Do I need a diagnosis? By Robin (PSY) The question of whether or not an official diagnosis of a mental illness is necessary can be complex and difficult to answer. First, let’s be clear about what we mean by “diagnosis.” Typically, when someone suspects something is wrong mentally or emotionally, they will seek help, either by discussing their concerns with peers (ex. members of TeenHelp) or by meeting with a medical or psychological professional. Generally, the only person who can offer an...

Keeping guinea pigs as pets By Hester (Peppermint Tea.♥) So you’re thinking about getting a pet, but aren’t sure which animal to choose. Perhaps you’ve already decided against a cat or a dog because they're too large or too much work. Guinea pigs are small, can be kept in cages and are very cute and cuddly. Guinea pigs (also known as piggies) belong to the cavy family, and are originally from South America, where they were considered a delicacy! They are now considered very popular pets,...

Finding out that you are going to be a father By Lyndsee (Heartlines.) You just found out you're going to be a father. Your emotions are all over the place; you might be shocked, happy, anxious, or upset. You have a lot of questions: "How are we going to afford this child?" "Do we keep it?" "Is it mine?" These are all natural emotions to feel and questions to have. The way in which one reacts or feels can depend on the person, the relationship with the mother, things going on in one's...

Who suffers from mental illness? By Robin (PSY) Many of you may be familiar with the nature vs. nurture debate in regards to mental illness. To briefly summarize, some people believe that genetics determine whether or not individuals will suffer from mental illness, while other people believe that the environment and life events are more responsible for this. In reality, nature AND nurture interact with each other. So what does this mean for those who worry that they or their loved ones may...

The Dangers of Self-Diagnosis By Robin (PSY) “I'm depressed.” This statement may seem straightforward at first, but think about it for a moment. If someone you knew said, “I'm depressed,” what would you conclude? Would you assume that they were merely feeling sad, and that their feelings would go away after a few days? Or would you assume that they were suffering from a chronic mental illness, where their mood was affected by a number of biological and environmental factors? Your conclusion...

Stress free tips for going back to school By Hollie (Belle.) Going back to school after a break is definitely something that can be very stressful. Whether the break has been short or very long, returning after it is long dreaded and often unhappy for many reasons. The last minute dash to get decent school shoes when most other people have the same idea, trying to find a big enough school bag to fit all the necessary items , trying desperately to finish all the holiday homework you’d...

Wanting to be a teenage mum By Hester (Peppermint Tea.♥) It is very common for a teenager to want a child. You see a new mother pushing her tiny one in a pushchair and you get that overwhelming desire to have one of your own. Teenage parenthood is all the rage at the moment. With programmes like Teen Mom being aired with massive ratings, it’s no wonder that the Internet is full of teenagers with aspirations to become young parents. If you look on any teen help forum you’ll likely find...

How to overcome nail biting By Hester (Peppermint Tea.♥) Nail biting is a habit that a lot of people struggle with, from children, to teens, even adults. For some people, nail biting is something that they do when they are stressed. Other people get a feeling of comfort or security from it. Nail biting can cause damage to your fingers and nails. Short-term damage can include sore or bleeding nail beds, hang nails and infections. Although nail biting doesn’t usually cause long-term...

Young carers (caregivers) – Caring for a loved one By Jessie (Palmolive) How to know if you’re a carer for someone with a mental or physical health problem. If you are under the age of 18 and provide care to a family member, you are considered a young caregiver. It may be the case that your parent suffers with an illness that results in you not only caring for them, but also caring for your siblings. You don’t necessarily have to live with the person you care for. Caring for...

Rainbow pancakes By Cheye (Tigerlily.) You may be wondering how to make a regular stack of pancakes more exciting and colourful. A great way to do so is by making them 'rainbow pancakes'. For this you would need at least six colours to complete the rainbow. If you plan on cooking just for yourself and can't eat a whole batch of pancakes, try making mini pancakes. They are approximately three inches in diameter (7.5-8 cm), meaning it doesn't take much batter, and they cook in less than...

How to train a child By Robin (PSY) How many times have you been out in public and witnessed a child throwing a temper tantrum or sobbing uncontrollably because they didn't get what they wanted? How have you felt in those situations? Did you feel the parent or caretaker could have done a better job at handling the situation? What would you have done differently? Working with children can be very challenging, whether you are the parent, sibling, extended family member, a friend, or...

What is queer? By Jen (Arcenciel) The commonly used initialism “LGBT” stands for the four main "types" of sexual orientation and gender identity groups: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. However, did you know that the initialism is actually longer than just four letters? One version of the very long initialism is "LGBTQQ2IAP." This stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirited, intersex, asexual, and pansexual. Since these labels are so...

Seven steps to be self-harm free By Jordan (MacGuffin) Millions of teenagers today struggle with the issue of self-mutilation, or the intentional self-infliction of bodily injury. According to a recent study published in Reuters, one in twelve teenagers are thought to engage in self-harming behaviors, with girls between the ages of 15 and 24 being at the greatest risk. In addition, people who self-harm pose an increased risk of suicide. According to the study, someone who is treated...

The Bathroom Mirror by Craig Barton By Robin (PSY) Many users on TeenHelp have been inspired by Craig Barton's (a.k.a. CanadaCraig) compassionate and encouraging words at some point, whether it was a random visitor message or a response to a thread. Recently, Craig wrote a book called The Bathroom Mirror, which I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing this month. Some of you may be thinking, "How well could a 49-year-old possibly relate to me?" The answer is,...

Spending quality time with your family By Suvrita (Childish Giggle) There may be many things going on in a teenager's life, such as school, homework, friends, and relationships. In this fast track life, we can sometimes forget our families. Even when we are with them physically we are not always present mentally. Often we are too busy texting people to find out about the events of our family's lives. Why is there a need to spend quality time with our family? Do you...