Today’s teenagers have been stereotyped as adventurous and harebrained individuals.  They are generally fond of experimenting with things until they get in touch with drugs, sex, guns, alcohol among others. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures, 16,000 young adults die each year from unintentional injuries and accidents.  The most common justification for teenagers’ care-free attitude is that their brains just aren’t developed enough to know better. However, recent research shows that in some cases the fact is just the opposite, the brain matures not too slowly but perhaps, too quickly.

According to a psychiatrist, an adolescent who engages in more dangerous activities have white-matter pathways that seem to be more mature than those of risk-averse youths.  White-matter is the brain’s wiring, the neutral pathways that connect the various gray-matter regions of the cerebrum that are independent of one another.  Having a mature white-matter is necessary because it allows faster brain processing speed.  Nerve impulses also travel faster in mature white-matter. Experiments also reveal that the more mature the look of the brain, the more adventurous the teenager tended to be.
Another possible explanation is that some teenagers whose brains develop more rapidly than others become uncomfortable and a little confused owing to the gap between their biological capabilities and the social norms they must follow as kids. Precocious development of these neural tracts may make some adolescents more susceptible to engage in behaviors that society considers too adult in nature for their chronological age. It is also a common notion that teens make dumb decisions because their brains are immature. In other words, having a more mature brain may actually motivate some teens to try out new and potentially harmful experiences.
For now, these theories are mere speculation, and the researchers concede that the interaction of white and gray matter is so complex that hard conclusions remain elusive. The results of the study are relatively bare and by no means conclusive. The human brain is so intricate in nature, and one has to consider the fact that there are other factors that come into play such as the environment and certain genetic predispositions that are equally complex to study.

Suicide is one of the most complicated situations that a person can experience, either directly or indirectly. Having to deal with problems and issues either your own or someone else that you care about can be too much too handle. Oftentimes, help is needed in order to help someone who is having suicidal thoughts or someone who is dealing with depression. Good help about suicide is not hard to find, but some options are better than the others, so here is a list of good options.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national, 24-hour, and toll-free suicide prevention service available to all those in suicidal crisis who are seeking help. The network is comprised of more than 130 individual crisis centers across the country creating a nationwide coverage area.

Here you can browse through a database of suicide prevention programs, organized by state. (National Strategy for Suicide Prevention)

The goal of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is to understand and prevent suicide. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide and a variety of lay persons who have an interest in suicide prevention.

Bullying has a very real effect on the victims and sometimes it gets so bad that they choose the “easy way out”.

Children and adolescents are probably the most emotional, dramatic and vocal creatures on earth. They often over react and express their emotions verbally by making threats, cursing and sometimes they even resort to violent behavior, either hurting themselves or others. But how can parents know when their children’s threats mean something else, something serious that demands attention?

It is important to know why teens make threats in the first place in order to determine if they are just being overly dramatic or if they are on the verge of exploding. Here is a list of potentially dangerous threats that should at least be taken seriously.

* threats or warnings about hurting or killing someone

* threats or warnings about hurting or killing oneself

* threats to run away from home

* threats to damage or destroy property

It is very difficult to predict teen behavior based on what they say alone, thats why it is important to review and reflect on their past behaviors. There are a few predictors that parents should look for. Past and current behaviors and other factors that can increase the risk of violent and dangerous behavior include:

* past violent or aggressive behavior (including uncontrollable angry outbursts)

* access to guns or other weapons

* bringing a weapon to school

* past suicide attempts or threats

* family history of violent behavior or suicide attempts

* blaming others and/or unwilling to accept responsibility for one’s own actions

* recent experience of humiliation, shame, loss, or rejection

* bullying or intimidating peers or younger children

* a pattern of threats

* being a victim of abuse or neglect (physical, sexual, or emotional)

* witnessing abuse or violence in the home

* themes of death or depression repeatedly evident in conversation, written expressions, reading selections, or artwork

* preoccupation with themes and acts of violence in TV shows, movies, music, magazines, comics, books, video games, and Internet sites

* mental illness, such as depression, mania, psychosis, or bipolar disorder

* use of alcohol or illicit drugs

* disciplinary problems at school or in the community (delinquent behavior)

* past destruction of property or vandalism

* cruelty to animals

* fire setting behavior

* poor peer relationships and/or social isolation

* involvement with cults or gangs

* little or no supervision or support from parents or other caring adult

The best course of action to take when a teen threatens to do something violent or dangerous either to himself or others is to not dismiss or ignore it. They have something to say and it maybe caused by their reaction to something that is worth checking into like bullying or abuse. Most of the teens who make threats need the attention and love and if that doesn’t work, there are interventions and programs that can help them.

Common Signs of Depression in Teens

* A once jovial child may become inward and isolated.
* A child may become tearful or irritable.
* A child may say negative things about herself and display a low self-esteem.
* You may notice a decline in grades at school.
* A child wants to sleep more than usual.
* You may notice a sudden weight change (either losing or gaining).
* With severe depression, your child may talk about not wanting to live anymore.

Helping a Child with Depression

* Try talking to your teen about problems that may be bothering her. An open communication is key so that they knows they has someone on their side, who is willing to listen and offer advice.
* If your child shows signs of severe depression, such as talking about suicide or running away from home, consult with your doctor. In severe cases, an antidepressant will be prescribed. Counseling may also be recommended either on an individual basis, with family, or both.
* After talking with your child, a solution as simple as rearranging her daily routine will help with stressors in her life. For instance, if she is no longer interested in gymnastic lessons, that may be something that can be dropped, and relieve your child of that stress. Or, maybe your teen needs to have an earlier bedtime so she can achieve a better night’s sleep.
* Talking with your child’s teachers about classroom behaviors may shine some light onto why she is feeling depressed, and simple modifications can be made, like sitting in a different seat.