Southsea company offers support to children suffering from depression or bullying

BULLYING and depression among children are just two of the issues being tackled by motivational company Insight4Life.
23/6/2016 (KB)  Insight 4 Life in Southsea, is a charity that helps children who are suffering online abuse and are rolling out their programme to primary school pupils in Portsmouth.  Pictured is:  (l-r) Roy McGunignall, director, and Gary Siva, chief executive, for Insight 4 Life.   Picture: Sarah Standing (160918-4749) PPP-160630-17211000123/6/2016 (KB)  Insight 4 Life in Southsea, is a charity that helps children who are suffering online abuse and are rolling out their programme to primary school pupils in Portsmouth.  Pictured is:  (l-r) Roy McGunignall, director, and Gary Siva, chief executive, for Insight 4 Life.   Picture: Sarah Standing (160918-4749) PPP-160630-172110001
23/6/2016 (KB) Insight 4 Life in Southsea, is a charity that helps children who are suffering online abuse and are rolling out their programme to primary school pupils in Portsmouth. Pictured is: (l-r) Roy McGunignall, director, and Gary Siva, chief executive, for Insight 4 Life. Picture: Sarah Standing (160918-4749) PPP-160630-172110001

The business, in Clarendon Road, Southsea, was set up by Gary Siva, from Southsea, and Roy McGuingall, from Chichester, 10 years ago.

Gary, a physical therapist, previously owned Sheba Relaxation Centre in Southsea and he set up Insight4Life in a bid to do something to help tackle depression at its root cause.

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Roy had just left a 33-year career in the Royal Navy and jumped at the chance to go into business with Gary.

Gary said: ‘We all spend out lives trying to be happy and that’s what this is all about.

‘Quite often in our lives there’s a blockage due to some kind of trauma.

’If we started teaching how to deal with that at a young age then it would become part of who we are.’

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The pair have launched a platform for child wellbeing called Zumos, which provides pupils with expertly written, peer-reviewed, motivational support.

It uses a computer-based therapy called Cognitive Bias Modification that works by gradually changing your attentional bias.

Children can access voice recordings anonymously and get held from other web links, helplines, suggested reading, books and videos.

Teachers are able to see at a glance the current mood and state of mind of the class and can also monitor for any impending emotional behavioural differences.

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Zumos has been rolled out to schools nationwide, with trials involving Wolverhampton Headstart team and Solent CAMHS.

The company is hoping to get some local take-up, after King Richard School in Paulsgrove and Miltoncross Academy in Milton signed up, following the schools receiving funding from the National Lottery.

Gary, 50, said: ‘This has grown up over the last 10 years to make it appealing and positive.

‘Now I would like to do something more in Portsmouth as we are based here.’

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The business has grown to employ five staff and it is looking to launch overseas.

It is also looking to launch an adult service, called Yamma, which it says could help councils to monitor the wellbeing of their residents.

Gary also said that the firm was looking for local sponsors to get involved and sponsor a school for a year.

For more information go to zumos.co.uk or email [email protected]