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Youth Eastside Services Lifeline Online
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September 2012
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School Starts, Stress Elevates 
Helping your child manage it all
It's that time of year again. We say goodbye to the unstructured days of summer and hello to carpools, homework, and increased demands on our time. For many families, this creates elevated stress, especially during the transition. Increased stress for kids can trigger a wide range of behaviors from drug use, to angry outbursts, to clinginess. As parents, we can help by keeping expectations reasonable, not over scheduling kids, and maintaining good communication. For more information on helping kids manage stress, click here.
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Improving Success in School
Free class comes just in time
 Part of helping students succeed is taking steps to manage common stressors. YES is holding a free informational class for parents, Improving School Success, where parents will learn: - Tips on motivating kids
- Ways to set reasonable expectations
- The value of managing family schedules
The class will take place Tuesday, October 9, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at YES Bellevue. Click here for more information.
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In the News
Important information you want to know
Sacrificing sleep for studying doesn't work: A new study published in the Journal of Child Development found that students who gave up sleep to study performed worse academically the next day.
Diverted medical marijuana use: Among teens receiving treatment for substance abuse, many have used medical marijuana that was recommended for someone else, also known as "diverted" medical marijuana, a new study has found.
Drug use at school: Nearly 9 out of 10 of high-school students say that some classmates are drugging, drinking and smoking during the school day, according to the the 17th annual back-to-school survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. As kids head back to school, it's a good time to reinforce parental disapproval of substance use. By clearly expressing parental expectations, particularly strong disapproval of teen substance use, you influence your teen's decision to drink alcohol, use drugs or smoke tobacco, according to the study.
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 Suicide and Local Teens
What to watch for an how to intervene
Last fall, one local school started the school year with a student suicide. Unfortunately, this student wasn't the only Eastside teen to take their life last school year.
Research has shown that kids who attempt suicide are in intense emotional pain, and most just need someone to recognize and respond to them.
Some of the classic suicide warning signs to be aware of include increased use of alcohol and drugs; sudden changes in behavior, including increased risk taking; severe withdrawal and avoidance of activities; and subtle or obvious verbal threats such as, "I wish I was dead," or "You'll be sorry when I'm gone."
According to the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, an average of two youth between the ages of 10 and 24 kill themselves each week in Washington State. Responses to the 2010 Washington Healthy Youth Survey showed 18 percent of Eastside 10th graders (15,000 students) had seriously thought about attempting suicide. More than 30 percent of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer or questioning) youth reported at least one suicide attempt in the past year.
Kids who exhibit suicidal behavior are asking for help. Because they often tell their friends first, it's important to encourage young people to tell a trusted adult if they suspect a friend is suicidal. As an adult, if you become aware of a suicidal youth, it's important to act by contacting school officials or parents. If the child is in imminent danger, call 911. For additional details on warning signs and responses, click here.
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September is a month of transition. We go from the warm, long days of summer to the cool and cloudier days of fall. It's also a time of transition for school kids who enter new classes, and perhaps new schools. Some stress, anxiety and fear is normal, but occasionally it becomes more than a child can manage. I want to encourage parents to check-in often with their kids in the first month of school. If you have concerns, talk with a teacher or school guidance counselor. YES staff are also available to talk with parents about worries they may have. If you and your child seem to be at increased odds, sometimes it can be helpful to seek outside help, before things get worse.
Sincerely,
Patti Skelton-McGougan
Executive Director
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