While there is a noticeable increase in referrals to the Centre for Counselling Addiction Support Alternatives (CASA), secondary school students account for the highest number among them.
Speaking after a service to launch CASA’s 10th anniversary week of activities today, president Orlando Jones said of the 199 cases last year, 93 of them came from secondary schools.
“I think it’s partly to do with the fact that this is a societal problem. We know that there are a lot of problems within the community itself, children becoming angry, aggressive and obviously trying to establish their rights and what have you,” he said.
“Maybe they do mimic some of what the adults show, children basically learn from adults and I think they copy some of the adults’ behaviour. They learn a lot from the Internet and the social network and you can’t stop that ‘cause they have access. So it’s not one problem, it’s a multitude of problems.”
Jones said he was concerned with the high number of youngsters who come in with anger management problems. (YB)
