4 Troubled Teens Blog

In July, a 17-year-old boy from Denmark died after drinking so much at the Sunny Beach resort that he choked on his vomit. The death has sparked lively debate in many European countries about tours that are organized mainly as binge-drinking trips.

"On the tour operators' websites, Sunny Beach is described as the place 'where you drink until you pass out'. They boast of their pub crawls, 'where we jump between bars and discotheques at 300km an hour to show you how to party in the sun.'"

Though Swedish tour operators have decided to stop offering pub-crawls on their trips and people must now be at least 18-years-old to buy a charter trip, operators in other countries are resisting pressure to change. Read more News24.com. Learn more about the dangers of binge drinking and teen alcohol abuse at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: binge_drinking, death, teen_alcoholism

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A recent study of over 800 students found that depression and anxiety increase in girls who constantly talk about their problems. The study's lead author, Amanda Rose, said the results may indicate that girls tend to blame themselves when theyre not popular or aren't dating the boy of their dreams.

"The study's findings add a cautionary note to the perennial advice to the young that they should always talk about their problems instead of bottling them up. 'Talking about problems is a good thing, but too much talk is too much of a good thing,' said Rose."

Though boys didn't seem to be affected by how frequently they talked about their problems, girls seemed to find themselves in a vicious cycle. Talking about their problems made them feel more anxious and depressed, which caused them to want to talk more about their problems, which led to greater feelings of depression and anxiety. Read more online.

Learn more about teen depression, including ways to help and treatment options, at About-Teen-Depression.com.

Labels: depression, therapy, anxiety

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When a young person enters a doctor's office today, he or she is likely to walk out with a prescription. Because managed-care organizations are less likely to pay for psychotherapy and family interventions, prescription medication is quickly becoming the "therapy of choice" for troubled teens.

"...a study published in Psychiatric Services showed one of every 10 office visits to a primary-care or specialty provider made by boys between the ages of 14 and 18 resulted in an order for psychotropic medication - even though up to a quarter of the time no diagnosis of a mental illness was recorded."

Another survey of child and adolescent psychiatrists who were just starting their careers showed that nine out of ten young people who visited these doctors left with a drug prescription. The increase of prescribed medication and decrease of time spent with psychologists and family therapist has some in the medical community concerned that we're beginning to take the easy way out and are never really addressing the root problems. Read more at My.Brandeis.edu.

If you really want to help your troubled teen and get to the root of whatever emotional or behavioral problems he or she is dealing with, then look into having your teen fully assessed. The Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment is a licensed residential treatment center that offers families solutions. Your teenager will be given comprehensive tests to get a clear picture of their needs and then a reliable treatment plan. Learn more at the Aspen Institute for Behavioral Institute.

Labels: mental_health, treatment_programs, medictions

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About one-third of the teenagers who spend time online say they have been victims of cyberbullying, according to a new study. However, two-thirds of the teens reported that most bullying occurs off-line. Girls and those who use social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook were more likely to be bullied than other online users. The study, by the Pew Institute and the American Life Project, involved phone interviews with 866 children ages 12 to 17 years.

Learn more about online bullying and find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: bullying, social_networking, online_safety

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Alec Morales immigrated to America from Puerto Rico when he was a senior in high school. The culture shock of a big school, rough neighborhood, and new language caused him to act out. Fortunately, someone steered him to boxing, where his skills developed quickly. He turned pro by the time he was 18. Now, he shares what he learned as a teen with a new generation of at-risk teens in his community.

"In Morales' mind, boxing will help those young people find a way out of the life into which they were born. Boxing instills structure and discipline through training. Training forces boxers to keep a strict diet and exercise regimen. A strict regimen leaves no time for drugs and mischief."

All of the trainers in Morales' program are certified by USA Boxing, the governing body for amateur boxing. Currently, Morales' gym is the only certified amateur club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Read more at CentreDaily.com.

Oftentimes, kids who are struggling with being overweight or obese hide their feelings by engaging in risky behaviors. Read how you can help your child change their behaviors to improve all aspects of thier lives.

Labels: exercise, discipline, structure

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'Cutting', the act of intentionally making cuts in the skin with a razor, knife or other sharp object as a way of coping with strong emotions, came to the forefront of our society in the 1990s, when Princess Diana admitted she'd practiced this form of self-mutilation. Since then, thousands of young people have admitted to using this same practice to deal with the anxiety of school, depression over a failed relationship, or more serious troubles at home.

"More and more teenagers are seeking relief from daily pressures by hurting themselves, and cutting seems to be the injury of choice. 'We see it every year,' Hickman High School guidance director Ann Landes said."

Though some cutters are simply vying for attention, most feel it's the only way they can cope with intense emotions or anxiety. When parents discover their child has been cutting, the first reaction is often anger. Some will ground their children or take away other privileges like use of a car or cell phone. But the only thing that will really help is counseling. The teen needs to learn better, more productive coping mechanisms. Read more at ColumbiaTribune.com.

Learn more about the Emotional Pain and Cutting that many troubled teens face at ByParents-ForParents.com. ByParents-ForParents.com offers articles, advice, and help for parents of troubled teens.

Labels: emotional_issues, mental_health, self-harm

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A report that compiled statistics from 22 federal agencies shows that teens are not as sexually active as they were just a few years ago. And of those who are having sex, more are using condoms.

"Education campaigns that started years ago are having a significant effect, said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington-based nonprofit group that focuses on prevention of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases."

In 2005, 47 percent of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, down from 54 percent in 1991. The teen birth rate also dropped from 39 per 1,000 to 21 per 1,000  a historic low. Read more at TheGlobeandMail.com.

Residential treatment centers can help teens struggling with a variety issues from drug use to sexual promiscuity. Learn about Island View - a residential treatment center in Utah. Next to Island View is The Aspen Institute of Behavioral Assessment, another residential treatment center which can help diagnosis and asses your child.

Labels: sex, teen_pregnancy, education

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Social anxiety is a medical condition in which a person experiences extreme fear over being in social situations. The person may be afraid of meeting new people, or of embarrassing himself in public. Only about one percent of children and adolescents are diagnosed with social anxiety, but many believe the number to be higher as some children are simply considered "shy" and aren't properly diagnosed.

"Social phobia may look different in young people than in adults. While adults recognize the excessiveness of their discomfort, children may not have that understanding... Adolescents may simply avoid group gatherings or describe little interest in friendships."

Social anxiety is treated mainly through counseling and sometimes includes medications. Read more at MassGeneral.org.

Mood disorders describe a range of behavioral issues that may occur in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Teenage depression and bi-polar disorders can be treated through medication and therapy. Learn more at www.adolescent-mood-disorders.com.

Labels: anxiety, mood_disorders, shyness

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In 2004, the FDA issued a "black box" warning on prescription antidepressants. The warning stated that certain antidepressant medications could increase suicidal tendencies in patients under 25 years of age. A recent study by the American Journal of Psychiatry has found that warning to be false.

"In a study of more than 100,000 patients treated for depression, suicide attempts declined during the first month of treatment - whether that treatment consisted of medication, psychotherapy, or both."

Dr. Greg Simon, MD, authored the study, which is the first of its kind to compare the risk of suicide before and after patients have begun treatment for depression. Read more at ScienceBlogs.com.

If your teenager has shown a persistent pattern of irritable, depressed, or hopeless behavior for more than two weeks, it may be due to clinical depression. Learn more about teen depression, including the signs of teen depression and treatment options for depressed teens at www.about-teen-depression.com.

Labels: antidepressants, depression, medictions

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At-Risk-Youth.com is a new website/blog dedicated to providing troubled adolescents and their parents with valuable and timely information about the issues that face today's youth. When adolescents exhibit destructive behaviors, parents often feel helpless and confused about how to help their child, who may struggling with issues such as substance abuse, violence, weight management, learning disabilities, eating disorders, and other behavioral and emotional issues. At-Risk-Youth.com provides parents with the information and resources that will help their children reach their full potential.

At-Risk-Youth.com provides parents and their children with helpful tools, such as information about therapeutic programs, rehabilitation programs, and boarding schools, along with information for parents about the issues that their children are facing. The resources provided by At-Risk-Youth.com are intended to help families deal with these complex issues so that they can make the choices that will help get their children back on the right path.

Labels: at_risk, parenting_help, resources_for_parents

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A recent federal study has found that New Hampshire is one of ten states that ranked higher than the national average for instances of teen depression. While the national average is 8.8 percent, New Hampshire averaged between 9.4 and 10.4 percent along with Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Main, Nevada, Utah and Washington.

"Symptoms of a 'major depressive episode' include a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure for two weeks or longer, and changes in sleeping, eating, energy, concentration and self-image, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."

Some mental health experts have questioned the study, but agree that teen depression is a national problem that can be difficult to understand. Read more at NashuaTelegraph.com.

Labels: depression, mental_health, studies

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The summer can be a dangerous time for struggling teens. If they have too much time on their hands, not much supervision, and a few friends who don't have the greatest influence on them, they have ample opportunity to get into trouble. Parents often spend the summer worrying - and as the weeks go by, they anticipate the beginning of the new school year, hoping the structure will "fix things."

Parents whose teen has promised to "do better next year" may find themselves postponing the finding of a better situation for their teen. If you have considered boarding school as an option, it's important to know that many therapeutic and emotional growth boarding schools offer year-round, rolling admissions. This means you can enroll your teen during the summer.

There are a number of benefits to enrolling your teen during the summer break:

1. They get a head start on the school year, and can catch up on lost credits from the previous schoolyear.

2. You don't have to hold your breath all summer, hoping your teen does not get into "too much" trouble.

3. Your teen will have a productive summer. Most boarding schools offer recreational activities that are so varied, it would be difficult to replicate the options at home.

For example, Copper Canyon Academy, a girls' boarding school in Arizona, offers an equine program - horseback riding becomes part of the therapeutic process, so the teen learns about him or herself while learning a wonderful new skill.

Stone Mountain School, a boarding school for boys with ADHD, offers mountain hiking and other outdoor activities to their students.

If a long-term boarding school does not seem like an option for you, there are summer wilderness therapy programs that offer hiking, boating, and wilderness adventures.

Labels: boarding schools, summer programs

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James Shelby, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Urban League, unveiled a plan last Tuesday called the Year-Round Employment Program. With the help of 150 businesses, the plan will employ 300 at-risk African-American teens and provide mentors to teach them life skills.

"The businesses - which have yet to be recruited - will provide the jobs and some of the mentoring. For the first three months, churches and community groups will provide mentoring on topics including how to handle money, workplace ethics, conflict resolution and birth control."

An estimated 25 - 30% of young black men live below the poverty line, and 19-44% of them drop out of high school and never finish. The Year-Round Employment Program hopes to reduce those numbers. Read more at SacBee.com.

Labels: jobs, at_risk, employment

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Jim Stynes may be better known among Australian circles than American ones, but his work with at-risk teens is something people around the world understand. In 1994, Stynes co-founded a non-profit organization called Reach, whose purpose is to offer guidance and help for at risk teens.

"...the Reach Foundation runs programs, workshops and special events to give confidence, skills and unprecedented opportunities designed to maximize their full potential."

Reach currently runs 16 different programs in 400 locations throughout Australia. Read more online.

Labels: at_risk, skills, guidance

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