2. Sensation Seeking
• Reckless behaviour that can lead to injury and accidents
• A drive for popularity among a group can push adolescents to
engage in these behaviours.
• Peer pressure plays a large role in how groups will interact
and push individuals to do unsafe, or unhealthy behaviours
such as binge drinking
3. Sensation Seeking
• Adolescents are gaining a new sense of independence and
this leads them to do things without consideration to the
consequences
• A lack of experience and education in how to be safe in
situations, such as driving, lead to a higher incidence of
injuries
4. Sensation Seeking
• Adolescents spend more time on media outlets than they do
in school, thus this is a large influence on their behaviour, and
portrayals of drug use or sex can drive them to engage in
them.
• Peer pressure plays a large role in how groups will interact
and push individuals to do unsafe, or unhealthy behaviours
such as speeding while driving or binge drinking
5. Drug use
• Rates of drug usage for the purpose of “getting high” have
been decreasing since the 1970’s
• The average age for the first time is 14 years old
• The use of drugs will usually increase with age, leading to
addictions and serious health complications caused by the
toxic side effects
6. Drug use
• Alcohol remains the most popular choice, and binge drinking
has become a serious issue among this age group
• Marijuana and Tobacco are the second and third most popular
choices and are usually started after alcohol consumption is
no longer enough to “get a buzz”
• Other illicit drugs such as hallucinogens and amphetamines
are major risks factors for addiction and serious mental and
physical health problems
7. Drug use
• Tobacco is considered a gateway drug for the use of other
illicit drugs
• Peer influence plays a major role in the beginning of smoking,
it can be used as a tool for group membership for individuals
concerned with popularity
• Tobacco is highly addictive and can lead to lifetime usage
8. Eating disorders
• Now among the most prevalent mental health issue for
adolescents
• Most at risk are teenage girls and LGBTQ youth to feel the
pressure to be thin
• Media strongly influences these desires to be thin at all costs
and achieve ideals set by movies and fashion
9. Eating disorders
• Bulimia is characterized by binge eating, then purging (
induced vomiting) to satisfy cravings and blocking any
nutrients or fats from being absorbed
• Most individuals feel intense guilt about their actions and
rarely seek help until physical damage has been done
• Tooth decay, stomach irritation, and chemical imbalances are
signs of severe bulima
10. Eating disorders
• Anorexia is less common than bulimia but can have serious
complications if left untreated
• Is more commonly seen in teenage girls and young women, as
they tend to feel pressured to fit into societal ideals of body
image
• Manifests as extreme dieting, exercise, an irrational fear of
gaining weight
11. Eating disorders
• Physical symptoms are associated with starvation; lack of
menstruation, hair loss, cardiovascular problems
• Anorexia can lead to chronic health problems and in some
cases death
• Is becoming more common for young men, as media has
begun to portray images of slender men in movies and in
fashion
12. Depression
• 25% of young women 16-19 years old have experienced a
depressive episode, 12.5% of young men within the same age
group
• Is associated with both genetic and environmental factors;
family dynamic and parental influence play roles in how youth
see themselves and how they cope with their emotions
• Depression can last for days or weeks and will effect academic
performance and memory.
13. Depression
• When an individual does not meet their expectations of
themselves, it can trigger a depressive episode
• Self shaming, and loathing are only worsened by continuing to
focus on negative memories and stimuli, while disregarding
positive stimuli
• Smoking tobacco has been linked with developing a
depressive episode in youth
14. Suicide
• Suicidal thoughts can be formed during depressive episodes
that manifest for prolonged periods of time
• Adolescent men are more likely to succeed at suicide than
women are, even though women are more likely to attempt
suicide
• Treatments are usually focused on treating depression
through the administration of medications
15. Suicide
• Treatment utilizing SSRI’s have been contraindicated for youth
as they have been shown to increase suicidal thoughts, and
increase aggression
• Spilt personality, and narcissistic mental disorders can also be
causes other than depression
• Stressful events, an altered mental state, and the opportunity
to present itself are all risk factors for individuals with suicidal
ideation to follow through with an attempted suicide
16. Suicide
• It is important to recognize the signs of depression, or other
mental disorders early on to provide support and treatment
before it is too late
• Native American girls are more likely to attempt suicide than
their male counterparts, this is due to societal pressure and
environmental stressor that are greater for this population
