Research in Australia

Family Influences, Self-Control and Behaviours in Adolescence.   (pdf file size 157kb)

Click the title of above study to download file (pdf).    Download  Acrobat Reader .

PLEASE MAIL BACK TO ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE 31ST MAY 2003 - No Later!

There comes a time when people have to take control of their own and their children's destiny and to teach their children a valuable lesson in taking responsibility for their own future.

Too often I hear people blaming this government department or that school, this doctor or their own financial difficulties for the lack of facilities and accessibility to treatment options. And yes, I am one of them. However I can honestly say that I have never shied away from stepping outside my comfort zone (except to do bookwork or housework!) nor have I relied on others to find solutions for problems, especially when I have a brain that works well at problem solving and an ability to put plans into action.

Sometimes it gets so frustrating trying to start projects without funding;  most of the time it is because there is not enough information/data to prove that a need exists, even though everybody you are in contact with agrees the need is there. Unfortunately criteria needs to be met in all circumstances. For example, with ADHD I might get one government body saying "that is a State government issue" and then I will get "oh no, that is a federal health department issue!". I have lost count of the times I have heard the expression "our hands are tied".

Then something happens that could change the way that many different government bodies think about several issues all at the same time! A light globe goes off, and instead of lethargy and buck passing, you are presented with an opportunity to make things happen on a personal & government agency level! Personal - because you are taking action and being a part of the process instead of being a fence sitter; on a Government level - because you are having a say how areas of your life are being affected. You are standing up and being counted! This is one of those times........

The university I go to, Deakin University at Burwood in Victoria, has a post graduate student who needs participants to take part in an extremely valuable study regarding Teen Mental Health; this will  give the kids the chance to really say what is going on in their lives. Some of the subject matter is pretty confronting but very necessary; participants and their parents are welcome to discuss any of the questions with the contacts provided who are overseeing the project.

I must stress that this is about how kids think and not how you or your family may be perceived. The teen participating must be allowed to answer the questions honestly, without fear of reprisal from parents, even though there may be something that his parents do not agree with. Parental consent forms are provided and please do not alter the answers given as it will defeat the purpose of this study. How a parent perceives an area of a child's life can differ greatly from the way a teen sees it.

I cannot say enough just how important this study is. The outcomes could have far reaching effects not just within the education department and mental health areas, but also across the juvenile justice system. I would hazard at a guess, that there would be other organisations that will be able to make use of the outcomes from this study.

NOTE TO SECONDARY COLLEGES:  Perhaps you would to make this a school project? Parental consent forms are included in this document.

So, please download this file and take an active part in your community!

Please return before the 31st of May 2003!