By Angela Brown

Light of Christ guest speaker offers advice helping depressed teens

May 19, 2018 | 1:56 PM

A Light of Christ Catholic School Division guest speaker gave parents and people working with youth some insights into helping teens with mental health issues when he visited North Battleford.

Counsellor Roy Petitfils spoke to about 35 people at the Helping Hurting Teens event at the Light of Christ Learning Centre Thursday evening.

Over the past six months, there have been several suicides involving young people in the Battlefords that have impacted the community, which the Louisiana-based author alluded to in his presentation.

“They have undergone a lot of trauma, a lot of serious trauma in this area,” Petitfils said following the event. 

He encouraged people “not to feel powerless as parents and as adults in the lives of these young people, because it can be so difficult to talk about suicide and these vulnerable issues.”

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Petitfils, who has participated in the TED Talks series, acknowledged adolescence is a difficult time in a child’s development but wants parents to have a sense of hope in the fact they can have a positive influence in their child’s life.

One woman attending the event asked why teens today are so angry.

“They are all grieving here,” Petitfils said, acknowledging how the recent suicides have affected other youth. “The generation is disenchanted.”

Petitfils said there are many factors that might cause a teen to contemplate suicide. They may be struggling with anxiety and stress, which can lead to depression. Bullying is another issue that can contribute to teen suicide. He said social media also causes stress in teens’ lives. He said some warnings signs youth may be suicidal include increased drug and alcohol use, depression, feelings of humiliation, as well as dropping grades. 

In response, Petitfils advised parents to get to know their adolescent children better and spend more time listening to find out what they are thinking about. If parents are worried their child may be suicidal they should ask if the child wants to talk about it. Petitfils stressed talking about suicide doesn’t cause someone to consider it.

“Talking helps,” he said.

Parents were encouraged to avoid being judgmental, to be supportive but “don’t try to be your teen’s friend.”  

He said if parents are concerned they should come right out and ask their teen if they are considering suicide and if they have a plan, and to take their words seriously.

“Go with them to get help,” he said.   

Light of Christ Director of Education Cory Rideout said the international speaker also gave presentations to John Paul II Collegiate students on Thursday morning and planned to speak to Light of Christ staff all-day Friday.

“The teaching staff has been through a lot in the last few months,” added Rideout. “I think his message will kind of calm the anxiety and I suppose give some answers to people, especially some of our staff that were involved, and struggling. So it’s good; we’re very proud to have him.” 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW