Tips and Thoughts

Globe Hopeline 2919: 24/7 Suicide-Prevention Hotline

April 12, 2018 / Filed Under: Tips and Thoughts

Depression is used to be dismissed as a feeling of low-mood. That feeling when you’re so down or sad but which you eventually get over after crying it out for a day or two. It’s not and it should be taken seriously.

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person feels, the way she thinks and how she acts. It is also one of the leading causes of suicide. Based on data from the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 million people are currently undergoing depression, up by more than 18% from 2005 to 2015. In the Philippines, an estimated 3.3 million Filipinos are suffering from depression. Only 1 out of 3 who suffer from depression will seek the help of a specialist and one third will not even be aware of their condition.

As parents, we have a big responsibility in ensuring our child’s/children’s emotional state. We should be aware of the symptoms of Depression so we can get help as soon as possible.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Loss of energy or increased fatigue
Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)
Feeling worthless or guilty
Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide

I’m so thankful that Globe Telecom created Hopeline 2919 in 2012. It’s a 24/7 toll-free prevention hotline that gives phone-based suicide-prevention counseling. In its first year alone, 14,000 calls have been received and most of the calls were related to issues on depression, suicidal thoughts, and relationship problems.

I think Hopelinee 2919 is a great campaign that we everyone should be aware about. Depression may be a serious illness but it is treatable and the sooner we find out about friends or family members who are suffering from it, the better.

It’s nice to know that Globe Telecom continues to support the DOH in promoting mental health awareness in the Philippines.

#SeeYouTomorrow #HOPELINE2919

Welcoming Spring: Fun Ways to Teach Children About the Seasons

February 27, 2018 / Filed Under: Tips and Thoughts

Cold, winter days can be so uncomfortable that you just want to shut the shades until summer arrives. However, a burst of spring is on its way. Springtime is a perfect season to teach your children about the differences in the time of year. Get excited about these distinct ways that you can welcome spring and learn something new at the same time.

Celebrate the Equinox

The spring equinox normally falls around the 20th of March every year. Be aware of the equinox so that you can celebrate its unique features. In most parts of the nation, you’ll have equal amounts of daylight and darkness at twelve hours each.

Take your kids outside at sunrise and sunset. Document the time that the sun rises and sets on the equinox. They’ll be amazed to see the exact timing of the light and darkness. In addition, make a mark on a fence or permanent structure that indicates where the sun is located from your perspective on the equinox. As the sun gets higher in the sky for the summer solstice, it’ll dramatically move away from your spring marks. Documenting nature in this manner teaches tangible facts about weather, seasons and science.

Recognize Spring Holidays

Spring holidays include religious observances and well-deserved vacations. Teach your children about important holidays in your life so that they can carry on the tradition. Spring baskets, such as those found at thesweetbasket.com/en/26-easter-giftbaskets are exciting presents to find on Easter.

Continue your celebrating by trying an egg hunt that’s often performed in the spring. Children love to hunt and discover the eggs, especially if there’s healthy competition involved. The winners might receive the biggest, spring basket around. From chocolate to toys, any spring basket is a treat for the little ones.

Plant a Seed

The springtime can really come alive when your children participate in a gardening exercise. Pick out a plant that they might want to grow, such as vegetables, fruits or flowers. Help them with pots and soil. Allow them to plant the seeds, cover them and water the pot.

Ask your children to observe the pot each day. At some point, they’ll see sprouts emerging. Growing any plant is a fascinating topic that only improves children’s minds as they understand the world around them. Spring offers countless opportunities for exploration and celebration. Be sure to care for the plant into the summer so that an appreciation for life is solidified in their minds.

Rains are exciting as well. Don’t forget to outfit your kids with galoshes and raincoats for those light rains that are inevitable this time of year. Splashing in puddles is a rite of passage for any exuberant child.

How to React When Your Child Breaks a Tooth

February 14, 2018 / Filed Under: kids, mommy thoughts, Tips and Thoughts

Kids are whirlwinds of energy, constantly bouncing off walls, tripping over their own feet, or running around like crazy. Sooner or later they’re gonna break a tooth, but don’t worry – it’s not the end of the world.

Rule Number One: Don’t Panic!

Keep yourself calm. Chipped or broken teeth is a very common occurrence when it comes to kids, and it’s actually quite easily fixed by your family dentist. Kids very often take emotional cues from their parents, so if you immediately react with panic or fear, your child will immediately pick up on it. This is going to make everything else you have to do that much more difficult, so do yourself a favor and take a deep, calming breath before jumping into action.

Make Sure Your Child Isn’t in Any Pain

Your kid is probably shocked at the fact that they’ve broken a tooth. They might also be in pain from whatever incident caused the trauma, so after you’ve ensured there are no other major injuries, take some steps to minimize any of the pain they might be experiencing. Rinsing your child’s mouth out with clean water is a must, as is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to reduce any swelling if any. Sit your kid down somewhere quiet and comfortable – as much to keep them out of any more trouble as to ensure they’re not in any pain – and ensure that you’ll do your best to take care of them.

Call the Dentist Right Away

Once you’ve got your child’s health, safety, and comfort secured, it’s time to make the call. Pick up the phone and dial your family dentist immediately for further instructions, as the experts will have all the answers you’ll need for dealing with chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth. In some instances, depending on whether your child lost or damaged a baby tooth or if the trauma occurred to an adult tooth, your dentist will tell you to bring your kid in for some immediate work; otherwise, they may suggest a “sooner the better” appointment to evaluate the damage and work up a treatment plan from there.

Prepare for the Future

Once the crisis is over and you’ve gotten your marching orders from your family dentist, it’s time to return to business as usual. This might take some time, depending on the damage done to your child’s tooth and how much time and effort it will take to repair the damage, but once things have returned to normal it’s time to take some steps to prepare for a future repeat performance. Take steps to include your dentist’s number in your phone’s contact list, if it’s not there already. Also, consider including one of many “save a tooth” emergency products in your home first aid kit or the one you keep in your car. You might never need it, but it’s better to have it just in case!

Enter the Teachable Moment

Kids are natural daredevils. Even the biggest shrinking violet can get up to no good time and again, and injuries from rambunctious roughhousing or overly enthusiastic play are all too common. However, this doesn’t mean that, after everything is said and done, you can’t take the opportunity to talk to your kid (calmly) about how they broke their tooth, the possibly not-so-great decisions they made that led up to the incident, and how to avoid repeating the incident in the future. There’s no guarantee that your kids will listen – plenty of children operate on the “in one ear, out the other” method of active listening – but they’re more likely to get something positive out of the experience.