Early Intervention and Educating Parents about The Warning Signs

[Reality]

The following is a workshop presented by CAMH in Toronto.

STRESSED OUT, ANXIOUS: IS YOUR TEEN IN TROUBLE?

How Can Parents Help?  Learn to identify green light, yellow light and red light teenage behaviors, where to turn for help and why early intervention is key.

Haven't we been talking about the importance of early intervention here for years?   I love the ordinary language in the description.  It makes sense.

I will let you know what the experts at CAMH have to say.  I am capitalizing the letters of this bureaucratic institution, as there seems to be a shift in their understanding of the importance of educating parents.  

CAMH is the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health, where we were advised by a social worker that we needn't worry that Will had substituted alcohol for drugs, as he did so quite easily!

Reality

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[Thursday]

CAMH is the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health, where we were advised by a social worker that we needn't worry that Will had substituted alcohol for drugs, as he did so quite easily!

   

So distressing that so many here have run up against ridiculous advisors and harmful advice. Not even positive what the social worker was saying. IMO any addiction is exactly as bad as the other as it is a maladaptive.  Good grief!

However, I am glad to hear of some progress- especially since it seems there is a real attempt to help parents figure out if what they are seeing is MORE than simply teen angst... .I see so many here who have gotten that message (relax, he/she is a teenager) while their child is cutting or acting out sexually or in danger of getting kicked out of school, for example.

Thursday

[Reality]

Thank you, Thursday for your validating words.  The advice from the social worker led us down a very dangerous garden path.  We trusted her.  She was 10 years older than I am.  I have never tried any drugs and I only drink a glass of wine occasionally to enhance a meal.  I had no idea.  I thought she had some brilliant insight.  She was dead wrong.

Yes, I am pleased that this shift has happened at CAMH.

Reality

[vivekananda]

hey Reality it's good that there is some shifting in thinking ... .I hope 

Me, I spent my lifetime listening to jerks telling me it was just teenage angst ... and who still expect dd to grow out of it... .

I just read on the website of a psychiatrist here in Melb in a pamphlet he prepared for GPs to help them diagnose BPD about how abuse in childhood is at the core of it all and it takes a skilled therapist to tease out the issues. ... I can see $$ signs and a ka ching in the cash register as it takes years of psycho analysis to help my dd with her abusive childhood! Change is slow. The old two steps forward, one step back... . 

hum hum, life moves on.

Vivek