off devices during meals and before bedtime Establish device-free zones and times, especially during family meals Take overnight custody of children's devices to ensure proper sleep 'Children don't need perfection from their parents, they need consistency,' Prof. Schoeman emphasises. 'Small, daily changes like putting your phone away at dinner sends a powerful message. And right now, our children need that message more than ever.' In a nation where digital devices have become extensions of ourselves, the most valuable gift we can offer the next generation might be teaching them when—and how—to disconnect.
