Facing the Challenges of Young Lives Becky Turner School Counselor Adapted from McCarthy, A. (1999). Healthy Teens: Facing the Challenges of Young Lives 3rd Edition

The most useful tools in raising healthy young people are love, compassion, sensitivity, praise, understanding, and communication.

Stages of Adolescence Early Adolescence (11-13 years)  physical changes  “Am I normal?”  Stronger affiliation with peers vs family/parents Middle Adolescence (14-16 years)  Peers assume greater importance  Individualization-prompts teens testing the limits Late Adolescence (17+)  Relatively stable identity  Important mutual friendships  Better relationship with parents

Tips for working with Adolescents Remember your own adolescence: your changing feelings, anger at authority, and fears and hopes. Listen more than talk. Teach adolescents about the joys AND troubles of life and ways to enjoy or cope. Use positive reinforcement for positive behavior whenever possible. Remember that most youth have problems at some time.

Behavior Expectations Rejection: Peers are important during this time. They will be pulling away from family and authority figures. Closed doors : Do not pry. Tests of authority : Teens want independence but appreciate limits

Managing Stress Sit back and count to ten Take a walk, jog, or exercise. Use positive “self talk”- “I disagree, but I can cool down and talk to her.” Write down why you are angry, upset, or sad. Think through a plan and write it down. Talk to someone about your feelings Listen to quiet music Inhale a deep breath through your nose and hold for five seconds. Slowly exhale through your mouth as if blowing out a candle. Repeat several times.

Depressive Illnesses: Signs Signs  A change is school performance.  Inability to concentrate.  Irritability or anger.  Persistent unhappiness.  Change in eating and sleeping habits.  Withdrawal from people and activities.  Excessive guilt or anxiety.  Physical complaints.  Aggressive, impulsive, or risk-taking behavior  Thoughts or talk of death or suicide.

Depressive Illnesses: Causes Causes  Poverty  Victimization  Family dysfunction  Expectation society holds  Assault/ rape/ other crimes  Stress  Family genetics  Environment factors like a messy divorce

Depressive Illnesses- Treatments Early and accurate diagnosis of depressive illness is important because depression can lead to school failure and suicide. Depression must be distinguished from normal sadness, adjustment disorders, learning disabilities, anxiety deficit disorder, and all the other factors that may be present in the adolescent’s life. If the depression has a biological basis, antidepressant medications may be helpful.

Possible Treatments Counseling or Psychotherapy  Supportive therapy offers reassurance, empathy and advice to parents and adolescents.  Cognitive therapists- try to change the adolescent’s pessimistic attitudes and disheartening automatic thoughts by challenging them.  Interpersonal therapy- takes account of the teenager’s need to identify and resolve personal disputes arising at a time of life when important choices have to be made.

Teen Suicide Talking about suicide does not increase its possibility. Helping adolescents understand the warning signals of suicide may save the life of a teen.

Teen Suicide-Motives Researchers have identified seven motives for suicide attempts among adolescents: 1.A cry for help to get assistance 2.Making amends for having done something they think is unpardonable 3.Rejoining a lost loved one 4.A kind of blackmail to get better treatment. For example: “If I threaten to hurt myself, they’ll be nice to me” 5.Getting back for real or imagined abandonment, either physical or emotional 6.An intense rage at others that is directed at self. 7.Mental illness or personality disorganization

Teen Suicide-Providing Help Although you may feel powerless, there are a number of things you can do to help a teen that is going through a difficult time. 1.Make sure they have someone to confide in. 2.Don’t attempt to minimize or discount what the teen is going through. 3.Always express support and concern. 4.Express that these problems can be overcome. 5.If a student ever expresses that he/she is suicidal or homicidal, you are mandated to report this.

Mandated Reporters Now you can look at the hand out I gave you.