Recently a teenage boy who jumped out of a dorm window while drunk left a local college campus and community deeply shaken. He will probably be paralyzed for the rest of his life.  After hearing about this I read a distressing study about teenage self-destructive behavior. The Child and Adolescent Self harm Study From Europe (Brunel University September 4, 2008) reveals more disturbing data about teenagers and cutting.

1.    One out of four cases is not reported and 25% had not told anyone else. How many do we not know about?

Did you know that nearly 5,000 teenagers commit suicide each year and that suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 ?

There has been a number of teenagers suicides in the news lately that have been connected to bullying. Many of use are worried and frustrated about the rising problems in schools with bullying and teasing. The connection between bullying and teen depression and  suicide is becoming clearer.  It has been shown that teen suicide is often related to depression that can be worsened by rejection,  isolation,  being bullied, and not fitting in. 

Right now I am going through some major changes in my life, retirement, relationships traveling, finances, what else is there?  All change, no matter how planned or positive brings some anxiety along with excitement. This article came to me just in time to give me a needed boost. Thanks to my terrific financial advisor Jay Cappon who wrote it.  Check him out at his great website

                                                  Change: How Best To Deal With It

Virginia Duffy is Heading To Africa

  I am am excited to tell you that I will be heading for Africa for 3 months to do volunteer work with children. This has been a long-term dream of combining my love of volunteer work with my desire to see this wonder continent and all its glory. As my grandchildren are growing up, I am also excited to spend some time with children. I will spend my 3 months in two different areas, with different projects. . My first 6 weeks will be at the orphanage Children of the Rising Sun, located in Malinda, which is in the Coast province of Kenya. Malinda is a beautiful area with white beaches and palm trees. It is a major tourist town with various historical sites.

Courage is not not being afraid. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. Ask James Bond.  Here is a great interview that can be a lesson in reality. Click on read more and share it if you like it.

read more | digg story

I just finished presenting four talks for the Pensylvania State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) conference in Harrisburg.

I spoke about

• Dealing with Emotions During Emergencies
• Dealing with the Angry Person and Preventing Escalation
• Dealing with the Confused Person
• Managing the Hysterical Patient.

Watch my site for postings on some of these topics.

 I want to share some of this great experience. First of all the people. All those who attended my workshops seemed truly interested in learning how to help their patients deal with the emotional stress of emergencies.  They were open to new ideas and had lots of experience and ideas themselves about what worked to calm people down.

I was pretty concerned  when I read this Time article about soldiers being medicated for burnout or compassion fatigue or stress and many other psychological concerns.

How can any thinking human being be in a battle zone, risking their life and seeing others killed not be distressed?  We are fooling outself if we think this is possible.  To  think that an antidepressant will help this kind of sadness and distress is just naive.  I am sure the prescribers know better.

My bigger concern in this article is the mention of Clonazepam (Klonopin) for anxiety and Ambien for sleep.

 Sorry I am a little late with this blog posting. I just got home from a trip to Long Island where I grew up. In a small beach town on the south shore of Suffolk county I spent 4 days reminiscing and experiencing many bittersweet memories.

This visit I saw some friends I had not seen in 50 years; it was amazing how the memories came rushing back in a group setting with everyone talking of their personal remembrances. We each had something to share about that time so long ago.

   Buried at Work? 

I found an online article listing questions parents should ask before considering psychiatric hospitalization for their children.  I think there are some qood questions here, but I would like to add my 2 cents to certain questions. 

In the spirit of full disclosure I am a Psychiatric NP with many years experience including inpatient units. Psychiatric admissions and hospitalizations have changed dramatically in the last 20 years. What used to be for weeks even months is now days.