Parenting the Mentally Ill Adolescent in America

Part I
General Issues: Parenting the Mentally Ill Adolescent 

(cont'd from June 26th, 2011)

Wendla A. Schwartz, MD

Continued from June 26, 2011

Finally

“Parenting the Mentally Ill Adolescent in America” is written specifically with the distracted, distraught parent in mind. Reading a book like this generally occurs in the midst of a crisis, not when things are going well. Parents are fearful and often confused. I have attempted to provide a professional, straightforward and honest description of typical versus atypical behavior easily observable in a variety of circumstances. Parents will find here simple, direct suggestions regarding what to do about those observable behaviors. Where appropriate, resources for follow-up are listed.  Although this is not a book on psychiatric pathology and it’s focus is the application of appropriate parenting techniques in atypical circumstance considerable time is spent examining the fine line between typical adolescent behavior and adolescent psychiatric illness. Where possible indicators including symptom lists are given suggesting psychiatric illness. The book seeks to educate the reader regarding symptoms suggestive of more severe issues and illness. 

This book seeks not to repair all that is wrong with the world, nor does it seek to solve all the problems of families or teens across the country. This is a book of suggestions for those of us raising twenty-first century American teenagers.  These suggestions may enlighten, surprise, delight, disappoint or inspire. It is this my hope that some will find answers here, some will find direction and perhaps some will find precisely what they were looking for all along. One last point I would like to make is that if you have any doubt at all about the mental health of a teenager it is important that you seek the advice of a mental health professional earlier rather than later. 


This text will be published in sections over the next several months on this blog in the hopes that it will provide ongoing support and information for families in need.

Wendla A. Schwartz, MD Board Certified Psychiatrist Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychopharmacologist