Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2007)
Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, October 4, 2007 Teen depression can be serious by the American Counseling Association A serious, but often over- looked problem for many teens today is depression. It’s far more common than most par- ents realize, and far more seri- ous than most parents want to admit. Teen depression can lead to a variety of problems, with suicide at the top of that list. Deciding whether your teen- ager is depressed is not an easy task. Most teens are ‘moody” at times. Teens face hormonal and physical changes, the stress of school and jobs, relationship issues with peers and a variety of oth- er pressures that can leave them stressed and uncommu- nicative. But the most serious form of depression, usually described as teenage depressive disor- der, is more than just being moody. It’s persistent feelings of depression that interfere with the teen’s ability to function normally. And it does have cer- tain warning signs: • Previously good grades slipping • A dramatic change in atti- tude • A radical shift in your child’s identity • A major change in friends • Loss of interest in previ- ously enjoyed activities • Withdrawing from friends and family activities and be- coming uncommunicative. While none of these behav- iors alone mean your child is A GALIS N ETWORK S ERVICES suffering from severe depres- sion, when you see one or more it signals a need to pay more attention to what he or she is facing. Since virtually every teen tends to hold back on sharing too much with a parent, it takes effort to find out what’s going on. Ask questions anyhow. Ask about friends, school and cur- rent activities. Be persistent. Your child may resent the intru- sion, but you have a responsi- bility to know what’s happening in his or her life. It also helps to be more in- volved. Try spending more time with your teen. Simple things like family dinners, or encour- aging friends to be invited to the house, can help open doors and show your care. The most important thing is to not ignore any warning signs. Studies report about only one-third of clinically de- pressed teens are actually di- agnosed. If you suspect problems, talk to adults who know your teen, from teachers to school coun- selors to sports coaches. If they have also noticed poten- tial problems, seek help. Your school counselor, family physi- cian or local mental health or- ganization can usually offer suggestions on counseling pro- fessionals specializing in teen issues. Teen depression is not just a “phase” that will be outgrown. Ignoring it can leave your teen’s life hanging in the bal- ance. High Speed Wireless Internet. As fast as DSL for less cost. Domain Services Low cost registration and hosting. Unlimited Dialup Surf up to 5x faster with dialup accelerator included FREE. Local Areas Wireless Internet Heather Ln. to Cherry St., Downtown Vernonia Timber Rd./Hwy 47 Jct. to the Golf Course Check your email from anywhere using Agalis' Webmail. All Agalis Internet accounts include: Email accounts, Email Virus & SPAM filtering, FREE Internet related support. Website: www.agalis.net Phone: 503-201-1846 Owned and Operated in Vernonia since 1998 Grants offered to cut teen car crashes Here is a sad fact: Nothing kills more teenagers than car crashes. State Farm Insurance wants to change that. So this school year the company is again challenging Oregon’s young drivers to creatively educate their peers about the true risks of getting behind the wheel. “Shift into Safety” offers high schools grants of $1,000 to $5,000 to fund campaigns that will help change teens’ atti- tudes and actions in the dri- ver’s seat. “Fatal crashes among young drivers are declining, which is good news, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” said Harold Gray, State Farm’s Senior Vice President, Pacific Northwest Zone. “We want teens to lead the way in educating and moti- vating their peers.” The numbers are com- pelling. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens. Young drivers are four times more likely to get into a car crash than older driv- ers. And the risk is especially high for 16-year-olds. The company introduced “Shift into Safety” last year and awarded grants to 47 high schools. Students tackled sub- jects from distractions to driv- ers’ education. State Farm is looking for campaigns that mo- tivate young drivers to grasp the risk and put safety first. Any group within a school can apply for a grant, from an individual class to a student club. Applications are due by Oc- tober 26, 2007. State Farm will announce grant winners in De- cember, and campaigns must be completed by the end of the 2007-2008 school year. Public and private high schools within State Farm’s six-state Pacific Northwest Zone — Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Ore- gon, and Washington — are el- igible. For applications and rules, contact Jeff Aeschliman, 550 Hawthorne Ave SE, Salem, OR 97301 or 503-463-3829 or jeff.aeschliman.c85n@state farm.com. Helping to carry the load good for kids Children who regularly do chores learn to feel valued and to accept responsibility. Posi- tive skills such as helping, shar- ing, and showing concern for others can be learned when children participate in house- hold tasks. They also gain self- respect and learn how to mas- ter different tasks. If they learn that certain jobs depend on them, they know they are con- tributing to the family. Chores should be part of family life, not a punishment. When everyone pitches in, there is more free time to enjoy life and each other. Very young children can begin by helping put toys away. Even if your old- er children didn’t begin learning to help early in life, it’s never too late to start. When involving children: • Allow your children to take part in decision making. Divide responsibilities equally and fairly. • Compile a short, simple, and clear list of who does what. If your child doesn’t do his des- ignated tasks, don’t do them for him. Decide beforehand, as a family, what the consequences will be. Reminders may be needed. A chore chart is one way to keep track of chores. Children can check off what’s done and see what’s left. • Give assignments that are age-appropriate. Make sure you show children how to do a job the first time. Break larger jobs into parts. Don’t tell your 12-year-old to do the laundry without first showing him how to sort the clothes, operate the washer, select the proper dry- ing cycle, and fold the laundry. • Keep safety in mind. Make sure the task does not pose a risk of harm to the child. • Avoid giving your child the same old job every week. Vari- ety gives youngsters different experiences. • Don’t complain if your child doesn’t do it “right.” He’ll be less eager to help out. Rarely will any child do a job as well at first as a parent might. Be sure not to redo a child’s work; this can discourage future efforts. • Put work before fun to get children motivated. Set aside a time for work and give advance notice of upcoming work peri- ods. This will help children plan other activities around home responsibilities. • Children – particularly as they grow older – usually are capable of doing more than we ask, so don’t be afraid to assign more than one task. However, do remember to balance work with play. • Remember to say thank you. We all want to be appreci- ated for our efforts. Source: Denise Rennekamp, Ex- tension associate, OSU. Area 4-Hers shine at Oregon State Fair Following are partial results from the 4-H competition at the 2007 Oregon State Fair. Due to space limitations, only results within The Independent’s circu- lation area are included. PHOTOGRAPHY Photography, Sr, Land- scape: White Award – Juliana Pelster, Vernonia. Photography, Int, People: Blue Award – Eli Lee-Wuollet, Rainier; Maria Pelster, Vernonia. FOODS & NUTRITION Foods, Ph 1-3, Cookies (bar, drop, or no bake): Blue Award – Darren Crape, Rainier; Kristi Crape, Rainier, and Nicole Glass, Vernonia. Foods, Ph 7-9, Yeast Breads: Blue Award – Maris- sa Clement, Vernonia. Foods, Ph 7-9, Yeast Bread product, using special: Blue Award – Marissa Clement, Vernonia. SHEEP Crossbred Meat Breeds, color incl., Yearling Ewe: Blue Award – Robbie Greisen, Scappoose; Chelsea Yarbor, St. Helens; Katie Tatman, Ver- nonia. Sheep Showmanship, Se- nior: Blue Award – Robbie Greisen, Scappoose; Chelsea Yarbor, St. Helens; Katie Tat- man, Vernonia. Please see page 23