Explore Teen Suicide in Texas, Essay Example

Issues Concerning Natalie

Issues concerning Natalie include repeated offender- this is third offence, driving under influence of alcohol, drinking underage that is at the age of 17 years, and binge drinking.

Priority Problems for Natalie

Physical and sexual assault, as well as injuries and accidents, are all increased risks. Also, the pelvis continues to grow until the age of 20 years. This can result in adolescent pregnancy, which will further result in her dropping out of school, increased risk of complications during pregnancy, such as anemia, preeclampsia, depression, low birth weight, and her having a child with low birth weight.

In addition, there are increased risks of alcohol issues later in life. Research shows that persons who begin to drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to fulfill the alcohol addiction criteria at some point in life.

Detention Center Priorities

One of the focuses is school interventions, which offer adolescents with the knowledge, skills, motivation and chances to remain free from alcohol. Secondly, individual-level interventions are aimed at changing the way young people think about alcohol so that they are able to withstand drinking pressures better. Finally, family-based interventions enable parents to establish and enforce clear drinking rules and to improve communication between children and parents about alcohol.

Other Issues that Could be a Factor for Natalie Related to Adolescent Alcohol Abuse

Increased lifetime stress from a father’s recent death raises the probability of dangerous habits like alcohol and drug addiction. In addition to being alone, Natalie’s mother is also responsible for her younger sister, which further leaves her alone in dealing with daily demands of life.

Community Resources

One of the resources is Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administrators. The above institution strives to lessen the impact of the abuse of substances and mental illness on American communities through a series of teenage working books and the use of drugs. Secondly, there is National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; they support and research the health and well-being impacts of alcohol consumption.  Also, they provide resources for young people to examine their drinks and control tools.

Depression and Suicide Rates in My Community

Research indicates that Increased suicide rates in Texas are an increasing concern for all those concerned about mental health and well-being (United Health Foundation, 2021). While the rate in rural settings is higher for mid-aged and elderly white men, suicide has a particular impact on all groups. In 2020, statistics indicate that Texas was among the top 20 states with the highest rate of teen suicide rates (United Health Foundation, 2021). The females had a rate of 5.8% against national rate of 5.2% while the males had a 17.9% against a national rate of 16.7% (United Health Foundation, 2021).

Occurrence in My Community that Raises Awareness about Teen Mental Health

I have encountered a couple of my colleagues who were anxious and depressed, also who voiced suicidal thoughts because of relationship troubles such as breaking with boyfriend, obtaining fewer marks in examinations, and not winning in competitions. I remember those students having a mentality of giving up for someone or something rather than battling to be bold and courageous in life. Our school provided a wide range of amenities, including personal counseling, recreational activities, psychiatric consultations, and effective parenting, leading to the excellent education of all students who experienced depression and anxiety without harming their studies and lives.

Risk and Protective Factors for Teen Suicide

Some of the risk factors that are most commonly associated with suicidal trends in teens include solemnness as a result of parent or guardian busy schedules, or a sense of neglect by younger siblings; inquiries into their sex or sexual identity as LGBTQ+, which constitutes an individual’s total choice of freedom to be one of them and which is supported by law.

In examining Justin’s case, he fought and fell into a disaster when some circumstances exceeded his limit to handle him. For example, the peer group bullied him. Depression emerged from being bullied and his sexual identity interrogated. Furthermore, the idea of social perfectionism that a person should not fall under LGBTQ+ prompted his colleagues to attack him and led him to sadness mentally. Finally, after being assassinated in public media, he might have suffered a lack of self-esteem and confidence.

Ways Schools Can Partner with Schools and Larger Community on Teen Mental Health

Research indicates that schools can increase their ability to serve all kids through connections with mental health and social care agencies (Osher & Keenan, 2002). Agency workers can participate in the evaluation, planning, implementation, and evaluation individually and throughout the school. Agency resources can strengthen the capacity of schools to deliver universal, early, and intensive interventions. Agency links can also align school and agency services. For instance, early interventions programs for families whose circumstances place children at risk and individualized mental health interventions for children with intense levels of need. The link between the community and schools can be enhanced through liaison with a designated service coordinator who can act as a point person between the two parties.

References

Osher, D., & Keenan, S. (2002). Instituting School-Based Links With Mental Health and Social Service Agencies (pp. 1-35). Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.

United Health Foundation. (2021). Explore Teen Suicide in Texas | 2020 Health of Women and Children. America’s Health Rankings. Retrieved 5 August 2021, from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/teen_suicide/state/TX.