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Just
for Teens-Assault Response & Care Centre It’s when:
High Risk? Think Safety First! Nobody wants to spoil the fun and everyone wants to have a good time. When you experiment with alcohol or drugs you need to have a safety plan so that unpleasant, unexpected or unwanted things do not happen to you.
Safety Plan for Drinking Never leave your drink unattended Watch the bartender mix your drink Know your limits Have a designated non-drinker with you or your group Don’t drink from a punch bowl If your drink has an unusual taste or color it may mean a drug has been slipped into it Safety Plan on a Date Be aware of your surroundings
Avoid secluded areas Trust your instincts Go on group dates with friends Always have your own way home in case of an emergency Don’t be afraid to say "NO" Problems teens report when drinking include:
Drunk teens raping or being raped Having unprotected sex Getting violent Being a victim of violence Consequences can include:
For more information on any of these issues please see the links below.
Depression is a clinical term used to describe a period of time when a person feels unhappy and very sad. In contrast to the normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states, clinical depression is persistent and can interfere significantly with an individual’s ability to function in daily life. Symptoms of depression can include:
Feelings of despair and hopelessness Feeling detached Continued fatigue / loss of energy Inability to concentrate at school or home Changes in eating patterns (overeating or loss of appetite) Changes in sleeping patterns (insomnia or excessive sleeping) Frequent headaches Frequent stomach problems Loss of interest in activities Thoughts of suicide
The Facts: Problems that cause teens to consider suicide:
Suicidal actions are often a cry for help and suicide can be
prevented if we watch for warning signs
such as:
If you are feeling depressed and/or having suicidal thoughts please talk to someone you trust and seek medical help and/or counselling to help you get through this. If you feel that you have nobody to talk to you can call a helpline such as the Kids Help Phone 1 800 668-6868.
Eating disorders are very complex problems that mostly develop in women but have been becoming more common in men as well. People develop eating disorders for many different reasons such as:
Anorexia is characterized by drastic weight loss due to excessive dieting which is usually accompanied by over exercising. People who are anorexic usually have a distorted image of what their body looks like so they have intense fears of gaining weight when they are already extremely thin and underweight. Signs and Symptoms
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by reoccurring episodes of binge eating followed by a form of purging such as self-induced vomiting, overuse of laxatives, excessive exercising, or fasting. People who are bulimic are usually within the normal weight range so it can be quite difficult to recognize bulimia most of the time. Signs and Symptoms
Self-harm is the act of causing deliberate physical harm to one’s body. Self injury can be caused many ways such as: cutting, burning, scratching, hair pulling, hitting, breaking bones, and preventing wounds from healing. It is usually not a suicide attempt but a way of finding relief and coping with overwhelming emotions. Self-harm also known as self injury or self abuse is most common among women especially youth. It is difficult to know just how common it is though because most injuries are not seen by a doctor as people who self-harm are usually very secretive about it.
Warning signs
If you are having problems dealing with your emotions and are injuring yourself try talking to someone you trust about what is going on. You can also get help from your doctor or a counsellor or find a support group in your area. For more information on any of these issues please see the links below.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health www.camh.net Canadian Mental Health Association www.ontario.cmha.ca Internet Safety www.kinsa.net Healthy Sexuality www.spiderbytes.ca Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans Youth Line www.youthline.ca Relationships/Dating Violence www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/owd/english/youthzone/preventing www.metrac.org/programs/info/replay.htm Manage stress, crisis and mental health problems Depression and Suicide Teen issues
Check out some of the programs offered by: Girls Inc. www.girlsinc-uppercanada.org Connect Youth Inc. www.connectyouth.ca YMCA www.brockvilley.com
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