Carla's blog

Teen depression and suicide is a troubling and widespread issue. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry reports suicide as the third leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds. Major depression is the most commonly associated mental disorder associated with suicide in troubled teens.

Today, teenage girls are increasingly at risk for substance abuse problems, early pregnancy, problems with the law, eating disorders, physical aggression or fighting, depression, and suicide.

As teens transition into adulthood, they learn to relate emotionally and physically to the opposite sex. Unfortunately, a growing issue in teenage relationships is dating abuse. Dating abuse among teens may involve physical violence, threats of violence, sexual assault, and verbal abuse. Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that approximately 1 in 5 females in grades 9 through 12 have experienced physical and/or sexual abuse by a dating partner.

Rebellious teen behavior can be disruptive to the entire family. Teenagers desire independence. They want to spend much less time with their families and more time with friends. They also want the power to make important decisions. Teenagers may disobey, challenge their parents, and breaks household rules.