Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Seeking a helping had

Sarah Barry, a senior at South Mecklenburg High, admits the stresses of being a teenager can sometimes be overwhelming.

She said she also sees her friends battle the demands of juggling classwork, a social life and extra curricular activities. Often, they feel alone and "don’t realize how many people out here care about them," Sarah said.

“If teens don’t start learning how to make good decisions ... now, they will struggle with those decisions when they are older. Making unhealthy decisions now can also have major implications on their lives down the road," Sarah says.

It's important to realize that asking for help is OK and realizing even the seemingly most composed individuals need a hand sometimes - we all do.

With the help of Teen Health Connection's Teen Advisory Board, and members of the Youth Expressions Summit, I have compiled a list of resources for teens that may need a helping hand.

Girl Talk
info@girltalkfoundationinc.com

Teens Taking Action
www.plannedparenthood.org.

ASPIRE
www.facebook.com/pages/Aspire-Youth-Leadership-and-Development-Program.
Teen Help Card:
Abuse/Emergency Housing:
Child Protective Services.....704-336-2273*
Rape Crisis.....704-375-9900*
Shelter for Battered Women.....704-332-2513*
The Relatives (Youth Crisis Shelter)....704-377-0602*

Counseling and Support:
Behavioral Health Center.....704-444-2400*
Kindermourn.....704-376-2580
Mobile Crisis Team.....704-566-3410*
Rape Crisis.....704-375-9900*
Suicide Hotline.....800-784-2433*
Teen Dating Violence.....704-336-3210
Teen Health Connection.....704-381-8336
Time Out Youth.....704-344-8335
United Family Services.....704-332-9034

Pregnancy and STI Prevention/Support:
Florence Crittenton.....704-372-4663
Mecklenburg County Health Department.....704-336-6500
Planned Parenthood.....704-536-7233
Pregnancy Resource Center.....704-372-5981
Teen Health Connection.....704-381-8336

Health Care:
Center for Disordered Eating.....704-381-4673
Mecklenburg County Health Department.....704-336-6500
Teen Health Connection.....704-381-8336

Academic Resources:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library.....704-416-0100

Alcohol and Substance Abuse:
AlAteen/Al-Anon.....704-523-1159
Alcoholics Anonymous.....704-332-4387
Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center.....704-376-7447
McLeod Center.....704-332-9001
Narcotics Anonymous.....704-366-8980*

Referral and Information Services:
Center for Prevention Services.....704-375-3784
Gang of One.....704-432-4264*
MeckLINK.....704-336-6404
Support Works.....704-331-9500
United Way Information Dial.....2-1-1
United Way Mobile.....866-744-7778

* denotes 24-hour availability

Photo: Teen Leaders at the Youth Expressions Summit at UNC Charlotte on Nov.19. Todd Sumlin - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

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