Article

Adolescence can be a difficult time in a teen’s life. During this period of

growth and development teens experience a range of emotions. Some of the

emotions that teenager’s go through are very hard to bear and almost impossible to

deal with. Depression and anger is the most common and they take their toll on a

teen and in some cases it can lead to suicide. About 8 out of every 100,000 teenagers

committed suicide in 2000. Teen girls and boys are both at risk for suicide. Teen

girls are more likely to attempt suicide, but teenage boys are four to five times more

likely to die by suicide. Guns inflict over half of teen suicide deaths. Teen suicide is a

major cause of death among teens, though many do not recognize suicide as a

serious threat to a teenager’s well being.

Almost twenty years teenage depression was almost none existent and

unknown. It now has the fastest rate of grow in young teens. Depression is the most

common mental health disorder in the United States among teens and adults, and

can have a serious impact on the lives of the many teens that suffer from depression.

Some people just think that the rush of hormones they teens get during puberty is

the cause for all the emotion witch is wrong. Teens can have bad life events that

affected them in the past. Depression and anger can be trigged by a lot. Trauma,

mental and physical abuse, relationships, and even sexual orientation can have a

very strong emotional effect on a young teenager. Teen depression can affect a teen

regardless of gender, social background, income level, race, or school or other

achievements, though teenage girls report suffering from depression more often

than teenage boys. Teenage boys are less likely to seek help or recognize that they

suffer from depression, probably due to different social expectations for boys and

girls. Girls are encouraged to express their feelings while boys are not.

During teenage years peer pressured can be a really big problem. Teens my

encourage others to use drugs or drink alcohol. Peer pressure does not work

as well on kids with healthy self-esteem and actively involved parents.

Teens with higher self-esteem are less likely to get involved with

drugs. A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Child

Health and Human Development demonstrated that actively involved

parents who knew their children’s friends and had regular

conversations with their children improved their ability to deal with

teen peer pressure.

Also parents should always get involved it helping your teen. If

you are concerned that peer pressure is having a negative impact on

your teens, don’t wait! Sit and talk with your teens now. Let them

know that you are interested in what is happening in their lives. Ask

about their friends. Ask them how school is going. Remind them that

you are there if they have problems they need to work through. Let

them know how proud you are of them and how much you love them.

Also a loving family and good friend is all that teenagers really need.

According to the study, teens that only eat dinner at home with their

families twice a week or less were more likely to try marijuana, smoke

a cigarette, or try alcohol compared with teens who eat at home more

regularly. Even if your teen is involved in sports and doesn’t make it

home in time for a regular meal, just sitting with him or her while she

eats and listening to your teen talk about his or her day can make a

difference. The more you are there, the more that you show you are

interested in your teen’s life, the more likely they will be to make

good choices when peer pressure is at its worst. Overall the emotions

of teenagers is a very compelx thing that needs the help of others at

times.