If your child or children have finally reached the anxiety age-“The Teenage years”, it’s time for you to be aware of what is on their mind, particularly when it comes to their health and the questions they have regarding Health. As their bodies begin to turn into adult form, their minds become adult in nature, you must be prepared for that. It is difficult for parents to realize that their children have grown up. On the contrary, denying it will only hurt their relationship with their children.

Here are some topics which should be discussed with your child:

- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Teenagers are curious about almost everything, but particularly about sex. What many don’t realize are the dangers that associated with sex. Focus is solely on the use of contraceptives that are used to avoid getting pregnant.

What is usually ignored is to get informed about STDs-What are they and how they are transmitted. Although some of these may seem to be known to you, but your children probably would not have heard everything important about them and just gathered information till which they are comfortable with.

- Alcohol and Drugs: These are dangerous things, especially when used by an inexperienced user. You should talk to your teen about it and tell them the risks, not only because it’s bad for them, but what can happen to them if they use them.

-Tattoos and Body Piercing: For children, getting a tattoo on there body is just a rite, but it can be more than that. First of all you should avoid them from getting it. But if they are adamant for it, you should set some conditions, perhaps you should tell them that you will accompany them to a good and well known tattoo and body piercing salon. This will ensure you of your child’s safety.

- Counseling: If your child is depressed regarding something, try to talk out the matter with him/her. If they are not comfortable talking to you, you may go to a counselor. Get rid of the stereotype that there is something wrong with the person who seeks a counselor’s help. This way you can also get an idea of what your child needs, whether it is really a depression or just a mental imbalance that can be fixed with medicine.

Statistics indicate that teen parenting is on the rise even today regardless of the wide availability of sex education and the various methods of birth control that are available. Teen health statistics also show that teen parents and their offspring are both disadvantaged with regard to health, finance and education.

Mature mothers are less at risk than teenage mothers. Teen health issues in teenage mothers include such ailments as pregnancy associated high blood pressure, anemia, premature delivery, underweight child birth, and possibly death. Lack of prenatal care and physical development are mainly responsible for this. Teen health articles have quoted statistics reveal that most teen mothers did not receive required prenatal care resulting in poor health for the child.

As far as education is concerned, statistics show that despite the social acceptability of teenage mothers in school, alarmingly, 80 percent mothers choose to drop out and only 50 percent of such teen parents who had a child in their early teens will finish high school by the age of thirty. Further, teen statistics point to the fact that there is a greater likelihood of those who mothered a child between the age of twenty and twenty four years to complete a college education than someone who is forced into parenthood before they attain nineteen years of age.

A direct consequence of this situation is the display of lesser cognitive development in comparison to their contemporaries. There is a tendency among these children to be classified as academic underachievers and drop out of school in due course. Statistics also further indicate the tendency of children born of teenage mothers to emulate their parents and engage in early sex resulting in teen motherhood themselves too.

On the economic front, the inability to achieve a diploma in high school or complete a GED program inhibits them from getting gainful employment and the resultant security. Teen parent statistics show evidence of women who attained motherhood after the age of 20 are capable of earning twice that of women who became mothers in their teens. Most of these mothers are dependent on different assistance programs of the government as only 10 percent of them receive child support from the father of the child.

Challenges in the present and as well as the future could be a daunting task for most, and if you find yourself in this situation, there is no need to despair. If help from family, partner or friends is not at hand, there a many social organizations that will willingly provide professional help.

One of the latest teen health issues that has been the subject of many teen health articles, is the phenomenon called ‘cutting’. It is precisely what it sounds like, a tendency to inflict cuts or wounds on one’s own body with the objective of feeling pain. It begins with inflicting cuts with anything sharp object like a knife, blade or scissors which is at hand and is usually done in the concealed parts of the body like the legs, arms and chest.

The reasons for ‘cutting’ can vary among teens and the most common reason is the release of some kind of emotion. ‘Cutting’ is usually the result of a thwarted attempt to express some strong emotions they may be experiencing and see this as the only escape. It is used as a safety valve to give vent to some emotional pressure or pain or give expression to strong feelings of desperation, anger, sadness and rejection.

In the case of others who resort to cutting, there are other issues concerned and this is often indicative of other mental health challenges. ‘Cutting’ is often associated with bipolar disorders, depression, eating disorders or obsessive compulsive disorders. Mental issues could also be manifested in the form of cutting as such individuals are prone to impulsive behavior and taking avoidable risks. Some of these teenagers show signs of drug and alcohol abuse and other issues related to teen health.

In other instances, ‘cutting’ can be a response to abuse or other traumatic experiences. This could be done to shock them out of the numbness of a situation, or it could be a means to repeatedly put them through the same pain in an attempt to gain control of the situation.

All seriousness should be allotted to tackling the issue of ‘cutting’ which is very grave. If teens are seen wearing long sleeves all the time, this could be a cause for alarm. Signs of depression should be noticed along with a tendency to be moody. A professional in the field of mental health is the best bet if a teen is suspected of resorting to ‘cutting’. On the other hand, one can also consider having a talk with their teen children and apprise them of the seriousness of the situation even if they have not engaged in the act of ‘cutting’. The fact that they can come to you and talk on this subject and that their feelings are important should be conveyed to them accordingly.