Teen Social and Emotional Issues

Teen Suicide: A First-Person Message for ParentsFrom the Society for the Prevention of Teen SuicideI was not one of those parents who was unaware of her child's emotional distress. My son, Duke, a 21-year-old senior at college, complained that he...

Teen Suicide: Information for Parents From the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide One of the more difficult challenges of parenting is realizing that you don't always know what your children are thinking and feeling. You may be aware th...

Our expert recommends a professional therapist for an angry five-year-old who is threatening suicide. ...

The "Just Say No" Fallacy If your tween is like most, he swears he won't smoke, drink, take drugs, or have sex until he's married. He has learned that these things are very bad and can easily recite what happens to people who indulge in these ev...

The Family That Plays Together You will probably have an easy time remaining connected to your youngster if you genuinely enjoy the video games, skateboarding, carnivals, shopping malls, arcades, and movies that are the lifeblood of this age gro...

Conversing with Tweens It is important to continue talking to your tween about important issues even though he is silent, distracted, and preoccupied with people and events outside the family. Just don't expect him to respond with words — at ...

The Pressures on Adolescent Girls Adolescence is marked by an internal struggle between one's true self and a false projection of self, contends Mary Pipher, Ph.D., and author of Reviving Ophelia, Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls (G.P. Put...

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Do you know how to recognize the signs of depression in a teen? Take this quiz and find out! ...

Do you know how to look for warning signs of suicide? Take our quiz and find out. ...

When your adolescent child shows up for dinner with a mohawk and nose ring, or suddenly stops seeing his friends, what should you do? ...

The Scene: Your 18-year-old daughter and her date are invited to a pre-prom party at a friend's and several post-prom parties. You want her to have a wonderful time, but you're worried about her drinking. When you raise the issue with her, she ro...

How Do I Find the Right Help for My Troubled Daughter? With so many treatment options and professionals today, selecting the right help can be confusing. Here is a handy guide to help clarify credentials and therapies. A clinical social worker i...

Determining the Best Way to Approach Your Daughter Moms need to be up front and approach their daughters if they are concerned about a new newfound friendship group or boyfriend. The trick is in how you say it. One slip of the tongue and these...

Should I Snoop into My Daughter's Private Affairs? Building Blocks Excessive behavior that is socially destructive and characterized by fighting, stealing, arson, truancy, and leaving home is called a conduct disorder. Building Blocks Anorexia ...

What Teens Worry About Everyone has their stress points, and teens are no exception. Here's what they report makes them worry: What people think of them. Teens are very concerned that they “select” the right identity. They don't want to be ...

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When Your Daughter Hangs Out with the Wrong Crowd Explosives Dr. Johns has a warning: Mothers have to be careful not to overdo their involvement if the situation isn't serious. Smothering a daughter prevents her from finding and feeling capable...