4 Troubled Teens Blog

Everyone experiences occasional anxiety. It causes us to look both ways before crossing the street, and to be careful (hopefully) with our words when we're upset. Teenagers feel some anxiety, too, and that's OK - but high levels of this emotion require attention.

"If your child is experiencing undue anxiety, there are several things you can do to help. Good, basic self-care - as in making sure your child eats real food and is getting enough rest and exercise - can help to keep your kid on a level plane."

Parents can help their child cope with anxiety by making sure that his basic needs are met. Help him eat well, and make sure that he is getting plenty of rest and adequate amounts of exercise. If a child's anxiety level seems disproportionate to the stresses in his life, consider having him talk with a professional counselor. Counseling can be an important tool in helping a child learn how to address and cope with stress. Source: Poughkeepsie Journal (NY)

Though there are numerous studies on the effect dating violence has on women, little is known about what causes men to act violently towards their partners. To that end, a recent study tries to find some answers.

"[Elizabeth] Miller and [Elizabeth] Reed said that the study is from an urban sample of boys in programs for dating violence perpetration and, therefore, does not represent all boys who perpetrate abusive behaviors towards girlfriends. However, it offers some important, initial insights into the life contexts of boys that may contribute to dating violence."

Some of those life contexts include having a violent home life or living in a violent neighborhood, engaging in peer relationships that encourage the mistreatment of women, and experiencing inadequate support at school, the researchers said. Source: Science Blog

In 2005, Montana launched a campaign aimed at reducing meth use in the state by raising awareness about the drug's potentially fatal risks. Three years later, organizers of the Montana Meth Project are seeing - and celebrating - the campaign's impact.

"When the meth project first started its highly visible campaign in September 2005, Montana ranked fifth in methamphetamine abuse. Today, Montana is 39th. In 2008, teen meth use is down 45 percent from 2005... and meth-related crime has decreased by 62 percent."

The campaign was initially funded by an individual donor, but the goal has always been to make it self-funding, officials said. In 2009, organizers plan to push for a $2 million allocation from the state legislature, an amount that they say will be enough to fund the project for two more years. Source: Missoulian News

In the wake of the Catholic church's priest-abuse crisis, the Philadelphia archdiocese has released a short film that seeks to educate teens about sexual abuse, and urge them to report sexual violence. In the film, teens are reminded that victims of sexual abuse are never to blame.

"Cardinal Justin Rigali introduced the film to an audience of several hundred people at St. Joseph's University, including selected students. He said afterwards that the goal was to give hope to victims, not to dwell on abusers."

The film will be shown to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at all 21 of the archdiocese's Philadelphia-area high schools. Source: Associated Press

Members of the public were encouraged to voice their opinions at a recent public meeting about new bullying legislation in Florida. Named the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act, the policy was passed earlier this year by the Florida legislature.

"Creator of the legislation, Cape Coral mother and teacher Debbie Johnston, spent the last three years lobbying for the act. She first proposed it after her son, Jeffery, committed suicide in 2005 following years of bullying and ridicule at the hands of other students."

Many Florida school districts already have anti-bullying policies, but this new act would require those policies to be updated. One of the changes enables witnesses to report incidents of bullying. The Act also includes policies for dealing with cyberbullying - a type of harassment that takes place online, through social networking sites and instant messaging services. Source: Cape Coral Daily Breeze

About 40 American teens end their lives every week, according to a study from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio.

The suicide rate for children ages 10 to 19 had been declining steadily between 1996 and 2005, when it suddenly spiked 18 percent. The actual number of suicides declined from 1,983 in 2004 to 1,883 in 2005, but it should have been 600 fewer if the downward trend had continued.

Psychiatrists including Dr. David Fassler of the University of Vermont believe that the suicide rate correlates with teenagers' using fewer anti-depressant drugs.

The Nationwide study found no differences in suicide rates between boys and girls, or younger and older teens. All were found to be equally at risk.

Brenda Porter's 17-year-old son was shot and killed by another teenager. The tragic death moved Porter to action, and she developed a program to reach out to children and prevent more needless deaths.

"A random shooting took the life of a successful teenage commercial artist. Today, his memory lives on through a youth program Porter created called Choice Time. Children, many of them with troubled pasts, help raise money to support awareness for juvenile crime. In the process, kids learn to make positive choices..."

Children in the program also go on field trips, attend bible classes, and learn about job skills. Porter said she feels responsible for pointing kids in a positive direction, and has put this sense of responsibility into action. Source: CW Arkansas

A recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by State University College in New York found that teens are continuing to engage in risky behavior at about the same rates as they always have.

"In 2007, we still had 72 percent of high schoolers having used alcohol, 37 percent having smoked pot and 39 percent having had sex."

The news is discouraging for some, encouraging for others. There has been a slight decline in overall substance abuse in the past decade; a decline which is credited to the increase in anti-drug campaigns across the country. Source: The Daily Star (NY)

Teens who struggle with depression, anxiety and/or suicidal thoughts may not know how to verbally tell someone they're in trouble. But they know how to show it.

"...depression manifests itself differently in boys and girls. 'Boys show depression through anger or temper outbursts; it's unusual for a teen boy to show sadness,' said Mr. Butero. 'Young people, especially adolescent boys, mask depression as anger. Acting-out behaviors are often as much of a cry for help.'"

A Harvard study found that less than half of teen patients that struggled with depression expressed classic symptoms - instead, they developed a mix of mood and behavior problems, such as agitation or defiance. Source: SouthCoast Today (MA)

Social networking sites can be great places for teenagers to make friends and find acceptance. But they can also enhance feelings of grief, sorrow and despair.

"Cyberspace is fertile ground for suicide contagion. It provides a forum for prolonged and excessive grieving in a highly charged, emotional atmosphere - precisely the kind of atmosphere psychologists warn to avoid. ... It is also unmonitored by all but the most vigilant parents."

Psychologist and counselor Scott Poland warns that continued exposure to tragedy, especially suicide, puts a teenager at increased risk. It's a healthy warning for parents to pay attention to the social networking worlds in which their children spend so much time.

It's a title sure to capture the attention of any teen that sees the ad. "Sex... With Mom and Dad" is the name of a new show on MTV feature Dr. Drew Pinsky.

"...the half-hour long show will feature Celebrity Rehab's Dr. Drew, who will discuss certain tips and guidelines when it comes to parent-children dialogue involving teens and topics such as sex, dating and relationships."

The show will also cover specific issues related to sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, and other topics. The show was scheduled to premiere on September 29. Source: BuddyTV

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed a multi-million dollar plan to curb teen violence and keep kids away from drugs and gangs. At his press conference announcing the plan, Nickels said it's time to "fundamentally change" the model used for dealing with teen violence.

"Locally-run programs will target hundreds of at risk kids in their early teens in central, southwest and southeast Seattle, where the problems are most acute. The programs will help them stay in school and get job training, manage their anger and back away from the cycle of crime after early scrapes with the law."

Community support networks will also be created in the same three areas, and will be coordinated by Southwest Youth and Family Services, The Urban League of Seattle, and the Atlantic Street Center. Source: King5 News (Seattle, WA)

When Lucy was 14, whenever she felt overwhelmed by pressure or despair, she didn't turn to parents, school counselors or friends - she turned to blades or bottles of pills. Now 21, Lucy admits making at least seven suicide attempts.

"That's an attitude that doesn't surprise Tillie Black Bear, chairman of the Rosebud Suicide Task Force. She is convinced that it exists to a greater extent than many people on her reservation are willing to believe."

Children who grow up on reservations often deal with levels of alcoholism, poverty, and gangs that most kids don't ever experience. This makes them far more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, experts say. Source: Argus Leader (Sioux Fall, MD)

A study of young teenagers with bipolar disorder found that those who participated in 21 family-focused therapy sessions recovered more quickly than those who had only three sessions during the same nine-month period. Both groups took medications.

Dr. David Miklowitz and his colleagues at the University of Colorado in Boulder divided 58 teens (average age: 14.5) into two groups. Thirty teens and their families participated in 21 50-minute sessions to improve communication skills, problem solving, and knowledge about bipolar disorder. The other 28 teens had only three 50-minute sessions dealing with relapse prevention.

The group that had more psychotherapy recovered from depression more quickly and spent less time in depressive episodes. There were no differences in recovery rates or elapsed time between depressive episodes.

This study appears in the Archives of General Psychiatry.