Troubled Teens Resources

The runaway teenage boy lay on the indifferent city sidewalk, blood from his wounds seeping through the lettering on his school jacket. The cops said it was a drug deal gone bad, the kid just one of thousands of teenagers who have fled from home completely unprepared for street corner drug deals and armed dealers.

How can a parent intervene to prevent the crisis that propels a teenager from hearth and home? The signs of an impending crisis are not hard to discern. Intervention before the teenager reaches a point of no return is critical.

If you feel the situation in your home is becoming more and more beyond your ability to handle, seeking professional counseling or calling for a family intervention can spare the parent the horror of being at the receiving end of a call from the police asking that they identify a body.

Here are some some suggested steps to reduce the risk of your teenager taking flight.

• Develop a Crisis Intervention plan for your teenager if the situation involves a crisis or recurrent crises.
• Seek an evaluation and advice from a qualified mental health professional or crisis intervention specialist if your child may be self-harming, suicidal, destructive or violent.
• Review and familiarize yourself with the material on this web site that pertain to Crisis Intervention.
• Seek counseling or therapy for any emotional problems or difficulties associated with any angry, violent or suicidal behavior from a qualified mental health professional. Referral Information
• Evaluate any alcohol and other drug use and treat as recommended by a qualified professional. Alcohol and Other Drug Information
• Encourage a medical evaluation and treatment for any mental illness or other medical condition requiring medication or medical treatment.
• If appropriate, consider enrolling and participating in an educational or skills training group that will improve communication and interpersonal skills (e.g. parenting skills, communication, divorce adjustment, assertiveness training, conflict resolution, or strategies to diffuse angry, aggressive and violent behavior).
• Develop a plan that will minimize and limit all communication that usually leads to conflict, aggression or violence and take steps to resolve problems calmly. Establish a plan that supports communication.
• If there is abuse or neglect, seek advice and further investigation from a qualified mental health profession, law enforcement or an attorney who has experience dealing with abuse and neglect issues. An attorney can provide absolute confidentiality. Law enforcement and some mental health professionals cannot. Confidentiality Information.

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