Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Loved Ones of those Who Harm By Casey (Casey.) Self harm is a very difficult thing to understand. It is scary to find out that your best friend or sibling is harming themselves. It is even scarier to learn that your child is cutting or otherwise hurting themselves as a way to cope. Most people don't understand exactly what self harm is; those who do may not know how to help. Self harm is just what it sounds like. ...

Are you a young carer? The impact of caring on young carers By Holly (Celyn) What is a young carer? Put simply, young carers are young people (under the age of 18) who provide care or support for someone else, often a family member (regardless of whether they live in the same house or not). This might be for someone older such as a parent or grandparent, or for someone younger such as a younger sibling. The care provided depends on the person, their disability (mental illness or physical...

Staying committed to your goals By Jen (Ethereal.) Make sure your goals are attainable and give yourself a reasonable amount of time to accomplish them. Don’t get carried away with ideas and dreams, stay realistic! Having a to-do list and a planner handy will really help at keeping yourself organized when it comes to your goals, as well as anything else you have to get done. Talk to people and let them know that you are trying to commit to doing (or dropping) something...
2 Comments

Discussing self-harm with a loved one By Kyra (Viridian) Self-harm is often a private matter, and letting someone in on something so personal is never easy. Feeling unsure of where to start, even when wanting to tell someone such as a family member, partner or friend is not at all unusual. Many self-harmers are afraid of telling someone for fear of them ‘freaking out’ in the case of a parent, a breakup in the case of a partner, or abandonment if it’s a friend. Here are several steps one may...

Protecting yourself from abusive individuals By Robin (PSY) Most of us have been confronted by another person, either physically or verbally. As scary as those moments can be, the events following the confrontation can be even more frightening. What do you do when someone continuously harasses or threatens you? Is there anything you can do to stop your abuser, even if they haven't physically harmed you? The simple answer is yes! There are several steps you can take to make someone ...

My volunteer family By Anonymous Have you ever thought about volunteering? TeenHelp is where you should start because we have so many areas to pick from - Community Mentors, HelpLINK Mentors, Forum Moderators, Articles Writer and so much more. The staff are so sweet and always helpful, I love working with all of them. I joined TeenHelp because something horrible happened and everything changed so fast and I needed help and I found TeenHelp. Everyone was so nice and helpful to me...

The Dating Game Written by: devs711 This is my guide as to how to navigate "the dating game". DISCLAIMER: Please remember that this is a guide based on reading many threads, hearing stories, and personal experience. It is by no means conclusive. Also, every girl, guy, and situation is different. These are general guidelines. It is up to you to customize it to fit your needs. Now lets get started! You like someone! "Huh? wait, oh god. AHHHHH!!!! What do I do????" If that is remotely...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 6 (November 2007). Friendship and Forgiving by .Infinity. (Mel) In your lifetime you will meet many people. Within these people you meet, you will often befriend someone. Sometimes during a friendship you may have a few disagreements, which at some point may cause arguments. These arguments can be small, but at other times they can be fairly large. While sometimes the argument may end quickly, at other times it may never end. Never-ending...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 9 (February 2008). Depression by *xxjessxx*, Katiee & .Infinity. (Mel) An introduction - What is depression? Depression is an illness that affects your body, as well as your mood, thoughts and behaviors. As your self-esteem levels tend to change, your eating and sleeping patterns can change as well. Despite what some people say, depression isn’t just something where you can just “pull yourself together” from. It takes a lot of time and...

Here is How to Develop Your Math Skills Quickly If you want to rapidly improve your math skills but are worried that it isn’t possible, then relax because although it might seem overwhelming now, there are clear steps you can take to improve your knowledge in a short period of time. The worst approach you can take is to panic. Your brain will simply shut off and prevent you from soaking up any more knowledge. While stress is understandable if you have a test coming up or an assignment...
2 Comments

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). U.S. Bill of Rights By Casey (Casey.) In the United States, we have the Constitution, and in the body of the Constitution is the U.S. Bill of Rights, which is comprised of the first ten amendments. Many democratic countries have a Bill of Rights, which are the rights that the people of that nation are entitled to. There are ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights. The first is the most commonly known amendment, but...

The Relationship Game Written by: devs711 Here is my long awaited (or not so awaited) sequel to my article from a while ago entitiled "The Dating Game". OMG! You have a boyfriend/girlfriend! Congratulations!!! Now, I would love to tell you that the hard part is over, but, to be honest, I would be lying. Relationships can and usually will test your inner thoughts and emotions. In order to keep it all going smoothly, you are going to have to be completely steadfast on what you want...

Staying long-term with a supportive community By Anonymous I've been a member of TeenHelp for 18 years now, and a volunteer in various capacities for much of that time. TeenHelp has a superpower that keeps it relevant and important even 20 years later and that's its volunteers and community. Being a part of TeenHelp for so long has done a lot to shape who I am and where I'm at now in my life. TeenHelp was there for me when I needed support and a community the most, and has played a...

Teen Resume Guide Are you a teenager eager to enter the workforce and kick-start your career? Writing an impressive teen resume can be the key to opening doors and securing valuable opportunities. A well-crafted resume showcases your skills, achievements, and potential, helping you stand out from the crowd. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential steps of creating a winning teen resume, highlighting the importance of including volunteer experience to enhance your...
4 Comments

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 9 (March 2010). Self Injury by Emily (bringontherain) Self injury is intentionally hurting oneself to the point of causing tissue damage or leaving marks for more than a few minutes. About 1% of the population, three million people in the United States alone, have intentionally harmed themselves at some point in their lives. This intentional harm can range anywhere from scratching to limb amputation. The most common forms, especially in...