I'm in the middle of reading THE CAR THIEF by
Theodore Weesner (Author). It's about a young lad who steals cars for reasons he can't fathom. Adult readers quickly realize 16-year-old Alex Housman is deeply depressed and for good reason. His father is a binge alcoholic and his mother left with his younger brother years ago.
Acting out behaviour such as deliquency, truancy, and even violence, in young teens is often the result of undiagnosed depression. Not only are those entering their teen years facing new and difficult challenges, they are also experiencing tremendous hormonal changes. It's a lethal combination that often puts youngsters at-risk.
In THE CAR THIEF Alex has no words for what he's going through, and no understanding of why. The adults in his life also appear blind to the deep depression driving his behaviour. No one is able to put words to the depression. Incarceration is used to deal with Alex, rather than treatment.
Although this novel takes place in 1959, the same issues face today's teens. In my novel THE TRAZ, 13-year-old Katrina is also struggling with depression and it is that emotion that is largely responsible for setting her feet on the path to trouble.
In the Study Guide at the back of the School Edition of THE TRAZ, I mention Katrina's depression, the treatment she could have received, the options she could have excerised, and the prevalence of depression among young teens. As well, contact information for Help Lines around the world is listed in the Reference section.
Although depression has to be recognized by both the teen and the adults in their lives, and it has to be named and discussed before effective treatment can be initiated, I also include a warning that group discussions of depression and suicide often increase the incidents of suicides and attempted suicides in young audiences.
Despite the darkness of the topic, very effective treatments are available to ease the pain of depression in people of all ages.
Eileen Schuh, Author
Schrödinger's Cat
THE TRAZ
Acting out behaviour such as deliquency, truancy, and even violence, in young teens is often the result of undiagnosed depression. Not only are those entering their teen years facing new and difficult challenges, they are also experiencing tremendous hormonal changes. It's a lethal combination that often puts youngsters at-risk.
In THE CAR THIEF Alex has no words for what he's going through, and no understanding of why. The adults in his life also appear blind to the deep depression driving his behaviour. No one is able to put words to the depression. Incarceration is used to deal with Alex, rather than treatment.
Although this novel takes place in 1959, the same issues face today's teens. In my novel THE TRAZ, 13-year-old Katrina is also struggling with depression and it is that emotion that is largely responsible for setting her feet on the path to trouble.
In the Study Guide at the back of the School Edition of THE TRAZ, I mention Katrina's depression, the treatment she could have received, the options she could have excerised, and the prevalence of depression among young teens. As well, contact information for Help Lines around the world is listed in the Reference section.
Although depression has to be recognized by both the teen and the adults in their lives, and it has to be named and discussed before effective treatment can be initiated, I also include a warning that group discussions of depression and suicide often increase the incidents of suicides and attempted suicides in young audiences.
Despite the darkness of the topic, very effective treatments are available to ease the pain of depression in people of all ages.
Downloadable to Kindles, computers, iPads, Smartphones, etc. with the Kindle app.
Have a look at this book, the guide at the back, and the accompanying list of resources. It may be exactly what you need to help yourself or a youngster in your life.
Click here to download THE TRAZ School Edition
THE TRAZ School Edition
Eileen Schuh, Author
Schrödinger's Cat
THE TRAZ
