Monday, October 4, 2010: Recent Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse News

Better Screening Urged for Self-Injury in Teens

“Not all kids who intentionally cut or burn themselves meet ‘classic profile,’ expert says.” Click here to read the rest of this article from HealthDay News.

Community Works to Address Mental Health Issues

“Caltrain officials have joined with local organizations and support groups to address the five young deaths that plagued Palo Alto between May 2009 and January 2010. Last Monday, the first of 250 new suicide prevention signs were put up along a 10-mile stretch of Caltrain tracks…” Click here to read the rest of this Stanford Daily article.

Children Addicted to Video Games – Ten Critical Points Parents Need to Know

“Although concerns about the effects of violent video games remain, it is possible that parents today should be more concerned about video game addiction than the portrayal of violence in the games.”  Click here to read the rest of this article.

Three Young Men, Three Suicides, Three Cases of Anti-Gay Bullying

“Asher Brown, Seth Walsh and Tyler Clementi came from different parts of the country, but they’re bound by a single tragic thread that has reverberated through the headlines over the past week — all three young men committed suicide after being bullied for being gay.” Click here to read the rest of this article. Also, check out this story on MTV.com about how celebrities and mental health experts are contributing to suicide prevention efforts by clicking here.

American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Policy Statement: Children, Adolescents, Substance Abuse, and the Media

“The causes of adolescent substance use are multifactorial, but the media can play a key role.” Click here to read the full statement.