Rural school solutions

I love October. I love Thanksgiving. I love autumn. Seriously, what’s not to love?  Nature becomes a treat for all the senses with the changing colours, the cool temperatures, the smells of roast turkey and pumpkin pie… the taste and touch of comfort. 

Every October I’m reminded of a famous Bible verse, which I’m almost positive most of you have heard at one point or another. It begins: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun.”

Autumn is a time for change. It’s a time when the earth takes a much needed rest, readying herself for a full period of growth in the coming spring.

This past weekend, with the Seaway District High School graduation and the Thanksgiving holiday we found “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” It was a time to reminisce over memories of yesterday and talk about our hopes for tomorrow.

Graduates have entered a new phase of their lives and, just in time for Thanksgiving, they were able to share their successes (and disappointments) with friends and family. Change has embraced them and they’re being challenged to step up and be their best.

As teens transition toward adulthood, residents in the SD&SG riding prepare to make a transition of their own: a political riding that has long been red has emphatically changed its colour to blue.

Conservative Jim McDonell is replacing retired Liberal MPP Jim Brownell. 

There is “a time to keep silent and a time to speak.” On October 6th, did you speak up by voting or did you stay silent? How did the choice you made on the 6th contribute to the outcome of the election?

Will our new MPP be able to meet the challenges of his new position? More to the point, will he be able to make things happen for this riding when he is a Progressive Conservative working in the shadows of a Liberal Premier? On that note, will our Liberal premier be able to work effectively with a minority government? 

With so many questions left unanswered, can we be sure of anything? Yes, we can. “To everything there is a season…”

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New Path for 2012

“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year-give me a light that I might tread safely into the unknown, but he said put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

These words have been used by me several times before in this column, and I always find them inspiring.

As we walk into 2012, may we indeed place our hand into God’s hand–our Lord will comfort, sustain and guide us as we travel along life’s journey.

What will 2012 bring? We do not know.

Have we made any New Year’s resolutions–perhaps we have done this! 

We would do well to offer compassion to someone who is hurting, who has asked us for help.

Perhaps we could resolve to feed the hungry, uplift the ill, visit the lonely.

We can forgive those who have shattered our lives and maybe another individual will forgive us when we have said we are sorry for making a mistake.

In the coming year, may we draw closer to God and to one another. May we remember that “the old things are passed away. Behold! I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5).

We can in 2012, become new beings, set on a new path. God teaches us to believe that the life before us in the new year is part of His plan and will unfold for us as it should if we are prepared to accept His guidance.

Rev. Janet Evans, 

Iroquois United Church

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There are ups and downs in everyone’s life. We all become unhappy when we experience problems and set-backs. These unhappy feelings are usually temporary. For some people, though, sad feelings last a long time and are quite severe. “Depression” is a clinical term used by psychiatrists to describe a long period when a person feels very sad to the point of feeling worthless, hopeless and helpless.

Signs of Depression in Children and Teens

If your child becomes depressed, he/she is unlikely to talk about it. Your first warning signs will probably be changes in behaviour that may suggest a troubled and unhappy state of mind. A child who used to be active and involved may suddenly become quiet and withdrawn. A good student might start getting poor grades.

Changes in Feelings

Your child may show signs of being unhappy, worried, guilty, angry, fearful, helpless, hopeless, lonely or rejected.

Physical Changes

Your child may start to complain of headaches, or general aches and pains. He/she may have a lack of energy, sleeping or eating problems, or feel tired all the time.

Changes in Thinking

Your child may say things that indicate low self-esteem, self-dislike or self-blame. He/she may have difficulty concentrating or frequently experience negative thoughts. He/she might even think about suicide.

Changes in Behaviour

Your child might withdraw from others, cry easily or show less interest in sports, games or other fun activities that he/she normally likes. He/she might over-react and have sudden outbursts of anger or tears over fairly small incidents.

How to Help a Child who may be Depressed

Talk to your child. If you have noticed any of the signs discussed here, do your best to encourage your child to talk to you about how he/she is feeling and what is bothering him/her. Depression is very treatable. Start by checking with your family doctor to find out if there could be a physical cause for your child’s feelings of fatigue, aches and pains, and low moods. Many school boards have professional counsellors on staff. The school counsellor or your family doctor may refer you to a children’s mental health clinic. If there isn’t a clinic nearby, there may be a psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in working with children.

This article provides general information only. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice. If you feel that you may need advice, please consult a qualified health care professional.  For further information please visit our web site at: www.cmha-east.on.ca or call 1-800-493-8271.

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