At the 2008 NZATE (English Teachers’) Conference in Takapuna, on the final day a keynote speech on teen health was given by Dr Simon Denny, MPH, FRACP. He is a Youth Health Physician working at the Center for Youth Health at The University of Auckland. Currently he is conducting Youth’07, following on from Youth2000, which was the first nationally representative health survey of students attending secondary schools in New Zealand.
Dr Denny opened with a number of quotes about ‘the state of youth’ that seemed to depict that things are worse these days, however the quotes turned out to date as far back as to Aristotle in 340BC!
Teens haven’t changed – but we can change their environment.
He explained studies which show that on their own, adults and teens will take a similar degree of risk. When the teen is with friends that risk behavior goes up dramatically.
The highest risk for teens: Driving at night with friends.
Harm minimization measures: restricted licensing laws.
Strengths based program
Focuses on healthy development, not just the illness.
For example depression- at 18% for males, 9% for females.
Moving home more than two times was the risk factor for depression that cuts across all other outcomes.
Interestingly, spiritual beliefs were a risk factor for depression. This may be connected with duties and obligations of religion. These beliefs were a positive factor reducing inappropriate sex and drug behaviors.
Resiliency developed through:
1. Relationship with parents
– even when flawed still the most important
relationship in teenage lives.
2. Connections with family
3. School connections
Ineffective Strategies for Violence Prevention
· Scared straight – exposure to jails etc
· Segregating aggressive students
· Alternative education – increases student
engagement but increases risk behavior x 3- 4
-
Short-term interventions
· Identification of pre-violent adolescent –
unreliable tools
· Focus on providing information
Effective Strategies:
· Grounded in theory: healthy adolescent development
· Strengths based: build competencies and skills
· Strong Adult-youth relationships, connections
· Intensive and long lasting. Few quick fixes.
Teenage Identity
- behaviour
- environment
- stories you tell about yourself
- family and community
Assigning teens drama roles e.g. ‘director’, changes behaviour through identity.
Young people have no pre-set direction so they must forge their own.
School engagement:
Is increased by academic expectations and rigor, positive adult-student relationships and safety – physical and emotional.
Trusting relationships around students, teachers, staff and families.
Fostering high parent / family expectations for school performance
Every student feels close to at least one adult at school.
Safe and pro-social ways of researching controversial topics e.g. anorexia. Outwards looking approach.
Girls internalize. Boys externalize.
Teens are hard-wired for risk. Adults can provide different risks and challenges.
