Parent, Sibling Military Deployment Raises Drug Abuse Risk in Teens

Youngsters whose parents or siblings have been deployed are more likely than their peers to use alcohol and drugs, says a new study.

BY AMBER MOORE

Youngsters whose parents or siblings have been deployed are more likely than their peers to use alcohol and drugs, says a new study.

The study included 14,000 children who were between grades 5 and 11. The participants were enrolled in the 2011 California Healthy Kids Survey. The survey asked the children if their parents or siblings were in the military and if they (the children) had used alcohol or drugs in the past 30 days.

Study results showed that youth, whose parents or siblings were deployed, were at 14 percent higher risk of abusing drugs than other people. Researchers found that military deployment of parents or siblings increased both recent and lifetime use of drugs, but not smoking.

"Everyone talks about the impact of parents, but no one talks about the impact of other close family members, such as siblings. There is research to suggest that the deployment of a sibling is similarly disruptive as parental deployment. Parental concern may influence their interactions with the younger sibling who is left to cope with their own sense of loss as well as their parents'," said Tamika Gilreath, Ph.D., from University of Southern California's School of Social Work, lead author of the study.

More than 2 million children in the U.S. have been affected by military deployment of their parents. These children are at a high risk of suffering from behavioral problems, sleeping disorders and higher stress. These children are also likely to suffer from declining grades and child maltreatment, according to a related study that was focused on psychiatric influence of military deployment of a parent.

"This study is timely because recently, there has been greater focus on the effects of deployment on veterans and their families and this focus has stimulated data collection among this population so that we can better understand the issues," said Randi Alter, Ph.D., of the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, who was not involved in the study, according to a press release.

Researchers recommended that schools that have a high density of students whose parents are deployed overseas must include education on substance use in their curricula.

The study is published in the American Journal of Preventive Health.

Brain and Addiction

How Does Someone Become Addicted to Drugs?

Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things.

The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure. The reward circuitry is activated—with dopamine carrying the message. Of course, drugs have other effects, too; a first-time smoker also may cough and feel nauseated from toxic chemicals in a tobacco or marijuana cigarette.

But the brain starts changing as a result of the unnatural flood of neurotransmitters. Because they sense more than enough dopamine, neurons may begin to reduce the number of dopamine receptors or simply make less dopamine. The result is less dopamine signaling in the brain, what the scientists call “down regulation.” Because some drugs are toxic, some neurons also may die.

As a result, dopamine’s ability to activate circuits to cause pleasure is severely weakened. The person feels flat, lifeless, and depressed. In fact, without drugs, life may seem joyless. Now the person needs drugs just to bring dopamine levels up to normal. Larger amounts of the drug are needed to create a dopamine flood, or “high”—an effect known as “tolerance.”

These brain changes drive a person to seek out and use drugs compulsively, despite negative consequences such as stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems brought on by drug abuse—this is addiction.

Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genetic makeup, the genes that make each of us who we are, and the environment each play a role. What we do know is that a person who uses drugs risks becoming addicted, craving the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences.

Isn’t Drug Addiction a Voluntary Behavior?

A person may start out taking drugs voluntarily, but as time passes and drug use continues, something happens that makes a person go from being a voluntary drug user to a compulsive drug user. Why? Because the continued use of drugs changes how your brain functions. It impairs your ability to think clearly, to feel OK without drugs, and to control your behaviors. These all contribute to the compulsive drug seeking and use that is addiction.

Isn’t Becoming Addicted to a Drug Just a Character Flaw?

The first time people use drugs, it’s usually a conscious decision they’ve made. But once people become addicted, they are dealing with a brain disease. Each drug of abuse has its own individual way of changing how the brain functions. But in most cases, it doesn’t really matter which drug a person is addicted to; many of the effects it has on the brain are similar. The fact is that our brains are wired to make sure we will repeat activities, like eating, by associating those activities with pleasure or reward. Whenever this reward circuit is activated, the brain notes that something important is happening that needs to be remembered, and teaches us to do it again and again, without thinking about it. Because drugs of abuse stimulate the same circuit, we learn to abuse drugs in the same way. So while the initial decision to take drugs is a choice for some, a physical need replaces that choice. This is what’s known as addiction.

Are There Effective Treatments for Drug Addiction?

Yes, although there is no cure for drug addiction yet. Addiction is a treatable, but often chronic disease. And just as with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease, people learn to manage their condition, sometimes with the help of medications. People addicted to drugs can do the same. Drug addiction can be effectively treated with behavioral-based therapies in which people learn to change their behavior; and, for addiction to some drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or other opiate drugs, medications can help. Treatment will vary for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the individual’s specific circumstances. For many people with drug addictions, multiple courses of treatment may be needed to achieve success. Scientific research has revealed 13 basic principles that are the foundation for effective drug addiction treatment. These are discussed in NIDA's Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.

For Drug Treatment To Work, Doesn't the Person Have To Really Want It?

Most people go into drug treatment either because the court ordered them to do so, or because loved ones urged them to seek treatment. The good news is that, according to scientific studies, people who enter drug treatment programs in which they face “high” pressure" to deal with their addiction can benefit from treatment, regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place.

Shouldn't Treatment for Drug Addiction Be a One-Shot Deal?

No—it’s like treating a broken bone. Like diabetes and even asthma, drug addiction typically is a chronic disorder. Some people can quit drug use “cold turkey,” or they can quit after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation facility. But most who have become addicted to drugs need longer term treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments—much like a person who has developed asthma needs to constantly monitor changes in medication and exercise. The important point is that even when someone relapses, they should not give up hope. Rather they need to go back to treatment or modify their current treatment. In fact, setbacks are likely. Even people with diabetes may go off their diet or miss an insulin injection, and their symptoms will recur—that’s a cue to get back on track, not to view treatment as a failure.

How Do I Know if Someone Has a Drug Problem?

There are questions people can ask to assess whether or not a person has a drug problem. These do not necessarily indicate that someone is addicted, but answering yes to any of these questions may suggest a developing problem, which could require follow-up with a professional drug treatment specialist. These include:

1. Have you ever ridden in a car driven by someone (including yourself) who had been using alcohol or drugs?
2. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, to feel better about yourself, or to fit in?
3. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs when you are alone?
4. Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
5. Do family or friends ever tell you to cut down on your use of alcohol or drugs?
6. Have you ever gotten into trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?

Surviving: Coping With Adolescent Depression and Suicide: Guidelines for Parents

A 19-year-old college sophomore finished his term paper, asked his roommate to hand it in, and then drove himself to a park and rigged his car’s exhaust pipe with a hose to the inside of his car. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning, leaving a note that asked his family for forgiveness because he “could not

go on.” Like many other teens he seemed happy, well-adjusted, and high achieving.

But inside him was an unhappiness and depression so great that the only solution he could see was suicide.

This is not an isolated incident. Children, teenagers, and young adults are killing themselves at rising rates.Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people 15 to 24 years old, and it appears to be on the rise. According to a 1991 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, 27% of high school students thought about suicide, 16% had a plan, and 8% made an attempt. The Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration has declared adolescent suicide as a national mental health problem.

Why do teens kill themselves? Experts cite divorce, family violence, the breakdown of the family unit, stress to perform and achieve, and even the threat of AIDS as factors that contribute to the higher suicide rate. More than 50% of teens who commit suicide also have a history of alcohol and drug use. Stressful life events, such as the loss of a significant person or school failure, often trigger suicides among teens.

Depression plays a role

To better understand the cause of adolescent suicide, one must look past the surface to figure out what is going on inside the suicidal teen’s head. Many teens who are considering suicide suffer from depression. People who work with depressed teens see a common theme of unhappiness, as well as feelings of inner turmoil, chaos, and low self-worth. Also hopelessness and anger often contribute to adolescent suicide.

One study found that 90% of suicidal adolescents believed that their fami- lies did not understand them. These teens felt alone and anonymous. They also believed that their parents either denied or ignored their attempts to communi- cate feelings of unhappiness, frustration, or failure. Some parents view depres- sion and complaining as weaknesses, so they encourage their children to be strong and not to show their emotions. Suicidal teens often feel that their emo- tions are played down, not taken seriously, or met with hostility by the people around them.

One pediatrician who counsels suicidal adolescents said they often talk about how hopeless everything seems. They often feel that they are not in control, as an example, not in control over the direction of their lives.

Depressed teens may be drawn to others who feel as they do forming a bond of hopelessness and despair. Some popular music reflects these feelings of alienation, self-destructive rage, and thoughts about suicide.

Adolescents need to learn that with treatment, depression ends. However, a teen who is experiencing deep depression for the first time may not be able to focus on that. Something that may seem trivial to a parent or teacher may crush an adolescent who is already in a fragile emotional state—so much so that he or she is unable to think clearly and see a way out of the problem. The teen may then see suicide as the only choice.

Adolescent suicide is treatable and preventable

People who are depressed and thinking about suicide often show changes in their behavior. These changes in behavior are usually an outgrowth of depres- sion and are warning signs. If your teen shows these warning signs, please talk to her about her concerns and have her get help if the warning signs continue. • Noticeablechangesineatingorsleepinghabits

• Unexplained,orunusuallysevere,violentorrebelliousbehavior • Withdrawalfromfamilyorfriends • Runningaway • Persistentboredomand/ordifficultyconcentrating

• Drugand/oralcoholabuse • Unexplaineddropinthequalityofschoolwork • Unusualneglectofappearance • Drasticpersonalitychange • Complaintsofphysicalproblemsthatarenotreal • Afocusonthemesofdeath • Giving away prized possessions • Talking about suicide or making plans, even jokingly • Threatening or attempting to kill oneself

Before committing suicide, people often threaten to kill themselves. These threats should always be taken seriously, as should previous suicide attempts. Most people who commit suicide have made at least one previous attempt.

Asking your teen whether he is depressed or is thinking about suicide lets him know that someone cares. You’re not putting thoughts of suicide into his head. Instead you’re giving your teen the chance to talk about his problems.

Remember that depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disor- ders. The first step is to listen to your adolescent. A professional must then diagnose your teen’s illness and determine a proper treatment plan. Your teen needs to share her feelings, and many suicidal teens are pleading for help in their own way. Your teen needs to feel that there is hope-that people will listen, that things will get better, and that she can overcome her problems.

Parents and friends can help a depressed teen through the following strategies: 1. Talk, ask questions, and be willing to really listen. Don’t dismiss your teen’s problems as unimportant. Parents and other influential adults should never

make fun of or ignore an adolescent’s concerns, especially if they matter a

great deal to her and are making her unhappy. 2. Behonest.Ityou’reworriedaboutyourteen,sayso.Youwillnotspark

thoughts of suicide just by asking about it.3. Shareyourfeelings.Letyourteenknowhe’snotalone.Everyonefeelssad or depressed at times.

4. Gethelpforyourteenandyourself.Talktoyourpediatrician,teacher,coun- selor, clergy, or other trained professional. Don’t wait for the problem to “go away.” Although feelings of sadness and depression can disappear as quickly as they came, they can also build to the point that an adolescent thinks of suicide as the only way out. Be careful not to assume that your teen’s problems have been so easily solved.

A teen attempting suicide should immediately be taken to a hospital emergency room for a psychiatric evaluation. If a depressed adolescent is assessed to be safe to go home, it’s a good idea to remove from your home any lethal, accessible means to commit suicide, such as medications, firearms, razors, knives, etc.

Sources of help

There are many sources of information to help troubled teens and their fami- lies. Often a pediatrician, who has charted the adolescent’s physical and emo- tional progress since infancy, is in the best position to detect and help treat adolescent depression. Your teen may, however, need additional counseling.

Check the Yellow Pages in your city for the phone numbers of local suicide hot lines, crisis centers, and mental health centers.

The following organizations can also supply information on suicide prevention:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3615 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016 202/966-7300

American Association of Suicidology 4201 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20008 202/237-2280

American Psychiatric Association 1400 K St, NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20005 202/682-6000

Teens Who Self-Harm

By MARIE HARTWELL-WALKER, ED.D

Sandy’s mother, Lily, is beside herself. “I didn’t notice anything was wrong all winter,” she said. “Oh, she was quieter than usual and her grades weren’t the best. But we moved last fall and I figured she was just adjusting. Last week, though, spring really came on with 80-degree days and she insisted on wearing a wool sweater to school. Sandy got furious when I told her to go change. I’ve never seen her that upset! Three days of long sleeved shirts and I finally caught on. I’d heard about this, of course. But I never thought my daughter would be doing it. There are scars all up and down her arms!” Lily was doing her best to hold back tears. “Sandy wouldn’t come here with me. She won’t talk to me. What can I do?”
Lily is upset and bewildered. She can’t understand why her beautiful, accomplished 14-year-old would do something so self-destructive and painful. She feels terrible that her daughter is hurting herself. She feels terribly guilty that she didn’t notice something that has apparently been going on for months.
Sadly, Lily’s daughter is not alone. Self-harm has become far more common than most parents suspect. Some studies show that 2 to 3 million Americans engage in some form of self-injury (cutting, burning, or striking themselves to the point of soft tissue damage) each year. There are people who self-harm at every age, socio-economic, and ethnic group.
Why do kids do it? Often they learn from peers that it can be a way to actually feel better. They may then read about it on the Internet. Sometimes it starts as an experiment; sometimes as as a response to a dare. Sometimes a group of kids try it out as a way to be cool. Sometimes it really does begin with an accidental injury. And, rarely, it’s the result of a failed suicide attempt.
That last possibility especially terrifies parents. But kids who self-harm generally are not looking for a way to end life. They are actually looking for a way to end emotional pain, Some have found that hurting themselves brings their anxiety and stress down to a manageable level. Others, who have learned to dissociate (distance themselves from their bodies and minds) when under stress, find that the pain of inflicting injury brings them back in touch with themselves. Self-injury for these kids is a way to stay alive.
Contrary to what some adults believe, self-harming is rarely a bid for attention. Most of these kids are ashamed of what they do and do their best to hide it. Ironically, the energy needed to keep it a secret only adds another stress. Some are mentally ill and although some may suffer from depression, most do not. The most common mental health diagnosis for a teen who self-injures is borderline personality disorder. For kids who self-injure, hurting themselves has become a primary coping skill in the face of challenging feelings or situations. Often these kids have also learned that their feelings are wrong or bad. Often they never developed less drastic ways to deal with stress.
Self-harmers need to be understood, not scolded. They need to unlearn the idea that their feelings are “wrong” and learn that it’s okay to feel them. Most important, they need to learn new ways to manage stress and emotions that they find overwhelming.
When asked a few questions about Sandy’s history, Lily revealed that she left her husband last summer after years of verbal abuse. “From the time Sandy was little, he’d yell at her that she was too sensitive whenever she cried. He would threaten that he’d give her something to cry about if she didn’t stop. He never actually hit her but I never knew if maybe this time he would. It was hard enough for me to put up with his rages but after a while, I couldn’t stand watching what he was doing to our daughter. When a possibility for a transfer with a raise came about, I just packed us both up and left. Funny thing is, she misses her dad.”
Since Sandy won’t hear of coming to therapy, my job is to coach her mother. Lily needs to know that we can work as a team and that I don’t see her as a neglectful mom. Sandy has put a good face on the move and has even expressed how relieved she is to be out of all the family fighting. Meanwhile, Lily has been caught up with learning a new job and doing the thousand things that go with settling into a new town – from learning where to shop to finding a new doctor and dentist for them both. It’s no wonder to me that discovering that her daughter is cutting is a surprise and a shock. It often is.

Lily’s first step is simply to validate Sandy’s feelings. It’s a reasonable guess that she both misses her dad and is angry with him; that she is glad her mother got her out of the situation, but feels guilty that she is glad. She both loves her mother and is angry with her for not only taking her away from her father but for taking her away from her home, her school, and her friends. It probably makes no sense to her that she is feeling all those feelings at once. Complicating things further is that she was raised by her dad to think that her sensitivities are somehow wrong.
Lily needs to let her daughter know that she understands how overwhelming and confusing the move has probably been for her and that there are ways to handle her feelings that don’t put her at risk of giving herself a serious wound or leave her with permanent scars. Yes, Lily needs to be the mom. But she can also let Sandy know that the reason she can be understanding is that sometimes she also feels mad and glad and sad about the move and wishes there had been another way to make things better.
Once Sandy feels supported and heard by her mom, I’m hopeful that she will come to the next appointment. If not, Lily can still be coached to help her daughter learn new ways to discharge the emotional buildup that happens when she keeps suppressing her feelings. We can teach her that physical exercise (dancing, running, going to the gym) can release the same relieving endorphins into her system that cutting does. We can teach her other ways to relax like taking a warm bath, listening to music or making art. And we can give her some coping skills. Deep breathing or washing her hands or or getting a cold drink of water can calm her while she works to get the urge to hurt herself under control. Most important, we can help her learn to value her feelings by keeping a journal and talking to her mom or a friend or even to me.
While all this is going on, Sandy also may need a little help fitting in with her new school and making friends. Lily had lost sight of how hard it is for a kid to move in the eighth grade. She agreed that she could be more encouraging about having other kids hang out at her place and be a little less focused on grades for now.
I’m certain that before we’re finished, we’ll also need to at least attempt to involve Sandy’s dad. She doesn’t miss his rages but there is more to him than a walking ball of anger. There were good times too. She loves the dad who shot hoops with her in the backyard and who joked around with her when he was feeling good. My guess is that he’s a guy who can’t tolerate his own feelings and who hated feeling out of control when his daughter cried. Perhaps if he feels understood, he’ll be open to working on himself and his relationship with his daughter. Lily is okay with the idea as long as she has assurance that we’ll prepare Sandy to deal with disappointment if her dad doesn’t respond.
Coaching Sandy’s mom like this may work. Not all “therapy” happens in an office. A loving mother who can listen, stay calm, and offer some practical advice can also give a young person exactly what she needs. Learning some concrete ways to be helpful and having some support gives Lily hope and focus. She’s highly motivated to do the best she can for her daughter.
If this method doesn’t work – or doesn’t work enough – my hope is that Lily’s efforts will help Sandy eventually feel okay about getting some additional support. She might come to see a therapist, alone or with her mom, or she might be more comfortable joining a support group with other teens who are struggling to learn how to manage strong and sometimes contradictory feelings. Whatever path therapy takes, she’ll know her mom is there to help.
For more information about self-harming, go to Psych Central’s list of links to resources.

S. Jersey teen's tale of anorexia and struggle

By David O'Reilly

Shannon Maher was 14 and nervous about starting high school. So she decided to "lose a few pounds."

She came close to losing her life.

Four months into her diet, she overate last year at a Christmas party. That night in the mirror she saw "this horribly disgusting, fat person staring back at me."

Shannon made herself vomit, and her young life took a new course.

"The feeling I got afterward was amazing," the Gloucester Catholic High School sophomore recalled recently. "I could eat and make myself get rid of it. I never felt so much power. It became a regular thing."

After reaching her goal weight she continued to purge and "restrict" nourishment, sometimes consuming no more in a day than a granola bar.

"Are you eating?" her mother would ask. "Yeah, yeah," she'd reply.

It was a disastrous course that could have ended with a fatal heart attack had the Washington Township teenager's mother not taken her for an unrelated physical exam in April. When Shannon came back for follow-up a week later, her doctor was shocked to discover the 5-foot-1 girl had lost 10 pounds.

Shannon was anorexic, the doctor said, and needed immediate intervention.

"I broke down," Shannon recalled. "I said, 'Mom, I never intended it to get this far.' "

Is Mental Illness a Bigger Threat to Kids than Physical Illness?

By Lisa Firestone

As parents, our children's health ranks among our top priorities. When fall arrives and flu season begins, we notice every cough and feel for signs of fever. But how attuned are we to mental health symptoms in our kids? When do we first notice that our child may be suffering emotionally or engaging in behavior that is out of the ordinary? How can we tell if our children may be struggling and could benefit from psychological help?

October 1 is Child Health Day, an event intended to raise awareness of how we can improve and protect our children's health. In July, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published findings that "For the first time in more than 30 years, mental health conditions have displaced physical illnesses as the top five disabilities in U.S. children." According to the American Psychological Association (APA), "One out of every ten children or adolescents has a serious mental health problem, and another 10% have mild to moderate problems." The National Institute of Mental Health has further reported that "half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14." These statistics make it apparent that it's time we start taking children's mental health more seriously. We must not only target the causes but actively seek solutions and treatment approaches that will help, rather than hurt, the well-being of our children.

According to the JAMA article, "Nearly 8% of children have an activity-limiting disability." Why is this the case? Many of us are concerned about how today's fast-paced and uber-competitive social and economic climate affects our children. In this culture, kids face an extreme amount of pressure to develop quickly. At younger and younger ages, we aim to prepare our kids to enter a competitive world, academically, professionally, and interpersonally. Neal Halfon, MD, MPH, director of the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities has suggested that "The conveyor belt [to adulthood] that we put our children on is moving much faster and at a much sharper incline than it used to... And many kids don't have the capacity to hold on for dear life and make it to the top."

Other factors the JAMA article cited as possibly contributing to the increase in mental health concerns in children include a "rise in premature births and subsequent risks for neuro-developmental disorders or exposure to new or more environmental toxins during pregnancy and early childhood." The JAMA article further reported that "A growing body of research has found that developmental disorders such as ADHD have complex etiologies with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors." Additionally, adverse events in childhood such as abuse and neglect usually cause both emotional and physical problems that linger throughout a person's life.

Catching mental illness and intervening earlier in childhood may heighten the likelihood of a better outcome in adulthood . The consequences of mental health problems for adults can be even more severe and taxing than physical ailments, getting in the way of successes, relationships and personal goals. Many psychological ailments can even lead to heightened medical risks. For example, chronic stress has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease.

Because the stakes are so high, how we treat these "disabilities" is as important as identifying what causes them in the first place. There are some serious concerns about medicating young children. A study published in August in the Archives of General Psychiatry showed that "antipsychotic treatment has increased especially rapidly among young people, and recently antipsychotics have been prescribed in approximately the same proportion of youth and adult visits to psychiatrists." A large amount of the medications prescribed did not include a diagnosis for which the antipsychotic had FDA approval for the patient age group.

The implications of these facts are frightening. Children are being prescribed medications that are not only uncertain to cure their symptoms but have the potential to create new problems and concerns. Anti-psychotic medications must be administered carefully, with serious consideration and the close monitoring of a mental health professional. Many of these drugs are being given to young boys with "behavior problems" with no real knowledge of their short or long-term effects. As long as we lack the data to show the effects of these medications, we take great risks in prescribing them to our kids.

Where drugs come with inherent risks, the value of therapy cannot be overstated when it comes to helping our children become mentally healthy.

As with many physical and psychological ailments, we can medicate to treat symptoms, but without getting to the source of the problem, we reduce our children's chances of recovering from or coping with a mental health disorder. It can be difficult for parents or caretakers to identify mental health problems in their kids, and it can be even more difficult for them to seek help. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) lists some signs and symptoms to look for in children that could help determine whether to seek psychological help. The AACAP also introduces different types of psychotherapy that can be extremely beneficial to children and adolescents who are struggling with psychological issues.

If we fail to respond appropriately and in a timely manner, we lead our children down a path where their mental health problems are sure to worsen. This is not only bad for our kids but for society as a whole. So how do we improve the mental healthcare of children? We can start by asking questions and educating ourselves. We can take more of an interest in psychology and fight to de-stigmatize mental health conditions.

With the help of the non-profit mental health organization, The Glendon Association, we were able to launch the website, PsychAlive.org, with the goal of offering free resources and education to parents, families, couples, and individuals, introducing them to key psychological concepts that impact us in our everyday lives. Raising awareness and learning more about mental health will help us to notice and identify symptoms in our children sooner. By paying attention and educating ourselves, we can intervene early and get our kids the most effective treatment possible. We can demand better resources and care for children and families who are in psychological distress and build a better future for all of our children.

More Than Half A Million U.S. Teens Have Had Eating Disorders, Study Finds

By LINDSEY TANNER

CHICAGO -- More than half a million U.S. teens have had an eating disorder but few have sought treatment for the problem, government research shows.

The study is billed as the largest and most comprehensive analysis of eating disorders. It involved nationally representative data on more than 10,000 teens aged 13 to 18.

Binge-eating disorder was the most common, affecting more than 1.5 percent of kids studied. Just under 1 percent had experienced bulimia, and 0.3 percent had had anorexia. Overall, 3 percent had a lifetime prevalence of one of the disorders. Another 3 percent of kids questioned had troubling symptoms but not full-fledged eating disorders.

The study was released online Monday in Archives of General Psychiatry.

The rates are slightly higher than in other studies. And the study is based on kids and parents interviewed over two years ending in 2004. But co-author and researcher Kathleen Merikangas of the National Institute of Mental Health says similar rates likely exist today.

More than half the affected teens had depression, anxiety or some other mental disorder. Sizeable numbers also reported suicide thoughts or attempts.

Merikangas said the results underscore the seriousness of eating disorders.

1 in 25 US teenagers has attempted suicide, new Harvard study finds

Harvard University researchers say the teenage years are a particularly vulnerable time, as the latest findings suggest 12 percent of teens have thought about suicide.

About one in 25 U.S. teens has attempted suicide, and one in eight has thought about it, according to a national study based on interviews with thousands of teenagers.

Researchers, whose findings appeared in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, said the figures suggest that the teenage years are an especially vulnerable time.

"What adults say is, the highest risk time for first starting to think about suicide is in adolescence," said Matthew Nock, a psychologist who worked on the study at Harvard University.

The results are based on in-person interviews of close to 6,500 teens in the United States and questionnaires filled out by their parents. Along with asking youths about their suicidal thinking, plans and attempts, interviewers also determined which teens fit the bill for a range of mental disorders.

Just over 12 percent of the teens had thought about suicide. Four percent had made a suicide plan and four percent had attempted suicide.

Nock and his colleagues found that almost all teens who thought about or attempted suicide had a mental disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

More than half of the youths were already in treatment when they reported suicidal behavior, which Nock said was both encouraging and disturbing.

"We know that a lot of the kids who are at risk and thinking about suicide are getting (treatment)," he said. However, "We don't know how to stop them — we don't have any evidence-based treatments for suicidal behavior."

The findings leave many questions unanswered.

Because most youth who think about suicide never go on to make an actual plan or attempt, doctors need to get better at figuring out which ones are most at risk of putting themselves in danger, according to Nock.

Once those youths are identified, researchers will also have to determine the best way to treat them, since it's clear a lot of current methods aren't preventing suicidal behavior, he said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24, killing about 4,6000 young people annually.

Although girls are more likely to attempt suicide - a pattern confirmed by Nock's study - boys have higher rates of death by suicide because they typically choose more deadly methods, such as guns.

Reporting by Genevra Pittman in New York.