TEENAGE CRISES AND SUPPORT

Once we understand the potential cause of the crisis, this can lead us to think of potential, comprehensive interventions. There are a range of potential interventions, which should be tailored to the unique needs of the individual. Interventions may include:

• 1-Education and training for parents.
• 2-Education and training for teenagers.
• 3-Self-help.
• 4-Group counselling/therapy.
• 5-Individual counselling/therapy.
• 6-Family counselling/therapy.
• 7-Change schools.
• 8-Outdoor adventure programmes.

• 9-Wilderness therapy programmes.
• 10-Increased parental supervision and involvement.
• 11-Move to a new area.
• 12-Move in with other family members.
• 13-Foster care.
• 14-Private school.
• 15-Boarding school.
• 16-Day treatment programme.
• 17-Therapeutic boarding school.
• 18-Residential treatment programme. 
• 19-Psychiatric hospitalisation.
• 20-Police or law enforcement response.

The duration and choice of intervention and the competence of the professionals involved are crucial to the success of any intervention. The intervention must also be appropriate to the level of risk and responsive to the underlying problem or potential cause. The level of risk needs to be determined and the likelihood of the problem escalating or continuing considered. 

The Adolescent Clinical Screening Questionnaire is one of the most systematic and reliable methods for assessing risk with teenagers.  When a crisis first occurs, it is important to stabilise the teenager and provide any symptom relief. But after that, there must be sufficient structure and follow-up to prevent further crises or relapse. Parents and family members must keep it in mind that an inappropriate intervention can make matters worse and can undermine their relationship with their child, and create another crisis. 

An inadequate response can prolong a problem and reduce the likelihood of future interventions succeeding.  There is often a cycle to the crisis that teenagers experience. The crisis tends to grow, escalate, subside and resurface in a pattern of increasing emotional, psychological and behavioural problems.  Typically, with teenagers, there may be brief periods of normalcy between crises. At those times, the teenager may be cautious, reflective and remorseful.  Whether a crisis represents a turning point or not will depend on whether an appropriate intervention is designed and followed through.