The 1,5-meter society, hang in there, fresh air, and the new normal are the slogans for the future. We are all under house arrest, but some find it harder than others. Approximately 5200 children have no contact with their teachers, and people with mental health issues have lost their bearings. These topics are central to this 7th blog.

The rights of the child

Around 5200 pupils are untraceable due to the corona crisis, and on average, 14 vulnerable pupils are sitting at home per school. The longer the crisis persists, the greater the pressure on special education in particular to find suitable care for these pupils, concludes Wim Ludeke, chairman of the National Expertise Centre for Special Education (Lesco).

Calling, emailing, texting, visiting, or delivering letters in Dutch, Turkish, or Arabic. None of it works for the approximately 5200 students who cannot be located in the Netherlands. Since schools closed, nearly twenty percent of schools have been unable to contact an average of four students, concludes the General Association of School Leaders (AVS) following a survey of 968 school leaders in (special) primary and secondary education.

(Every year, 'Universal Children's Day' is celebrated on November 20. On this day, there are all kinds of activities to remind people that children have special rights. UNICEF and the United Nations adopted a treaty for this purpose on November 20, 1989. This treaty establishes the basic rights of all children in the world. By now, the treaty has been signed by 191 of the 193 countries in the world.) [/ One_half] [one_half_last]              It does not mean that there is always something wrong with these children with whom there is no contact. Problems with the parents' Dutch language, returning to the country of origin, the lack of internet and Wi-Fi, etc., can also lead to a lack of contact with the parents and their children. Nevertheless, teachers and Youth Care staff are anxious about alleged child abuse and child neglect in their own homes. [/ One_half] [one_half_last]                [/ One_half_last]

People with mental health problems

Sitting indoors all day, cut off from social contact: it is no small thing. Especially not for people with mental health issues. “We are most concerned about people who live alone,” reports the platform MIND. Many people with mental health issues are currently in a difficult situation. “The situation naturally varies from person to person, but many people are currently struggling with anxiety,” says Marielle van den Berg of MIND, a platform for people with mental health problems. [/ One_half] [one_half_last]              [/one_half_last] (Jacobus Ludovicus Conradus Schroeder van der Kolk (1797-1862) was professor of anatomy and physiology at Utrecht University (then Utrecht University of Applied Sciences) and, as a psychiatrist, played a key role in the introduction of the Lunacy Act of 1841. [one_half]

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                    Johannes Wier (1515 – 1588) was a Dutch physician who was one of the first to protest against the witch persecutions. He is regarded as a founder of psychiatry and a human rights defender avant la lettre. He published on rare diseases, possessed nuns, sexual abuse, Faust, and the Pied Piper of Hamelin. His motto was 'conquer yourself'. [/ One_half] [one_half_last]            For example, some people are afraid that they will no longer be able to receive the care they need. “Institutions are still busy figuring out which care they can offer to whom. For some people, contact with care providers has (partially) disappeared. Or they can no longer go to the walk-in centers they always used to visit,” says Van den Berg. This leads to difficult situations. “The care currently being provided is less personal; many institutions are using video calls. The frequency has also decreased. Some people have to look for other ways to spend their days and extra support from those around them.” MIND is most concerned about people living alone who have little support from loved ones. “They are falling into social isolation. It is important that these people remain visible and receive help,” explains Van den Berg. According to her, a new group of people with mental health issues is also emerging. “There are people who were feeling good recently, but who are also developing symptoms due to the corona crisis. They need help too. But in the meantime, GPs and psychologists are less accessible. That is a concern.” [/ One_half] [one_half_last]            At the same time, it is possible that others are experiencing less isolation precisely because almost everyone has an empty schedule and is at home. As a result, there is less reason to suffer from the fear of missing out. “Well, there are two sides to every story,” says Van den Berg. “Of course, many wonderful initiatives have also emerged that actually make people feel better.” MIND itself hosts a livestream every workday between 11:00 and 16:00 where conversations are held with people with lived experience and experts. People can call in with questions. On their website, they have set up a 'corona page' with tips for people struggling with mental health issues during this time. “It is important that you talk to someone close to you. Be open about your fears and emotions. And ask for help if you notice that you are in trouble. There are various helplines available for this.” [/ One_half] [one_half_last]          [/one_half_last] MIND Platform: https://mindplatform.nl/ https://wijzijnmind.nl/corona

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day. A day on which attention is paid to mental health worldwide. Every year, a different theme takes center stage. There is still a taboo surrounding mental health issues. Good information about mental health problems and the ability to talk about them are of great importance.

The National Mental Health Day has been held on October 10 since 1997. The aim of this day is to: 1) raise awareness of mental health issues among the general public; 2) increase knowledge about mental health problems and combat prejudice; 3) encourage people to seek information and guide them to help.

More Info

National Government: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ RIVM: https://www.rivm.nl/ Worldometers Corona: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ Corona dictionary: https://www.taalbank.nl/2020/03/14/coronawoordenboek/ FAQ NRC Corona: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/02/02/wat-we-tot-nu-toe-weten-over-het-coronavirus-a3989006 You can find more Corona blogs at: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/coronavirus/