4 Troubled Teens Blog

About half the children who have mental problems are not getting treatment for them, according to a new study from the National Institute of Mental Health. The most common untreated problem is anxiety.

• Dr. Kathleen Merikangas and her colleagues used data from 3,042 children ages 8 to 15 years old, whose families participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
  
• Caretakers, parents and children provided information about the children's mental health.
• Dr. Merikangas identified six mental problems: anxiety, panic disorder, eating disorders, depression, Attention Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity (ADHD), and conduct disorder.
  
• Among those who had such mental problems, about 55 percent had consulted a mental health professional.
  

ADHD was the most common problem, with over 8 percent of the children having that diagnosis. Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to have ADHD, while children from upper income backgrounds were more likely to have anxiety. Only 32 percent of children with anxiety disorder had gotten treatment.

"The earlier you can intervene, the less likely you are to see the consequences of these conditions, such as children developing substance abuse, suicide, dropping out of school, and not being able to function in their social roles," said Dr. Merikangas.

The study appeared in the journal Pediatrics.

Labels: mental_health, treatment_programs, therapy

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Because symptoms of mild depression can be subtle, few people recognize them. And those who do rarely seek help, believing that mild depression is something they should be able to handle on their own.

However, as relationship coach Susan Britt wrote in the Sept. 25 edition of the Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times, depression isn't something that a sufferer can overcome through willpower alone:

More than 14 million Americans suffer some degree of depression. Many do not seek treatment because they don't recognize the symptoms: a loss of self-esteem and interest in life, appetite and sleep changes, difficulty remembering and concentrating, frequent periods of negativity or sadness. You don't need to experience all or even most of these symptoms to be depressed. ...

When considering all the possible contributing factors, it becomes apparent that depression has little or nothing to do with free will. It is also important to understand that because genetics and physiology are not a matter of choice, sufferers cant just "snap out of" depression. No one chooses to be depressed. ...

Depression can be successfully treated. Take the first step toward recovery for yourself or someone you care for by reaching out for help.

Labels: depression, treatment_programs

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Politicians and civic leaders are among those praising the Ballyclare planning board's decision to approve the establishment of Northern Ireland's first specialist psychiatric hospital for children and young people about 20 miles northwest of Dublin

A Sept. 16 Newtownabbey Times article reported the following:

The new 30-bed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) unit, due to be built with-in a 14-acre site off Templepatrick Road, will employ psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers and other healthcare professionals offering round-the-clock care to children and young people with mental health issues, severe eating disorders and acquired brain injuries.

The Affinity Health Care project is expected to create 120 new jobs initially, but could support up to 170 posts when it's fully operational.

"It's a facility we need and I would hope that young people are provided with extra mental health services that are tailored to their needs as soon as possible. Northern Ireland is crying out for a dedicated service for young people and this is a very positive announcement," said Alliance MLA David Ford.

Labels: mental_health, treatment_programs, hospital, ireland

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Earlier this year, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issued a recommendation that pediatricians begin regularly screening their patients for depression. A questionnaire was made available that asks how often patients have felt sad, had a hard time sleeping or thought of hurting themselves.

According to a Sept. 13 Patriot-News article by Carolyn Kimmel, the effort has resulted in improved efforts to identify potential problems -- but the increased screenings haven't been accompanied by more efficient access to treatment:

Left untreated, mental health disorders in children and adolescents lead to higher rates of suicide, violence, school dropouts, family dysfunction, juvenile incarcerations, alcohol and other drug use, and unintentional injuries, the CDC reports. ...

Nationwide and locally, there is a shortage of child psychiatrists, which makes getting an immediate appointment a challenge. ...

The severity of symptoms dictates how fast the process moves, said Launa Snyder, outpatient coordinator for Behavioral Health Services at Holy Spirit Hospital, the designated crisis intervention center for Cumberland and Perry counties.

"If someone is suicidal, that is taken tremendously seriously, and it may require a hospitalization," she said. "For someone who is not having suicidal thoughts, it can be a couple weeks before they get in to see a psychiatrist."

Providing at-risk youth to prompt treatment for teen depression is an essential step in ensuring that they have the best possible chance to overcome the obstacles that are preventing them from pursuing successful and satisfying lives.

Labels: depression, mental_health, treatment_programs

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Many depressed teenagers do not seek treatment -- and a new study from the Rand Corporation indicates that they may be avoiding treatment for their depression because they are afraid of their parents' reactions.

According to details of the study that were published in journal Medical Care, Lisa Meredith and her colleagues studied 368 teens (half of whom suffered from depression) and their parents:

• The teens and their parents were asked to answer which of seven barriers to treatment were most important.
• Parents tended to answer that none of them were important, but the teens listed "not wanting family members to know about their depression" as significant.
• Other barriers such as cost, time constraints, problems finding a doctor, or just not wanting treatment were less important to teens.

Meredith pointed out that parents often have to become involved in treatment by providing transportation and paying for it, so it is important for "doctors to get a sense of not just what the teen thinks or the parent thinks, but what both think."

Teens with untreated depression are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, become parents at an early age, to have low grades and social problems, and commit suicide.

Labels: depression, teens, treatment_programs

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A new study from the University of Kentucky found that only 10% of the 1.4 million American teenagers with substance abuse problems receive treatment. One reason is that most teen treatment programs are of only medium quality.

Dr. Hannah Knudsen found that fewer than one-third of the addiction treatment programs have special teen components. Of the 154 programs she selected at random, only a small number scored high in nine areas of quality. The high-quality programs, fewer than 30% of those evaluated, offered more intensive treatment services, such as residential or inpatient treatment.

"For parents looking for high-quality programs that offer the most comprehensive array of services, a good indicator is whether the program has an inpatient or residential level of care," she said. "The lack of comprehensive services in substance abuse programs for teens raises questions about whether teens will get what they need since we know they are likely to have co-occurring psychiatric conditions and to engage in HIV high-risk behaviors."

This study appears in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

Labels: addictions, treatment_programs, drug_use

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According to a story this week on the Scientific American website, federal prisons currently lack sufficient drug treatment programs for inmates. According to a recent study, approximately 1.7 million adults (more than 2 percent of the population) are currently incarcerated or on probation. About half of them are addicted to a substance such as heroin, alcohol, crack, or methamphetamines (meth), but only 20 percent of those substance abusers actually receive effective treatment. These data come from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Study co-author and NIDA director, Nora Volkow, commented on the cost-effectiveness of implementing effective drug treatment programs within the criminal justice system:

"For every dollar that you spend on treatment of substance abuse in the criminal justice system, it saves society on average four dollars."

(Source: www.sciam.com)

Labels: treatment_programs, substance_abuse, prision

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Certain new drugs for childhood mental disorders do not perform as well as old ones and can cause serious weight gains, according to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The new drugs are Risperdal, Zyperdal, Seroquel, Geodon and Abilify. Although the U.S. Federal Drug Administration has not specifically approved them for pediatric use, doctors are prescribing them frequently for hyperactivity, depression, autism, bipolar disorder, aggression, and schizophrenia.

The old drug, Molindone, performed better and did not cause as many serious side effects as the new ones, which cost four times more.

The study, which involved 116 children ages 8 to 19 years old, appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Labels: mental_health, medications, treatment_programs

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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.

Labels: treatment_programs, therapy, bi-polar

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U.S. researchers have said that a recent spike in teenage suicides isn't an anomaly, and should be taken very seriously. The statement comes in the wake of a recent study that found that although suicide rates have declined, they remain dangerously high.

"Last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an 18 percent increase in suicide rates for Americans under age 19 in 2004... In 2004, they said there were 326 more suicides than expected and in 2005, there were 292 more suicides than expected."

The study says that "attention must now be directed toward understanding whether warning about suicide risks linked with antidepressant use caused fewer troubled teens to get treatment." Suicide is the third-biggest killer of children and young adults in the United States. Source: Reuters

Labels: suicide, mental_health, treatment_programs

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Executive Director Avital Goel describes Susan's House as a "holistic solution to working with high-risk kids." The project was started six years ago; the realization of a dream for Goes, Eyal Kaplansky and Kaplansky's wife Susan, for whom the project is named.

"[Goel] explains that the teens accepted into this initiative learn the skills they need to complete the various jobs scheduled in the art workshop, enjoy meals prepared by their fellow crew members, earn a salary, and discover how to budget their earnings and save for the future."

The art workshop is the program's heartbeat. Here, the teens learn to create high-end art pieces that are sold at malls and expos. Goel says the creative process helps the teens develop self-esteem and start to believe they can have a better life. Source: Jewish Exponent

Labels: troubled_teenagers, treatment_programs, therapy

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A new study of clinically depressed teens found that while many respond well in the beginning to drug treatments alone, they might need cognitive-behavioral therapy later to sustain their improvements and prevent recurrences.

Dr. Paul Rohde of the Oregon Research Institute studied 242 teens that had been treated for depression. One group had drugs alone, the second group had cognitive therapy alone, and the third group had a combination of the two.

After three months, the combination group had the best result, with a 71% response, compared to 68% of the drug-alone group and 42% of the therapy group. However, six months later, 97% of the teens in the therapy-alone group were maintaining their improvements, compared to 89% in the combination group and 74% of those who only took drugs.

Dr. Rohde and others believe that teens may respond to drugs initially and then hit a plateau, so that after a while, they benefit from psychotherapy.

This study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Labels: depression, treatment_programs, therapy

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Randy Cameron was shocked, as was his whole family, when his teenaged niece committed suicide. Even though she struggled with depression, no one thought suicide was a possibility.

"Teens possess a lack of, or inadequate, coping skills in handling depression, MacDonald said. In her profession, she sees 16-year-olds living the lives of 20-year-olds. They may be going to school, but they are working jobs and in relationships... It's a difficult task to get teens to admit their own feelings..."

Joyce MacDonald is a high school counselor who has seen her share of troubled teens. She emphasizes the important of recognizing the signs of depression, like a sudden change in grades or mood. Source: Leduc Representative

Labels: depression, treatment_programs, symptoms

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Susan Wylie, counseling coordinator at the University of Alaska Southeast, wants to send a message to parents and educators: Break the stigma surrounding mental illness. One of the best ways to prevent teen suicide is by talking about it, but social stigmas often prevent that kind of open dialogue.

"Mental illness affects a majority of people who commit suicide, according to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, a national group dedicated to suicide prevention and based in Bloomington, Minn. And one in five teens experience depression before becoming adults, Wylie said."

Know the warning signs, and don't be afraid to talk to a teenager that you think is exhibiting some of the warning signs. You may be the only person who gives him the opportunity to talk. Read more at JuneauEmpire.com.

Mental illness in teens is a real and serious issue facing many families. An adolescent residential treatment center can offer the therapy and counseling needed to help teenagers and their families. Youth Care is a licensed treatment center for teens in Utah.

Labels: suicide, prevention, treatment_programs

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A new study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found that depressed teenagers who are not responding to medications often improve under cognitive behavioral therapy and a new drug regime.

Researchers led by Dr. David Brent of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine studied 334 teens for three months. These teens were suffering from severe clinical depression - some had dropped out of school - and had not responded to a two-month treatment of drug therapy. The researchers divided the teens into groups and noticed improvement in 55 percent of the group that underwent therapy and switched to a new drug.

"These findings should be encouraging for families with a teen who has been struggling with depression for some time," Dr. Brent said. "Even if a first attempt at treatment is unsuccessful, persistence will pay off."

This study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Teenage depression is a serious and scary condition that many families experience. Learn how you can help your teen at About-Teen-Depression.com.

Labels: depression, treatment_programs, therapy

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A recent study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found that teens who don't respond to an initial treatment for depression often respond when the treatment is changed. The study was conducted in six clinics with 334 teens, 12 to 18 years old, who had not responded well to a first treatment course.

"About 55 percent of those who switched to either type of medication and added CBT [cognitive behavioral therapy] responded, while 41 percent of those who switched to another medication alone responded."

Results of the study should be encouraging to teens and families of teens who have been struggling with depression without seeing many positive results from treatment. Read more at NIH.gov.

An adolescent residential treatment center, like Aspen Ranch in Utah, offers treatment programs for troubled teens and way to help their families. Learn more at AspenRanch.com.

Labels: depression, treatment_programs, therapy

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The cover story in the March 3rd edition of Newsweek, titled "The Hunt for an Addiction Vaccine," has lots of people talking. It also marks a shift in the study of addiction recovery.

"The addict's brain is malfunctioning, as surely as the pancreas in someone with diabetes. In both cases, 'lifestyle choices' may be a contributing factor, but no one regards that as a reason to withhold insulin from a diabetic. 'We are making unprecedented advances in understanding the biology of addiction,' says David Rosenblum, a public-health professor and addiction expert at Boston University."

New scientific discoveries are helping the medical community better understand how an addicted brain functions, which means that medications could be developed to block a drug's effect on the brain. Read more at HealthNewsDigest.com.

Labels: addictions, treatment_programs, vaccine

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From 1995 to 2005, the number of drug-treatment patients who sought help for prescription drug abuse increased by over 300 percent. This is one of the statistics that has prompted the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to initiate a $14 million campaign to raise awareness and educate parents about teenage prescription-drug abuse.

"The campaign began with television ads during this year's Super Bowl, and it will continue with broadcast, print, and online advertising, as well as community outreach and online research for parents."

In the latest study by Partnership for a Drug Free America, one in five teens admitted to abusing prescription painkillers, and one in five also admitted to abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers. Prescription drugs are more commonly abused by teenagers than cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined. Read more at DailyIowan.com.

Labels: awareness, treatment_programs, prescription_drug_abuse

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Anti-psychotic drugs do not control aggression in patients who have low IQs, even though such drugs have been used to do just that for over sixty years, according to a new study from Great Britain.

The new study is the first double-bind study that compares these drugs with placebos (sugar pills). Researchers divided 86 patients into two groups  one group took anti-psychotic drugs, and the other took placebos. Those who took the sugar pills actually showed less aggression than the ones who took the prescription drugs.

Psychiatrists and other physicians often prescribe drugs like Haldol and Risperdal to control tantrums and other behaviors in people with IQs below 70.

This study appears in the British science journal, The Lancet.

NorthStar Center offers adolescent drug treatment and a structured program to help teens and young adults in recovery.

Labels: aggression, treatment_programs, drug_use

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Nationally known forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carl Greiner says that, while warning signs are always there before emotionally troubled people act out, our society is still learning how to respond to those signs. A young person who's exhibiting warning signs should be evaluated immediately by a mental health professional.

"Americans probably delay too long, Greiner said, in strongly recommending that disturbed young people be evaluated. 'Part of the great American tradition of liberty is that we tend to be very hesitant about doing that,' he said."

But incidents like the mall shooting which took place in Omaha, Nebraska a couple of weeks ago bring into question the balance between public safety and individual liberty. Someone who's suicidal is also at risk of hurting other people. Experts urge the general public to use crisis centers and hotlines to get help either for themselves or others who may be in trouble.

If you fear your teen may be depressed or suicidal, get them help immediately! Learn about therapeutic boarding schools so you can get your teenager they help they so desperately need.

Labels: mental_health, warning_signs, treatment_programs

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When Robyn realized that her teenage son needed help, she wasn't sure where to turn. Finding the right adolescent treatment facility for him was hard, but she was persistent. And it's paid off.

"'I was afraid he would do a repeat of Columbine,' she says. 'I was afraid he would hurt people.'

"She placed her son in a teen treatment facility and now, months later, he's doing much better.

Labels: treatment_programs, parenting_help

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In Missouri, the juvenile justice system looks very different than in most states. Here, troubled teens are viewed not as inmates but as works in progress. Rather than being locked away in juvenile jails, young people are place in home-like settings where they attend group therapy, drug rehabilitation if needed and family therapy session.

"The results? About 8.6 percent of teens who complete Missouri's program are incarcerated in adult prisons within three years of release, according to 2006 figures. (In New York, 75 percent are re-arrested as adults, 42 percent for a violent felony.)"

There's no timetable for the program, which means that teens are released only when they make a certain amount of progress. Knowing this pushes the teens to fully engage in the program.

Labels: jails, treatment_programs, therapy

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When Autumn Hayes was getting ready to start seventh grade, her family moved to a new town where she had to attend a new school and make new friends. The pressure was too much and, not knowing of any other way to cope, she began cutting herself. School officials became aware of her actions and sent her to a week of residential treatment.

"At the treatment center, Autumn learned other ways of coping with stress. She began keeping a journal and listening to music by rock bands such as Linkin Park and Panic! at the Disco instead of cutting."

When her dad was dying of prostate cancer, he made her promise that she'd never cut again. His voice still rings in her memory and reminds her to seek healthy coping mechanisms. Now Autumn hopes to get involved in support groups and help other teens who are grieving or cutting.

A good residential treatment center, like Island View in Utah, can help assess a troubled teens needs and then create a solid treatment plan. Learn more at IslandView-rtc.com.

Labels: stress, treatment_programs, cutting

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Latino youth that need alcohol or drug abuse treatments could be hindered by cultural stereotypes, according to a new study conducted by the PIRE Behavioral Health Research Center.

"The study obtained first-hand information from practitioners to propose the development of culturally relevant, quality care for rural adolescent populations that have limited access to behavioral health care. Researchers...found four commonly held cultural stereotypes that health care providers' believed inhibited Hispanic youth from seeking help for substance abuse - family, religion and spirituality, gender roles and socioeconomic factors."

These stereotypes affect the kind of treatment that's offered to Hispanic youth, and the researchers hope to provide suggestions for improving behavioral health care. Possible suggestions include cultural training, and the hiring of health care providers who represent the cultural backgrounds of the communities in which they'll be working.

Find an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program at www.Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: treatment_programs, influences, culture

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A University of Colorado professor has received a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to design "family focused" therapy for young people who have bipolar symptoms.

Dr. David Miklowitz, a leading expert on bipolar disorder, will be working with young people ages 8 to 17 years old, who have risk factors but who may not necessarily been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"One of the key questions we are asking is if you intervene early with family-focused treatment, do you actually delay the onset of the full disorder or perhaps reduce its severity once it has manifested?" Dr. Miklowitz said.

People usually do not undergo treatment until after they are diagnosed as bipolar.

Read more about Bipolar Disorder in Teen Girls at BoardingSchoolsforGirls.com.

Labels: bipolar, treatment_programs, diagnosis

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A juvenile treatment center in St. Paul, Minnesota is trying to teach at-risk young men something about patience and discipline by having them teach those principles to "at-risk" dogs. The dogs, residents of an animal sanctuary called Home for Life, have been deemed unfit for adoption and many have come from abusive or neglectful situations.

"Five students meet with the dogs twice a week for eight weeks, and during the program they'll also take field trips to observe different careers involving animals - from the University of Minnesota veterinary program to doggie hydrotherapy... At the end of the program, the teens run their dogs through the Therapy Dogs International certification test."

Though the program is only in its second season, it's being considered a success. As the teens learn to gently persuade and teach the dogs, they experience success that boosts their confidence and helps them begin to heal from their own abusive or otherwise destructive pasts.

Learn more about SunHawk Academy, a residential drug treatment center, for teens struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.

Labels: treatment_programs, therapy, responsibilty

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A recent study conducted by a team from Duke University shows that treating mildly to severely depressed teens is best done with a combination of medication and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). Cognitive-behavior therapy teaches teens how to recognize and appropriately handle the distorted thoughts and feelings that lead to depression.

"After 12 weeks, 73 percent of patients receiving [Prozac] and CBT, 62 percent of those receiving [Prozac] only and 48 percent of those receiving CBT only responded to treatment."

After 36 weeks of treatment, the combination group still had the highest percentage response. Depression currently affects 5 percent of the adolescent population, increasing the stress of family relationships and the risk of suicide.

DrugRehabTreatment offers information and help for parents dealing with adolescent drug treatment.

Labels: depression, treatment_programs, therapy

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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, treatment_programs, diagnosis

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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

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"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: wilderness_therapy, treatment_programs, therapy

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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: risky_behaviors, treatment_programs, at_risk

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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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Dr. Robert Chalfant, medical director of Colorado West Mental Health and child adolescent psychiatrist says it's time to take mental health issues as seriously as things like high blood pressure and diabetes. The causes, he says, are the same  genetics and environment  for both mental and physical illnesses, but because of the stigma associated with mental health issues, many go untreated.

"Throughout the U.S., 15 million children and adolescents suffer from a serious emotional or mental disorder, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. And when left untreated, youth mental illnesses are associated with higher rates of academic failure, school drop-outs, problems at home, substance abuse and crime."

When a young person is properly diagnosed and seeks treatment, he or she is laying the foundation needed to deal with the disorder as an adult. And because most mental health issues don't disappear in adulthood, learning to cope is important. Read more at VailDaily.com.

Some of the best high school boarding schools are listed at TeenBoardingSchools.com. Private boarding schools, military boarding schools, and other residential schools are all listed at TeenBoardingSchools.com.

Labels: behavioral_issues, mental_health, treatment_programs

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Troubled teens who participate in residential treatment programs maintain healthier outlooks and function more productively long after they leave the program, says a new study. Conducted by Canyon Research & Consulting, the study followed over 1000 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 for a year after they were discharges from a residential program.

"'In this final phase of the study we found that those teens who showed 'normal' post-treatment results at the time of discharge continued to be ranked in the normal range a year later.'"

This is one of the first studies of its kind that documents the long-term benefits of residential programs. Up to this point, most residential treatment facilities had to rely on anecdotal evidence and individual success stories. This new study provides vital information for families who are struggling over the decision about what do to with a troubled teen. Read more online.

Labels: treatment_programs, adolescent, residential_treatment_centers

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Two Boys Towns locations in the state of Nebraska have stopped receiving referrals from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services after concerns were raised regarding mistreatment of residents.

“HHS spokeswoman Jeanne Atkinson says referrals to both programs were suspended on Aug. 26, and Boys Town has already started addressing the problems cited in the review. [Kara] Neuverth says Boys Town expects the suspension to be lifted upon acceptance of its corrective action plan…” - Source: The Associated Press

Though the review detailed the type of mistreatment that was taking place, those details have not been released to the general public.

 

Labels: treatment_programs, residential program

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