Pia

Jessica

Chris

Lily

Age: 16

Parents?

Description:OverweightPale

Background Info

Adolescence has traditionally been considered a time of conflict and turmoil. G. Stanley Hall, the first person to study adolscence scientiffically, describe it as a period of ’Storm and stress’ as well as of great physical, mental and emotional change. Currently, many clinical psychologists and psychoanalytic theorists still describe adolescence as a time of psychological disturbance, though some studies of typical adolescents suggest that the extent of adolescent disturbance has been exaggerated (Conger, 1977)

Ann Birch, Developmental Psycholgy: From Infancy to Adulthood 2nd Ed. Palgrave Houndsmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. 1997. p. 203)

Quote

Demeanor:Avoids eye contactIndifferentBrief answers with non-emotional response

Issues:Underage Drinking/partying frequently/drinks in

excessSexually active with older menSecond Pregnancy: Protection? Father Unknown?Doesn’t want parents contacted, why?

Background cont.

Issue: Abortion

Questions needed to be answered:How far along is the pregnancy?Age and the laws of Finland (legalities incase of

a minor and parental notification?)?Does the father of the child need to be

involved?How old was she when she had her first

pregnancy?

Investigative Findings

Home life? Does she live with parents?Are basic needs met?What is the situation at home (relationships,

abuse?)

Any recent health checkups?

Does she attend school regularly?

Investigating Lily’s personal situation

Self esteem?What kind of friends she has (influences)?What kind of activities is she involved in?What are her values and goals in life?

What does Lily think of herself?

”The value that individuals attach to their personal qualities , answering the question ’How good am I?’ and thus relating to the worthiness and competence an individual experiences with respect to his or her personal attributes.” (H. Rudolph Schaffer, Key Concepts In Developmental Psychology, 2006. Sage Publication Ltd. 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Rd. London EC1Y 1SP. pg. 78)

Lily closed up emotionally needs someone to talk to.

Possibly looking for parental acceptance and guidance with the relationships with older men.

Hangs out with wrong influences.She needs help with underage drinking and

drunkeness (Peer pressure?).Needs further lessons on safe sex.

Our Assessment

Description: At this stage, adolescents are in search of an identity that will lead them to

adulthood. Adolescents make a strong effort to answer the question "Who am I?" Erikson notes the healthy resolution of earlier conflicts can now serve as a foundation for the search for an identity. If the child overcomes earlier conflicts they are prepared to search for identity. Did they develop the basic sense of trust? Do they have a strong sense of industry to believe in themselves?

Elements for a negative outcome: If the adolescent can not make deliberate decisions and choices, especially about

vocation, sexual orientation, and life in general, role confusion becomes a threat. Examples: Adolescents attempt to establish their own identities and see themselves as

separate from their parents.

Eriksson’s Stage 5: Adolescencehttp://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/erik/stage5.html

Age: Adolescence --12 to 18 years

Conflict: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Important Event: Peer relationships

Would like Setup counselingWould like for her to join support groups (for

teens in similar situation)Would like to setup an appointment in a

sexual education course.Would like to setup an appointment to see a

nutritionist/fitness expert (for better care of herself)

Conclusion

A 1985 study by researchers at the University of Minnesota of 3636 Minnesota rural high school students (grades 9-12, average age 16.3) found that if a girl had undergone an abortion within the last 6 months she was 10 times more likely to have attempted suicide than if she had not had an abortion in that period (4% of attempters had abortion vs. 0.4% of non-attempters).

If a girl had an abortion any time previously in her lifetime, she was about 6 times more likely to have attempted suicide compared with girls who had not aborted (4% of attempters had abortions vs. 0.7% of non-attempters).

Girls attempting suicide in general were more likely to be depressed, recently broken up with their boyfriend, have come from disrupted, chaotic home environments and to have exhibited poor judgment in their use of birth control, moral decisions, and academic achievement.

According to Dr. Barry Garfinkel [chief author of the study, head of child and adolescent psychiatry, University of Minnesota] the most important factors in teen suicide are impulsiveness, anger, and anxiety.

The more tension, the more likely it is that adolescents will end their lives. At a press conference announcing the study results, Dr. Garfinkel was quoted as saying, "All too

often we take these events (abortions) as either producing an alleviation of stress or of being helpful to young people, and I think we have to re-examine the issues."

Stress, Depression and Suicide: A Study of Adolescents in Minnesota, Barry Garfinkel et al in Responding to High Risk Youth, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota (1986); Suicide, Minnesota Daily, 29Oct1986, p.3,16.

[Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change Newsletter, vol 3, no 3, Fall 1990; http://www.abortionresearch.us/]

 

http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/1460/26/