The Truth About Troubled Teens

Although no parent wants to think about tough topics, like teen suicide, teen pregnancy, and teen violence, those issues are real among many of today's troubled teenagers.

It's important for parents to be informed about the issues many teenagers are facing. Even if your teen never experiences any serious problems first-hand, she'll likely have friends and classmates who do.

Educate yourself about the facts regarding today's teenagers, even though many of the truths are tough to face.

In The Next 24 Hours in the United States:

• 1,439 Teens will attempt suicide.
• 2,795 Teenage girls will become pregnant.
• 15,006 Teens will use drugs for the first time.
• 3,506 Teens will run away.
• 2 adolescents will be murdered.

Youth and Crime

• In 2013, the United States handled 1.1 million juvenile delinquency cases.
• More than a quarter of crimes by committed by juveniles are committed by females. 
• Almost 22,000 crimes involved weapons. 
• Every 4 minutes a youth is arrested for an alcohol-related crime.
• Every 7 minutes a youth is arrested for a drug crime.

Teen Suicide

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24. 
• More teens and young adults die from suicide than from heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, pneumonia, influenza, cancer, and lung disease combined.

• Four out of five teens who attempt suicide give warning signs. But often, those signs are missed or ignored. 

Teen Pregnancy

• In 2014, there were 249,078 babies born to women between the ages of 15 and 19. 
• Although teen births are on the decline in the United States, the rate is still higher than in other western industrialized nations.

• Teen pregnancy costs taxpayers an estimated $9.4 billion annually. Costs consist of increased health care, foster care, increased incarceration rates among teen parents, and lost tax revenue to pregnant teens being more likely to drop out of school. 

Teen Mental Health

• 20% of adolescents live with a mental health condition. 
• 50% of all mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% begins by age 24.
• The average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention is between 8 and 10 years. 
• 70% of teens who commit crimes have a mental illness. 
• Almost half of all students with a mental illness drop out of high school. 
• 90% of teens who kill themselves have an underlying mental illness. 

Understanding the Risks

Arming yourself with the facts can be the first step in reducing your teen's risks. When you understand the challenges many teens are facing, you can take steps to prevent problems before they start. 

And if you do see signs of a problem, take immediate action. Whether you suspect your teen is abusing drugs, or you see some early warning signs of depression, talk to your teen's pediatrician.

Ignoring the problem won't make it go away. In fact, your teen's problems may get worse. Early intervention is the key to helping your teen.

Sources

The Centers for Disease Control: Teen Pregnancy in the United States. 

National Alliance on Mental Illness : Mental Health Facts Children and Teens

The Parent Resource Program: Youth Suicide Statistics.

U.S. Department of Justice: Delinquency Cases in Juvenile Court, 2013.