Summer Jobs May Help Prevent Suicidal Tendencies in At-Risk Teens -Mental health and Psychiatry news-
A few of the risk factors for Teen Suicide are heavy alcohol consumption, physical fights, obesity, same-sex attraction and rape victimization. Summer employment for teens helps build self esteem issues and may counteract some of these risks. Also noted with the rise in unemployment today, teens may have problems finding summer jobs and they can backfire if teens are exposed to workplace harassment due to their inexperience and the ease with which they can be replaced.
“Summer employment is thought to be beneficial because it creates self-esteem while reducing isolation and substance abuse, and it does not conflict with school work in the way a job during the school year could,” Rob Baller said, the associate professor of sociology in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
If your teen does find a job this summer it may be a good idea to know who is your teen’s employer, maybe do a background check? Teen harassment in the workplace has been found to be significant, far worse than on the internet. Coverage of this issue can be viewed in this 30 minute video from NOW on PBS http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/508/
Volunteering may be another option to help build self esteem without the pressure of a paying job and due to the high rate of unemployment today may be the only option out there.
No related posts.
Posts
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hmmm…that is really interesting. I loved working when I was a teen. It really helped me to develop confidence in myself. I was a waitress and it really helped me hone my people skills to have to talk to those of all ages and temperments. I would like my dd to get a job this summer. I need to talk to her about it.