Threats by adolescents to commit suicide always should be taken seriously because, unlike adults, children aren't as likely to use the threat merely to manipulate and control others.

More than half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce, which is the highest divorce rate in the industrialized world. Even when a divorce is 'friendly,' teens are likely to experience both immediate and long-term reactions, including fear, insecurity, sadness, anger, guilt, and depression.

Fifty years ago, a high school diploma served as an entry to a number of promising career paths. Today, technological advances in the workplace have increased the demand for skilled labor to the point that a high school education is just a minimum requirement for entry into the labor force.

Eating disorders primarily affect young women between ages 12 and 25, mostly from middle- or upper-income families. The two most common disorders are anorexia nervosa (a-nuh-RECK-see-uh nur-VO-suh) and bulimia (bul-LEE-me-uh).

Conflicts occur in all families, even ones in which everyone normally gets along well. The key to minimizing conflict between parents and teens is mutual respect, with teens recognizing that parents are the ones in charge.

Gangs of one sort or another have been around for centuries. Ever read (red) Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist, or see the musical, West Side Story? Today's gangs have gone way beyond zip-guns, trash can lids, and having a rumble in an alley.

The attitudes of young people are strongly influenced by who they 'hang out' with, who their friends are, and the general attitude of the community in which they're involved.

Every year in the U-S, a million minors run away from home. In most states, it's not illegal, but some runaways get involved in behaviors that are illegal, such as shoplifting, loitering, violating curfew, vandalizing, or using or selling drugs.

Teenagers who aren't attending school regularly may be having difficulty with peer relationships, may be underachieving academically, or have a fear of social situations.

Adolescence can be a difficult time, both for teens and for parents. It's always important to promote a teen's feelings of positive self-worth at a time when he or she is under enormous pressure to think and act in certain ways according to influences, such as peers and the fashion and entertainment industries.

Sexual abuse against a minor has been defined as 'any sexual contact between a child and an adult or older child perpetrated for the sexual gratification of the older person.

A sad fact of life today is that more and more teens are choosing to use drugs, both legal and illegal. They may start out using tobacco or alcohol, or inhaling household products, and move on to even more powerful substances.

Many children who may have previously enjoyed the company of their divorced mother's boyfriend may become suspicious, jealous, or even hostile when they realize the person is to be their stepfather.

The teenage years are times of intense emotions and pressure. Teens can be impulsive and are prone not to see beyond an imminent crisis. As a result some 400,000 teenagers commit suicide each year.

Recognizing that a teenager is depressed is just as important as knowing the child has a physical illness. Teenagers can become depressed for various reasons, and symptoms can range from feeling mildly 'blue' to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

When it comes to substance abuse and teens, prevention is far more valuable than treatment. A major factor in preventing teen drug use is the attitude of parents toward illegal substances, as well as tobacco, alcohol, and other legal drugs.

Teenagers often become involved in cults for one of the same reasons they get involved with gangs: they're seeking a place to fit in. Also, groups that promise some sort of idealistic impact on the world have a big appeal to young people.

The U-S Department of Health estimates that every 26 seconds, a teenager becomes pregnant, and that every 56 seconds, one gives birth. Sex educationespecially to children who are not yet sexually activeis crucial.

The time for kids to learn about sexuality is before they become teens. Since the late 1960's, traditional sexual ground rules have changed, and popular culture's emphasis on using sex to sell has led to an increasing amount of sexual pressure for young people.