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Teen Issues

Bullying, self-esteem, anxiety, online peer pressure, relationships and drug and alcohol addiction are some issues facing teens. Explore how agencies like Youthline and reliable sites (Teen Health) offer support and advice to teens. SCIS No. 1830223

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Gang girl

Teenage gang girl Tarnz speaks with brutal honesty about her extraordinary life.

CanTeen

CanTeen, is an organisation that supports young people living with cancer.

Teenagers and risk

Article about the teenage brain and risk-taking behaviour.

Cyberbullying

Cartoon about cyberbullying.

Teenage pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy

International comparisons regarding New Zealand teenage pregnancy.

Obese told to exercise

Obese told to exercise

Cartoon relating obesity.

Early newspaper article providing tips on how to cure acne.

Binge drinking

Cartoon that refers to teens and alcohol prices.

The causes of teen sleep disorders

A study into teenage sleeping patterns has found depression and anxiety are leading causes of sleep disorders.

Unemployment and teen suicides

Unemployment and teen suicides

High rates of youth suicide in New Zealand could be due to high unemployment.

Teen dope users less likely to qualify

Teenagers who use cannabis daily are 60 percent less likely to complete high school or get a degree than non-users, a study has found.

Pressure on teen sports stars

The issues that come with students taking up sports too early.

Young New Zealand Indian's body image

Young New Zealand Indian's body image

An alarming number of young Asians living in New Zealand are desperately trying to put on weight to fit in with their peers.

A Grammar school

An early newspaper article about how a school bully was punished.

Nitrous oxide

Cartoon referring to the use of nitrous oxide by teenagers.

Concern that students are more highly stressed

A principal says there are unprecendented levels of stress among secondary school students, with many suffering anxiety disorders due to pressure associated with their education.

Attitude

Attitude is a weekly series looking at the issues and interests of people living with a disability. This episode features Kiwi teenager George Cairney, who suffered a serious head injury after gett...

Only when you're ready

Family planning cards, designed to educate young people about sexually transmitted infections and teenage peer pressure.

Advice versus culture - the Pasifika mental health battle

Sufferers of mental illness are often encouraged to talk but Pacific people in New Zealand tell Koro Vaka'uta they feel trapped by a culture of silence.

The decline in the smoking rate for Maori teenage girls

A survey of 570 Maori teenage girls who smoked everyday, shows about 250 of them quit the habit last year.

He Huarahi Tamariki – School for teenage parents

He Huarahi Tamariki – School for teenage parents

How does this school operate and what positive impact has it had on its students.

First teens graduate from Govt-funded 'boot camp'

Some of the first teenage offenders to be sentenced to so-called boot camp have graduated from the programme.

Police officer wants classical music to calm trouble-making teenagers

Police officer wants classical music to calm trouble-making teenagers

A crowd of teenagers at a party is out of control and making a lot of noise. A policeman shouts through a loud hailer asking them to be quiet for a moment while they listen to a Bach violin concert...

It's getting out of control

Small towns in Northland are being called increasingly lawless.

Teen drinking cartoon

Teen drinking cartoon

This 2010 cartoon shows a shop owner being questioned about selling beer to a teenager, while a huge truck carrying alcopops (including one in 'breast flavour') passes behind. The implication is th...

Concern growing over teenage thugs

Concern growing over teenage thugs

The scene is the kitchen of an ordinary New Zealand household. Mother is working at the table while father lounges nearby with an empty beer can at his feet. A baby and another child play on the fl...

Sleep disorders in New Zealand teenagers

Last week saw media reports stating that, alarmingly, almost 40% of New Zealand teenagers have a sleep disorder. This stemmed from a Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners press release...

Kingi’s story

Kingi’s story

Kingi (Mitchell Manuel) is a teenager who veers down a path of petty crime.

Prison after fatal boy racer crash

Police say the prison sentence handed down to a fourth person involved in a fatal Hawke's Bay boy racer incident sends a strong message to illegal street racers.

School culture crucial for LGBT students

New research has shown lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students' mental health outcomes are affected by the environment of the school they attend.

Let RIP

Inexperience, speeding, distractions and alcohol are all factors that contribute to car accidents caused by teen drivers. In 2015 young drivers were responsible for 72 fatal crashes, 464 serious in...

Teenagers + alcohol

Teenagers + alcohol

New Zealand student culture has had a strong tradition of alcohol use. Binge drinking, which is a term used to describe large amounts of alcohol being consumed within a short period of time, is pop...

“Whaddya mean my kid's overweight?”

“Whaddya mean my kid's overweight?”

This cartoon refers to the growing issue of obesity among young New Zealanders. Approximately 32 per cent of children and teens will be overweight or obese by 2025. Research has found that obese ch...

Getting charged

Getting charged

Cartoon about cyber bullies.

Students tell of being bullied for learning problems

Teenagers' stories of being bullied and mistreated by teachers because of their learning problems sparked a standing ovation from MPs today.

Advice versus culture – the Pasifika mental health battle

Pacific people in New Zealand tell Koro Vaka'uta they feel trapped by a culture of silence.

Rape culture in the spotlight: a week to forget for Wellington schools

Two Wellington schools have made headlines this week for the wrong reasons.

An Australian site covering all aspects of health.

Information and support for Kiwis with depression.

What is bullying, who is at risk and how do you prevent it?

Teenagers and social media

These 15 astonishing facts about the social media life of teens spill out the beans in numbers.

Information about a number of issues teens face.

Queer + gender diverse

Information about issues related to identity.

Teen suicide series is 'resonating with young people'

13 Reasons Why, which went online two weeks ago worldwide, is about a teenager called Hannah Baker who commits suicide.

Information, videos and activities on topics like fitness, safety, relationships and feelings.

New Zealand teen suicide rates

New Zealand has the highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world.

An Australian site covering all aspects of health for teens.

Site provides a free counselling and information services for teens.

Self-confidence

Caileigh Lydon talks about self-confidence at TEDxYouth.

Young men’s health

Young Men's Health, is a website for teen guys and young men featuring up-to-date health information.

Teenage fertility in New Zealand

The rate of teenage childbearing in New Zealand is high by OECD standards.

The voice of NZ youth.

Information about a range of teen issues.

A free, confidential helpline for those suffering from domestic violence.

Mobile phone harassment and abuse

A look at the problems of harassment and bullying on phones and mobiles.

Hoodies, louts, scum': how media demonises teenagers

Research finds negative stories in the press make teenage boys frightened of each other.

A short film about body image for teens.

Adolescence and youth problems

Video about the issues some youth face.

Adolescent issues

Unit plan on adolescent issues.

Youthline has information on a range of teen topics.

Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand

Information about eating disorders.

10 years of Skins: the show that revealed the explicit truth about teenage life.

Center for young women’s health

Information about a number of health issues for young women.

Boggie : Parfum music video

Music video showing how beauty can be constructed digitally.

New Zealander of the Year, Taika Waititi on why it’s not okay to be racist.

Video about social issues faced by teenagers.

A safe site for teens that need honest, accurate information about health, emotions, and life.

A gallery of images related to bullying.

Information about STIs and safer sex.

Why are teens so moody?

A look inside the teenage brain.

Managing stress

Stress and how to manage it.

Teenagers in The Times

Monthly collections of Times articles featuring young people in the news.

Don’t let a day go by without looking after yourself, even in small ways.

Self-esteem tips

Tips on how to deal with body image issues.

Stressed Out by twenty one pilots.

Teen suicide in the north

Every 67 hours a young person in New Zealand kills themself.