youth stress clinic
the Western Cape are exposed to a high level of violence and
trauma. This can occur in their neighbourhoods, in their homes
and in their schools. Many teenagers have been victims of violence
or extreme traumas, while many more have seen or witnessed these
experiences can have a devastating impact on young people, creating
feelings of fear, sadness and helplessness. This can affect
their performance at school, and their relationships with family
and friends. If treatment is not provided, these difficulties
can continue into adulthood.
The Bathuthuzele Youth Stress Clinic is a specialized clinic
that provides services to youth affected by violence and extreme
is a joint initiative of the Medical Research Council's Anxiety
and Stress Disorders Unit, the Department of Psychology at the
University of Western Cape, and the Departments of Psychiatry
at Stellenbosch University and University of Cape town.
is staffed by qualified psychologists and psychiatrists.
are our aims?
- To provide
a free and accessible community service for youth who have
experienced a trauma
- To provide
professional evaluation and treatment
- To conduct
research in order to increase our knowledge of the effects
of trauma on South African youth
- To educate
parents, teachers and youth about the effects of violence
and trauma, how to recognise the signs of trauma, and where
to get help
do we help?
We see children aged 12 18 years who have experienced
or witnessed any type of violence or extreme trauma.
services do we provide?
of extreme traumas that affect children and teenagers
trauma refers to an incident in which a person's life or physical
safety is threatened. Examples include:
violence sexual abuse or physical abuse in the home
violence (e.g. beatings, shootings)
and sexual abuse by other teenagers or by adults
violence (e.g. armed robberies)
disasters (e.g. floods, fires)
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is the name of a condition that is commonly found in people
who have been a victim of, or a witness to, an extreme trauma.
with PTSD may experience the following
as if the event is happening again, through repeated thoughts,
images, dreams or flashbacks of the event
of people, places, things and conversations that remind them
of the event
physically restless and agitated so that they can't sleep
properly, can't concentrate, feel irritable, and are always
on the alert
often be successfully treated with psychotherapy and/or medication.
to recognise signs of PTSD in children and teenagers
the traumatic event over and over again in their play activities
risk-taking and reckless or self-destructive behaviour
of places, people, things or conversations related to the
startled / frightened by loud noises and sudden movements
/ acting on-guard all the time
of interest in usual activities
outbursts of anger or increase in aggressive behaviour
more anxious and fearful than before
behaviour / excessive clinging
indifferent to their own or other people's suffering because
they feel emotionally numb and cut off from others
to contact us
Tel. 021 938-9229 or 021 938-9162
MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders
Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch
P O Box 19063 Tygerberg 7505