Troubled Teens: September 2007

Intense Mentoring

Denise Brown is the executive director of the nonprofit program designed for girls ages 16 and older who are either failing school or have dropped out. Called "Intense Mentoring", the program pairs young women with mentors who help them improve their academic performance.

"The girls are required to re-enroll in school. Mentors stay in touch with them through weekly phone calls, e-mail or instant messages... The mentors and students meet twice a month to hear speakers discuss domestic violence, birth control, crime prevention and other topics."

One student, Chanise Turner, had a miscarriage at 17 and felt she had nothing to live for. Brown connected her to mentor Marie Kalis and Turner is now enrolled in an alternative high school and plans to attend law school after she graduates.

Boarding schools for girls can also offer ways for troubled girls to get back on track emotionally and academically.

Labels: girls, mentoring, schools

Role Models Help Rescue Troubled Teens

Fourteen years ago, as school principal Frederica Wilson was driving to school, she was shocked to find herself hoping that one her more disruptive students would be absent that day. The thought caused her to start asking questions, and eventually asking for help. Her initial effort has become the 5000 Role Models of Excellence and has helped more than 15,000 troubled young men.

"The program is funded by the [Miami] school system and by private and corporate sponsors. Its components are many: workshops; scholarships; a basketball tournament; peer, group and one-on-one mentoring; and field trips, including to those opposite poles of black male potential; colleges and penitentiaries."

Kionne McGhee participated in the program. While in school he was suspended 47 times and was labeled emotionally handicapped. Today, he's an assistant state attorney.

Parents, teachers, and other role models can find help and information about adolescent drug treatment at Adolescent-Susbstance-Abuse.com.

Labels: influences, mentoring, role_models

Suicide Rates among Teens Increases by More Than 8%

A study from the Center for Disease Control indicates that more teenagers, especially girls, are committing suicide.

The suicide rate among children and teenagers increased by 8% in 2004, the largest increase in fifteen years. Between 1990 and 2003, there was actually a 28% decline in rates.

The percentage of young girls taking their own lives increased the most. Among girls ages 10 to 14 years, the rate increased from 0.54 per 100,000 to 0.95 per 100,000. Among girls ages 15 to 19 years, the rate jumped from 2.66 to 3.52 per 100,000. Among boys ages 15 to 19 years, the rate increased 11.61 to 12.65 per 100,000.

Many experts were predicting an increase in teenage suicides because of black box warnings on antidepressant drugs. The increased rate of suicide coincides with the Food and Drug Administration's requirement that antidepressant prescription labels carry a warning that using the drugs can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behaviors. Antidepressant prescriptions for patients under age 18 years fell by 10% in 2004.

Interested in military boarding schools for your teenager? Excel Academy is an alternative to military boarding schools in Texas.

Labels: antidepressants, medictions, suicide

Primary Care Physicians Not Treating Depression Appropriately

Teens that struggle with depression and receive treatment from their primary care physician may not be getting the treatment they need. A study released by RAND Health showed that primary care physicians appropriately adhered to just one third of the 20 quality measures studied.

"The study also found that patients who received better-quality care reported fewer symptoms of depression up to two years after the start of treatment. The findings are among the first linking quality guidelines for depression treatment with improved patient outcomes in community settings."

While primary care physicians were good at diagnosing and initiating treatment for depression, their follow-up treatment was poor.

The Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment can provide a psychological evaluation, an emotional behavior disorder diagnosis, and a psychosocial assessment.

Labels: depression, diagnosis, treatment_programs

Suicide Rate among American Girls Spikes

The latest numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control show a 67% increase in the rate of suicide among 10- to 14-year-old girls between 2003 and 2003. The rate among girls aged 15-19 rose 32 percent.

"Overall, there were 4,599 suicides among young people in 2004, making it the third-leading cause of death, surpassed only by car crashes and homicide... Males committed suicide far more often than females, accounting for about three-quarters of suicides in this age group."

Richard Lieberman, who coordinates the suicide prevention program for L.A. public schools, said that increased rates of depression may account for the suicide spike.

Youth Care offers programs for troubled teens at their therapeutic boarding school.

Labels: awareness, prevention, suicide

Boxing Academy Builds Confidence with Sweat

Wilmington, North Carolina has a new boxing gym. The 23rd Psalm Boxing Academy caters to disadvantaged kids, using the sport as a means for developing self-discipline.

"The non-profit gym has a $15 monthly membership fee, but [Deryll] McCaskill stressed that no kids will be turned away if they can't afford the payments."

The gym first opened in February and hopes to improve the lives of the lives of the kids who participate in the boxing program.

Labels: cofidence, community, discipline

Almost Half of All Teens Injure Their Own Bodies

A new study from Brown University found that 46% of teen report "self-injury." However, the study included not only cutting or burning oneself, but also getting a tattoo, pulling out hair, or picking at a sore until it bled.

Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson and her colleagues surveyed 633 high school students. Those who admitted to self-injury said that they did it to feel in control, to stop bad feelings or to get someone's attention.

Other studies have indicated that about 20% of girls and 17% of boys self-injure. This new study appears in the August 2007 issue of Psychological Medicine.

ByParents-ForParents offer help for parents of troubled teens on a variety of topics ranging from dating, to cyberbullying, to cutting.

Labels: cutting, risky_behaviors, self-harm

Media Project Teaches the Importance of Wise Choices

CAYA - the Coalition of Adolescents and Young Adults - is a youth program aimed at engaging young people in discussions about substance abuse, youth violence, and other issues. It's a three year program that culminates with the creation of a media project.

"Students join the program is sixth grade - the age... when students are most vulnerable and in need of guidance. They are taught information about making wise choices in various situations in life over the years and will work on the media project as the final showcase of what they learned."

This first media project - titled "Better Choices for a Better Future" - was unveiled at a red carpet event that was attended by many who are active in the community. The benefits of the program were praised and many expressed excitement over CAYA's continued work.

Want to learn more about teen drug abuse? Visit Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com.

Labels: choices, media, responsibilty

Teens Can Develop Addiction To Tobacco within A Few Days

A new study suggests that teens can become dependent on cigarettes within just a few days of trying them, and that even infrequent smoking can lead to nicotine addiction. About 40% of those in the study who tried cigarettes and began to smoke them every day developed tobacco dependence.

Researchers studied 1246 sixth graders over a four-year period. The average age of experimenting with cigarettes was 12.8 years, and 217 of the students in the study tried smoking. One of the most surprising results of the study was how quickly some students began to experience cravings for cigarettes – about 10% lost autonomy within two days. This study appears in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Parents can find help and information about teenage drug addiction at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: addictions, cigarettes, smoking

Early-Onset Mental Disorders Persist if Untreated

About 50% of all mental illnesses develop by the time a person is 14 year old. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly 21% of teenagers will develop treatable psychiatric illnesses. If left untreated, the illnesses are more likely to continue into adulthood.

"One advocate for primary care teen mental health screening is Kathleen Delaney, RN, DNSc,... 'Screening alerts you to risk and the need to send a patient for more in-depth [evaluation],' she says."

She suggests that a general screen can and should be included with a high school physical exam. Read more at News.Nurse.com.

The programs for troubled teens offered at Island View help young people identify their issues and then work on them in a caring, nurturing environment.

Labels: mental_health, psychiatric_illness, treatment_programs

Teens Have Liberal View of Definition of Virginity

Young people define virginity and abstinence from drugs and alcohol in more liberal terms than adults, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

In a survey by the Prevention Search Center and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, researchers interviewed 1100 teenagers of representative age, gender, ethnicity and sexual experience. About one in four believe that a person who engages in anal or vaginal intercourse remains a virgin. A majority believe that abstinence is related to how long you avoid certain behaviors such as sex, drug use or drinking.

The authors concluded that adolescents probably underestimate the dangers of contracting sexually transmitted diseases from oral sex and other behaviors and could benefit from better sex education programs.

Teens can also have liberal views on when teen drug use turns into teenage drug addiction. Learn how you can help at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: risky_behaviors, sex, virginity

Mentors Recruited for Vulnerable Youth

In Leesburg, Florida and the surrounding communities, a movement has started to make mentors available to some of the more vulnerable teens in the area. Inspiration for the mentoring program came after three young men were arrested for shooting at police deputies outside the 22nd National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community.

"At breakfast this week in Leesburg, [Pernell] Mitchell encouraged potential mentors not to let their pasts hinder them from helping children. Some group members have overcome criminal histories and turned their lives around for the better."

The Leesburg mentoring chapter is part of a nationwide organization called 100 Black Men of America, which was founded in 1963 to make positive changes in the community. The national group has, to date, mentored over 100,000 young people.

Labels: criminals, hope, mentoring

FDA Warning Labels May Increase Incidence of Suicide in Teenagers

Putting warning labels on anti-depressants may put more teenagers at risk for suicide, according to a new study by the University of South Florida and University of Illinois.

Professors Hendricks Brown and Robert Gibbons studied depressed teenagers who were taking different classes of medicines and those who were not taking any drugs. They also looked at the medical records of teenagers who had successfully committed suicide. They found that when a teenager began a drug regime, he or she had fewer attempts at suicide. They also found that very few of those who had successfully killed themselves were taking antidepressants at the time of their deaths.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teenagers. Last week the Center for Disease Control announced a spike in the number of teen suicides, particularly among girls.

Dr. Brown believes the increase in suicide may be related to warning labels newly mandated by the Federal Drug Administration. The labels warn that taking certain antidepressants may cause an increase in suicide ideation among young people.

"With the FDA warnings, there has been a rapid lowering of antidepressant prescriptions and a corresponding increase in youth suicides," he wrote. "We found similar results in the Netherlands once the warning was broadcast there as well."

This study appears in the September 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

If you're worried your child is thinking about suicide, then an adolescent residential treatment center that offers programs for troubled teens may help.

Labels: antidepressants, medictions, suicide

Depressed Teens Don't Respond To Weekly Talk Therapy Sessions

"Talk therapy" may not help depressed teens, according to a new study from Cambridge University in Great Britain.

Dr. Ian Goodyer and his colleagues studied 208 children ages 11 to 17 years under treatment for depression. Some only took drugs. Others took drugs but also underwent weekly sessions with a psychologist. Those in the medication-only group actually improved more than those who received therapy as well.

Other studies have found that troubled teens respond better to "experiential therapy" instead of traditional "talk therapy." Experiential therapy may involve working with animals, sharing a wilderness experience with trained counselors, art and drama, etc.

Dr. Goodyer's study appears in the July 20, 2007 issue of BMJ (British Medical Journals).

Equine therapy or animal assisted therapy may be better alternatives for kids who don't respond to traditional therapy. Visit animal-assistedtherapy.com for more information.

Labels: therapy, treatment_programs, wilderness_therapy

Teenagers Who Behave Violently At Risk for Domestic Violence Later

A 20-year study of 800 people found that those who were violent as teenagers were more likely to engage in domestic violence as young adults.

Researchers at the University of Washington/Seattle began their study in 1985 when participants were in fifth grade. Those who were violent teenagers were more likely to partner with someone who had a similar history, and create a household in which people kicked, bit, and hit one another.

"Most people think youth violence and domestic violence are separate problems, but this study shows they are intertwined," said Professor Todd Herrenkohl, lead author of the study.

Dr. Herrenkohl said his work indicates that society could prevent domestic violence by teaching teenagers to be less aggressive.

This study appears in the journal Violence and Victims.

Labels: aggression, violence

Tearaway Teens

Teens in Scotland are become the subject of much talk and speculation. As teen violence increases and parental guidance decreases, teens are beginning to terrorize their communities.

"Closer to home, teenage gangs have disrupted life for residents in Granton Crescent, driving at least three families from their homes because of their wayward and uncontrollable behavior, while earlier this month a gang of around 20 teenagers attacked an elderly man in Minto Street before boarding a bus then smashing three of its windows."

Youth workers and other experts remind parents that setting boundaries in a necessary part of parenting. Children need to learn, at an early age, that some behavior is simply unacceptable. Building a solid relationship with your child will make the issue of boundaries an easier one. Read more at Living.Scotsman.com.

An increase in violence can be the result of teen drug and alcohol abuse. Learn how to keep you teen safe and away from drugs and alcohol at the Teen-Help-Directory.

Labels: behavioral_issues, risky_behaviors, violence

Professor Identifies "Cynical Shyness" As Key to School Shooter's Psychology

A professor at Indiana University believes that a particular brand of shyness is linked to school shootings.

Dr. Bernardo Carducci studied the records of eight school shooters, including the boys from Columbine High School in 1999. He found that while almost half of the population considers itself shy, all eight school shooters have a particular variety of it. Dr. Carducci calls it "cynical shyness."

While many shy people try to be social and face rejections, those with "cynical shyness" get angry and want retaliation against those who shun them. Once they start moving away from others, he said, "They start to berate them. In a sense, they become a cult of one."

Cynical shyness, which occurs in fewer than 2% of the population, involves a lack of empathy, low frustration tolerance, angry outbursts, peer rejection, and bad family relationships.

Dr. Carducci presented this study at the American Medical Society convention this month in San Francisco.

Labels: aggression, rejection, shyness

2,000 Seek Support

About 2,000 teenagers registered with a text-based emotional support service in its first 48 hours of operation. The service, created in Ireland by an organization called Rehab, provides confidential information about sexual issues, suicide and other issues to young people.

"Designed for 16-24 year olds, Rehab says it is the first service of its kind in Ireland and highlights the way in which 21st century communication can benefit young people."

The numbers were released during a seminar on Suicide and the Internet, which marked the beginning of a five-day 'congress' called "Preventing Suicide Across the Lifespan: Dream and Realities". Read more at Online.Ie.com.

Island View offers programs for troubled teens that help them deal with their emotional and behavioral issues that are preventing them from finding happiness and success.

Labels: communication, support, text_messaging

KidsPeace Responds to Suicide Rate Increase

In response to the Centers for Disease Control's shocking news on an 8% jump in the rate of teen suicide, the national children's crisis charity KidsPeace has issued a series of warning signs, potentially life-saving tips, and free resources to try and help prevent such unnecessary tragedies.

"There are a number of reasons why children, like adults, may find themselves thinking the unthinkable. At the core of all motivating factors lies a desperate need to cope with a situation that may seem beyond remedy."

The suicide rate for 10- to 14-year olds increased by 100 percent from 1980 to 1996 and is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year olds.

Labels: crisis, prevention, suicide

Programs Help Troubled Teens

There are a lot of programs out there designed to help troubled or at-risk youth. Wendy Ponte found four such programs that reach out teens in unique ways.

"What really blew my preconceptions about teens out of the water was talking to some of the young people involved in these programs. Sure, people in this age range, roughly from 13 to 21, still have a lot of growing up to do. But these particular young people, by the time they hit their thirties, will have ended up miles ahead of almost everyone I know, regardless of age."

The programs highlighted by Ponte include CityKids, Art in Action Youth Leadership, Seeds of Peace, and Chat the Planet. Read more at Mothering.com.

You can find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: at_risk, risky_behaviors, treatment_programs

Organization Goes Searching for Homeless Teens

On any given day in America, nearly 1.5 million teens are living on the streets. Some have run away from home, others have been kicked out or lost their home due to circumstances beyond their control. The non-profit organization StandUp for Kids has spent the last 17 years training "street outreach counselors" to search for these kids and get them much needed help.

"The mission of StandUp for Kids is to help homeless and street kids. This mission shall be carried out by a national volunteer force whose on-the-streets outreach efforts will find, stabilize and assist homeless and street kids in their efforts to improve their lives... All facets of this mission shall be guided by the mandate that our volunteers shall tell kids they care about them and then, at every turn, prove it."

To date, StandUp has a presence in 30 states and over 60 cities.

Labels: homelessness, outreach

Troubled Kids Misdiagnosed

The number of kids seeking treatment for bi-polar disorder has increased 40-fold since 1994, according to recent surveys. Some believe that bi-polar has simply been misdiagnosed previously.

"'Given the preponderance of boys, their young age and the number of them also being diagnosed and treated for ADHD, all of these things are consistent with some misdiagnosis,' said Dr. Mark Olfson, senior author of the report and professor of clinical psychiatry at New York State Psychiatric Institute of Columbia University in New York. Factors such as irritability, rapid speech and distractibility are symptoms of mania in bipolar disorder but also of ADHD, he said."

Careful diagnosis is vital, not only for correct treatment, but to prevent treatment which may aggravate the condition. Antidepressants, for example, can worsen manic episodes in someone who's bi-polar.

Labels: bi-polar, diagnosis, misdiagnosis

Friday, September 28, 2007

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Monday, September 24, 2007

Friday, September 21, 2007

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Monday, September 17, 2007

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Friday, September 14, 2007

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Monday, September 10, 2007

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Friday, September 7, 2007

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Monday, September 3, 2007

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Previous Posts

Archives