Helping Youth in High-Risk Situations

Abstract

Youth today are at risk because of a host of family, personality, and situational factors. Most adolescents face the stresses of rapid developmental changes and challenging life events constructively. But significant numbers of others rely on passive, withdrawing, aggressive, or other destructive or negative behaviors in their attempts to deal with their problems. Often adults, or even the adolescent’s friends, are not readily available to help when needed.To help youth in high risk situations. you need to have four interrelated qualities: trustworthiness. genuineness. empathy. and honesty.