Welcome

 

Welcome to the latest edition of YouthMoves, a news-sheet that gives ‘snatches’ of youth news, info & resources relevant to busy people relating to teens.   In this issue we will look at teens and sad times, what pharming is, some useful resources, the latest events and upcoming conferences.  I hope this newsletter is of interest and help to you.  If you would like to see the back issues of Youth Moves, log on to our website www.innovateonline.net.  If I can assist your work with young people in any way (by offering counselling services, speaking/training or just answering a question about youth issues), please feel free to phone me on 8357 1711, or email kirriliesmout@innovateonline.net.

Teens and Sad Times

Young people, like adults, have times when they feel sad and unhappy.  They might feel sad because of a specific life event – for example, a relationship break-up, being isolated from a previously good group of friends, a disappointing school grade, conflict with family - or for no particular reason at all.  Teens have less experience of feeling sad than adults do and sometimes don’t cope with it well.  Very commonly, they act angrily or irritably to family members or people they trust.  Sometimes they withdraw from talking to or spending time with family (frequently) and friends (less often).  They might feel less like being involved in their usual activities, or sometimes want to be “over-involved” in outside activities to help distract them from their sadness.  They might cry, want to spend time by themselves or have trouble sleeping.  Fortunately, for most teenagers, feelings of sadness or unhappiness are relatively short lived.  In the meantime, parents, teachers and those of us who care for young people can help unhappy teenagers with some basic psychological “first aid”.  For example, first we want to keep the sad teenager active as much as possible. Ask them to go to see a movie with you, walk the dog, take their sibling shopping, ask them to help you with cooking – almost any activities are better than sleeping/sitting and thinking.  Often teens are reluctant to engage in these activities so we might simply ask the teen to do only ten minutes, or just walk to the corner, or to just come with us for half an hour – or whatever might work.  Second, we want the sad teenager to be connected to as many people as possible during this time.  We can facilitate visits, phone conversations, text messages or outings with almost anyone - friends, relatives, mentors, teachers, neighbours, church groups, and school counsellors. The more positive social interactions that occur for a sad young person, the better.  Sometimes sad young people aren’t capable of or don’t have the energy to contact people themselves and need us to arrange it for them.  Third, we will want to spend some time asking the young person about how they are feeling.  Allowing young people a chance to constructively talk through the issues or simply “vent” about their thoughts and feelings can be helpful, provided it doesn’t go on for hours.  It is important this be mostly about us asking questions and not about giving advice.  It is not often that sadness is alleviated by unasked for advice, despite how wise it might be. 

For a few teenagers, sadness becomes more intense, long lasting and starts to affect all aspects of their lives.  At this point, as well as continuing the basic first aid as outlined above, it is also worth contacting a health professional.  Even if the teen in question doesn’t want help, parents or teachers can still contact health professionals on behalf of the teenager to ask for advice in knowing how to support the young person in question.

News & Events

 

Priority One - Promotion, Prevention, Early Intervention, from Infancy to Youth 2009 Conference, 31^st August – 1^st September, Queensland: Key Note speakers Include: Prof Graham Martin, Jennie Parham, Dr. Toni Noble, Dr. Michael Daubney and Rita Prasad-Ildes. The conference, which aims to showcase the latest developments and activities in the area of child and youth MHPPEI activities at the international, national and local level, will also be complemented by intriguing art exhibitions, musical performances and dances.  For further information, Ph: (07) 3290 0500, email: adam_lo@health.qld.gov.au.

 

International Youth Day, 12^th August, Australia: The United Nations International Youth Day will be held on 12 August 2009.  The theme this year is "SUSTAINABILITY: Our Challenge. Our Future." For information about events go to http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm.

 

What has Kirrilie been doing in the last term?

1. working with children and adolescents, particularly in the area of worry, sadness and school stress
2. running seminars on how to revise effectively for exams
3. talking with Amanda Blair on 5AA about over scheduling children and “kiddy burnout”

 

 

Are you concerned about a teenager?  Our counselling services aim to work together with teens, parents, schools and other people in a teenagers’ life.   Call 8357 1711 for appointments and details.

 

Pharming

Dear Kirrilie

Recently I heard my teenager talking about pharming.  What is pharming, and what are pharming parties?

Curious Parent

 

Dear Curious Parent

 

Resources

Pharming is a trend I have only recently come across, although no doubt it has been in young people’s lexicon for much longer.

 

“Pharming” is the practise of taking prescription drugs recreationally and “pharming parties” occur when young people get together to trade and mix the prescription drugs they have obtained from their own home. 

 

HOT TOPIC:  WHO’S CHATTING TO YOUR KIDS Kids Helpline discusses the potential problems of the internet.  Online chat rooms are a dangerous destination for children who are unsupervised or unaware that sexual predators also chat.Visithttp://www.kidshelp.com.au for further information and resources.   youth beyond blue- YBBLUE Check out the new Youthbeyondblue ads now playing on TV, in cinemas and on radio.  Visit : http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/   SHYNESS Many young people struggle with shyness, and find it hard to talk to people they don't know well, or to make new friends. Or they may be uncomfortable about speaking in front of groups of people.  Visit http://www.cyh.sa.gov.au/Archive/NewsDetail.aspx?p=180&id=3919 for further information about the issues of shyness and some strategies to help people overcome it.   DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG TEENAGERS For further information regarding teenage depression and anxiety visithttp://www.youthbeyondblue.com/

One frightening statistic was revealed by a South Australian study of 2800 teens last year in which 25% of 12-25 year olds said they had taken prescription drugs illegally.  The highest percentage of this practice occurred amongst the youngest group – the 12- 14 year olds. 

 

Some teens I have spoken to think that if a drug can be prescribed by a doctor, then it must be safe. 

Clearly we must be having conversations with young people about not just alcohol and illegal drugs, but the medications that they might access from our own medicine cabinets.

Best wishes

Kirrilie