Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

Life Cycle Issues:

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care
for Adolescents
Cherilyn Helguera
Pacific Oaks College
April 14, 2015

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

My research is focused on recommendations regarding life cycles of adolescents for

preventive care. Adolescent issues have been broadened in the past thirty years. The
proportion of 15/16 year olds reporting that they frequently feel anxious or depressed has
doubled in the last 30 years, from 1 in 30 to 2 in 30 for boys and 1 in 10 to 2 in ten for
girls (Nuffield Foundation, 2015).
By making resources available through technology, it can assist in the improvement of
injury, death, and health-care problems. Internet accessibility is largely used through
school and home computers, tablets, as well as smart phones. Adolescents are able to
locate resources easily, but reliability of these resources is questionable.
Most adolescents use social media to locate information, but without specific
guidelines, they will venture into misinformation. About three in four (74%) teens ages
12-17 say they access the internet on cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices
(Teens and Technology, 2013). Accessing a site that has multiple links to preventive care
towards targeted issues for adolescents would be a more viable resource then trying to
search the web.
Many adolescents experience a need for support in many aspects of physical and
mental health. Accessing these resources can be conflicting by adolescents locating viable
resources. American Academy of Pediatrics as well as Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention have web pages dedicated to providing resources for adolescents for
prevention of life cycle issues. Unfortunately, most teens use internet resources such as;
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google, and Bing. Most of these resources are misleading
to teens. Not utilizing correct resources can lead to further frustration.

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

Having a collaboration of resources on one particular site could allow adolescents to

find reliable resources. Also, free general and mental health services to teens could opt
them to independently receive these services. Preventive care is what we need to
minimize injury, health-care problems, and death. My recommendations are:

Sports

Clubs

Church Youth Groups

Internships/Jobs

Counseling

Nutritionist

Fitness Trainer

Violence Support Center

Substance Abuse Support Center

Suicide Resource Center

Some preventive recommendations are easily accessible within the adolescents high
school. Extra curricular activities such as; sports and clubs can offer a positive outlet to
teens. Clubs such as; theatre, international, science, digital art, and math are readily
available within the adolescents high school. There are various activities that allow teens
to interact and build peer and adult relationships. By participating in a common activity
builds trust, which allows teens to share life issues that can be resolved through peer and
teacher mediation.
Jodi Grant, Executive Director for Afterschool Alliance stated, Students need more
than a strong curriculum, good teachers, and time in the classroom to succeed.

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

Afterschool programs have long known that they can embrace the hours between the time
school closes and parents return from work to provide children, especially those who
dont have access to other activities, with exciting, engaging experiences that will help
them learn academic, social and professional skills. The research is clear: children in
quality afterschool programs are more likely to come to school and stay in school, more
likely to hand in their work and get better grades (Strauss, Valerie The Washington Post,
2015). Building relationships under a common community will enhance teens desires to
do well in school as well as increase their self-esteem.
Another form of social groups is Church Youth Groups. NCFIC spokesman Adam
McManus says, the teachings in Scripture are not being taught accurately enough in
youth groups and that they are not engaging youth (Christian Today, 2013). Some of
these youth groups look more to entertaining adolescents than focusing on the Bible.
Most teens are curious to religion and would do well just being apart of a traditional
Bible study. By participating in youth groups or Bible studies allow adolescents to create
and build morals and values that most likely are not evident in their personal life.
Internships and employment for adolescents can assist in improving self-confidence,
combat depression, and improve health (mental and physical). By participating in
internship programs it allows the adolescent to be in an adult environment with
responsibility. Feeling needed and accepted will bring a sense of pride that could be
lacking in their life. Having these opportunities will provide career experience as well as
job skills that were not available before.
Every 26 seconds, a student drops out of high school. In the United States, high school
dropouts commit about 75% of crimes and, over the course of their lives, dropouts will

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

earn $260,000 less than their counterparts who graduate from high school (After School
Matters, 2014). Providing and encouraging adolescents to participate will keep these
teens from wrongful activities that could lead to dropping out of high school and lead to
violence and substance abuse.
In order to deter from violence, substance abuse, and body image concerns counseling
is a plausible path. Home life for adolescents can be a hidden burden when the signs
are not recognizable. Symptoms of depression include the inability to locate enjoyable
activities excessive sadness or unhappiness, a change in appetite and weight, physical
agitation, visible fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty with concentration,
and, finally, thoughts of death or suicide (Brooks, Robert & Goldstein, 2002).
By the time some of these signs become evident, the adolescent is in full depression. If
signs can be noticed immediate action should be taken. Counseling can be an added
resource to assist in sharing one's feelings as well as receiving tools to handle lifes
misgivings. For 16-18 year olds in particular, there have been dramatic changes over the
last 30 years. Their relationships with their families are different they experience more
active parenting that continues into their early adulthood. They are also more exposed to
drugs and alcohol (Hagell, 2015).
Counseling can also offer additional resources for body image concerns. If the issue is
weight gain or loss, the counselor can work together with a nutritionist, fitness trainer,
and a family practitioner. With these resources working together can offer a better
outcome in changing the path of depression, which could ultimately lead to suicide.

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

Girls deal with their internal pain by picking at their skin, burning themselves or
cutting themselves with razors or knives (Pipher, 1994). These young girls come in all
shapes, sizes, and circumstances.
Even those adolescents we see that are well off financially suffer inner torments. These
adolescents are raised with material possessions being forms of affection and love when
later we find that is not the case. As in the book, Reviving Ophelia, Penelope was given
many material possessions and when she could not have something she requested, she
resorted to suicide attempts. She learned this behavior from her mother (Pipher, 1994).
In conclusion, finding affordable and reliable resources is the concern for most lower
income families. Having insurance such as MediCal does not always provide reliable
resources. Most of these doctors, nutritionists, counselors, etc. have an overburdened
caseload that is impossible to provide quality care. Yet, any care at all for our children
and adolescents is better than none.
With most adolescents not wanting to share their personal feelings with another adult,
yet, they are more willing to post on social media how they are feeling. If we can use
social media to create links or apps that would have resources available to the adolescent,
they would most likely communicate through social communication versus in person.
This could help break down the barriers and build confidence for them to actually come
in and receive the services they need.

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care

References

Brooks, R. & Goldstein, S. (2002). Nurturing resilience in our children. New York:
McGraw- Hill.
Hagell, A. (2012, March 14). Increased levels of anxiety and depression as teenage
experience changes over time. Retrieved from:
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/ increased-levels-anxiety-and-depressionteenage-experience-changes-over-time

Lenhart, A. (2015, April 9). Teens, social media and technology overview. Retrieved
from: http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2015/04/PI_TeensandTech_Update2015_0409151.p
df
MacMillan, A. (2013, October 24). Are Christian teens leaving the church because of
unfulfilling youth groups? Christian Today. Retrieved from:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/
are.christian.teens.leaving.the.church.because.of.unfulfilling.youth.groups/34475.htm

Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia: Saving the selves of adolescent girls. New York:
Riverbed Books.

Strauss, V. (2011, December 15). Why strong after school programs matter. The
Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answersheet/post/why- strong-afterschool-programs matter/2011/12/14/gIQAvtUpuO_blog.html

Identifying Issues and Preventive Care