Number 13



Here is the latest edition of YouthMoves – a news-sheet for people interested in youth issues in Australia

 

Written and Produced by Kirrilie Smout, Psychologist, Speaker and Youth Specialist

 

Please note you are receiving this email after signing up for it at a seminar or via the web.  For details about unsubscribing, go to the end of this email message.

 

 

Welcome to the latest edition of YouthMoves, a newsletter for those who work with and want to understand Young Australians.  YouthMoves exists to give ‘snatches’ of youth news, info and sources relevant to busy people relating to young people.  

 

What’s in this issue?

-         Contagious Cutting:  Girls who Self-Harm

-         Managing Year 12 stress in the classroom

-         Stats and Facts – Teen Pregnancy

-         Quote of the Week

-         PLUS find out about useful youth resources

-         PLUS find out about upcoming youth events

-         **Innovate Special** Sustain! E-tutoring program

-         Our contact details

-         How to unsubscribe OR join up friends and colleagues to this newsletter

 

 

CONTAGIOUS CUTTING:  GIRLS AND SELF-HARM

 

S, aged 15 was cutting herself with a razor.  Not frequently, and not deeply but enough to leave a few small scars.  She cuts herself whenever she feels overwhelmed with problems in her life. 

Researchers in Victoria in 1997 found that 5% of 15 and 16 year olds they surveyed had deliberately harmed themselves.  These were mostly young women who cut themselves, and most did not intend to kill themselves.  My own feeling is that teenage girls cutting themselves has increased significantly since that time.  I am seeing more and more girls who cut themselves, and it seems to be a not infrequent topic of conversation in the schoolyard.  In fact, recent studies in England (2002) and the US (2001) have found that between 10% and 20% of young women have deliberately harmed themselves (mainly via cutting) at some time.  Disturbingly, one factor that predicts whether a teenager cuts herself, is knowing someone else who has done so.  In other words, cutting is contagious:  as more girls cut and talk about it, the more it spreads.

Why do girls do this?  In my experience in working with young women, cutting is often linked to feeling anxious, depressed and overwhelmed.  For some young women they experience a strong emotion, don’t know how to handle it, and cut themselves as a way of distracting themselves from the emotional pain.  For other young women it is a way of expressing distress:  they want people to know they are hurting and cutting provides

the words for them. 

The good news is that cutting is not always linked to other significant mental health problems.  In other words, just because a young person cuts themselves does not necessarily signify ongoing or serious mental health issues.   Nor does it necessarily mean that a young person wants to die.  Most young people I see who cut themselves are not suicidal.  Some young women who cut themselves are simply responding in an unhelpful way to normal emotions.   They certainly need assistance and support, but we should not assume that cutting is always a symptom of a serious mental health problem. 

On the other hand, it is important to be aware that for some young women, cutting behaviour is in fact a sign of a more serious disturbance including depression, suicidal feelings and memories of sexual abuse.

How do we respond as a community to teenagers who cut themselves?  First we need to be aware of the problem.   Parents, teachers, GPs, school counsellors and others need to be routinely asking young women who present in crisis:  “have you been hurting yourself or felt like hurting yourself?”.  Second, the young person should be found appropriate help.  The young person should always be referred to psychologists and counsellors experienced in dealing with teens. Third, as with other suicidal behaviours, we should not necessarily encourage discussion of cutting in classes or amongst teenagers.  Instead, constructive means of coping with difficult feelings need to be raised.  For further help, please call or email me.

 

 

       

 

STATS and FACTS


In the 70’s, the number of teenagers giving birth was 55 per 1000.  Now it is 17 per 1000.  However, the rate of teenage abortions in Australia is one of the highest in the world, at around 19 abortions per 1000 teenagers.

 

 

 

PARENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

 

My son has come up with a great way to save his money. He uses mine.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND RESOURCES

 

Step to the Future is coming to Adelaide!  A terrific event (Adelaide Convention Centre) for teens to hear absolutely brilliant, inspiring speakers (okay I confess - I’m in it! – but it’ll be great anyway!).  It is on the 14th (girls) and 15th (boys) of October.  Go to www.steptothefuture.com for details.

 

National Mental Health Week this year is October 6th till 11th.  Although this falls in the school holidays, it is a good excuse to talk about or set projects on depression, anxiety and drug use in the first week back.  See www.reachout.com for fact sheets re: depression - use as discussion material.

 

Nominations are now open for Young Australian of the Year 2004.  If you know an outstanding and exceptional young Australia (16-25years) then go to www.australianoftheyear.gov.au and nominate them.

 

For a  list of all upcoming conferences in Australia on youth issues, go to a really helpful site: www.aifs.gov.au/institute/conf/confmenu.html

 

 

 

FORUM: How do I de-stress my Year 12 class?


My Year 12 home-class is very stressed with the upcoming exams.  Is there anything that I can do to help?

 

This time of year is difficult for students and teachers.  Different people respond well to different stress management techniques.  Here are a few ideas that might work in your class.

Discourage “stress-talk”.  Students talking repeatedly about how stressed they feel often increases their own and others’ tension levels.  If there is free time in home-group after notices, set a five minute discussion topic of interest (e.g. best stress relieving idea, favourite movie, best idea for holidays) instead of allowing the talk to descend into panic mode.  Put time aside for constructive problem solving.  Ask the class to share ideas about how to revise for exams, how to get projects handed up on time, how to find more effective time for study.  More than ever, students are receptive and interested in these  ideas.Ask the school counsellorto run a relaxation session at lunch time, in home group or even in classes.  Ten minutes of this kind of relaxation can set the scene for the day.  Encourage physical exercise.  In class run through a series of stretches.  Arrange a social game of soccer /basketball /netball for lunchtime.  Ask students to walk around the oval for 10 minutes at the beginning of the lesson.  Encourage help-seeking.  Compile a list of ph. numbers and email addresses of people who can help and support them. Look after yourself.  Teachers who are calm and relaxed inspire calm and relaxed students. Speak slowly.  Smile more than usual. Breathe deeply before you walk into class.  Without being trite, give positive and reassuring messages to students  - look them in the eye and say:  I believe in you guys.  I know you can do great things.  I know you will get through.  Hearing this message from you can be a powerful way of making it happen.  Best Wishes, Kirrilie

 

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Peer Education:  From Evidence to Practice – this is a useful report discussing peer education about drugs and alcohol.  Single copies are free from NCETA – ring 08 8201 7535 or go to www.nceta.flinders.edu.au

 

If you have a chance to do some reading over the school holidays, go to www.aifs.gov.au  On this site is a number of papers from the Aus. Institute of Family Studies latest conference.  Lots of interesting reading

 

An interesting discussion starting point for teenagers in classes is a survey of 500 teens conducted in NSW about their attitudes and opinions.  Go to www.kids.nsw.gov.au/exchange/13/youngconcerns.html

 

Ignite e-newsletter is a free monthly newsletter for enterprising young people.  It has info designed to help young people who are thinking of starting their own business, whether they are still at school or not.  To get on the list, email karen@youth2youth.com.au or go to www.youthtoyouth.com.au

 

Ideas about communicating to young people about drugs is available in a new report from the national drug campaign. See www.drugs.health.gov.au

 

 

 

INNOVATE SPECIAL

 

Sustain! is an email tutoring program for students to help them excel at school.  They get unlimited private email access to an adolescent psychologist for 12 months, plus a weekly email giving tips and ideas on how to study smarter.  The 12 months cost  is $99.  www.innovateonline.net for details

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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