BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - “WE are getting more reports of students who are involved with the same sex than we have had in the past years. It has been a growing number of them.”
This statement, among others, was made by a counsellor attached to one of the secondary schools within the Federation.
The counsellor - who spoke on condition of anonymity - told SKNVibes that the realisation is not limited to one sex but both males and females.
According to information they have gathered, students who would have suffered some form of physical and or sexual abuse are the ones mostly involved in same-sex relationships.
“There is not a general acceptance of this amongst the student body. What seems to be feeding most of the cases is abuse; sexual and physical abuse.”
While comparative figures were not given to support this statement, the counsellor did indicate that persons in that profession are working to provide adequate and effective counselling services to persons who are in need of them; services which are being utilised more by the students.
“We provide support to students, whether they are one way inclined or the other, to help them to cope. And for the rest of the students, we teach them about tolerance and understanding their sexuality, respect for their bodies, expressing their sexuality, what is deemed culturally appropriate, how to address various feelings and so on...We provide forum for them to discuss their hurts, thoughts etc.”
Asked if there was an increase in cases of abuse, the counsellor declared that the increase is in the reporting of such situations, and when such reports are received they are forwarded to the Child Protection Services Department.
With counselling departments doing their part to address issues which students are facing, the counsellor said there is need for parents to understand their children’s challenges and understand how they could be assisted.
“There is need for parents and persons who are influencing the lives of children to understand what it is that they are facing and what the challenges are, and so we have to work with our children in resolving them. And so in creating awareness, we would really want to find solutions to these challenges because there is an increased number of challenges that our children face everyday inside and outside. We have the teen challenges and influences...
“So there can be a tsunami of situations that erupts from day to day. We must keep them balanced, we must keep them empowered to make decisions that will not put them at risk. We must work with parents to help them to gain the necessary skills and understanding what the real challenges are, and to form appropriate relationships with our children so that they can have people they can talk to and confide in.”
