How to Help Teens in Crisis

There are so many situations that teenagers can get involved in that immediately put them in crisis situations. An unexpected pregnancy, drunk driving, a parental divorce, a sibling suicide, abusive dating, are all just a few examples of crisis situations which teens may be involved.

Here are four examples of how you can help a teen through these crisis situations   1.)    Build relationships.
As adults, you have to earn the right to be heard.
 You have freedom to be with teenagers, but you do not have the right to be like them.

 Be yourself. Be real. Look for commonalities, things that you like to do that they like to do.

 We've all got a past.
 Use that past to build a bridge with the present.
  2.)    Be willing to help.

Teenagers are more willing to make changes in their lives during times of stress.
 They are willing to seek alternatives, other possibilities and need some guidance and direction.

  3.)    Look for teachable opportunities.
Stories are great teaching tools.
 We all have stories.

 Make your stories or use case studies relevant to teens.

 Be willing to ask a lot of questions, especially questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. Share your personal values, "this is what I believe.
" 4.)    Share your basic life skills. You are a model. Teens are watching you and how you handle crisis situations in your life.

 They look at your problem solving skills and often times use them as their own.
 So if you solve your problems with alcohol, they may do the same.
 So be careful how you live.  Often times just forming a relationship with a teen will help prevent many crisis situations they may find themselves in. Most just want attention and someone to talk to.

 Remember when you were a teen? If your parents were aliens from another planet, who did you talk to? Aren't you glad that person was there for you? My person was my youth pastor.
 He didn't just use those four examples with me, he also used a fifth. 5.

)    Share your faith.

He was real.

 He was simple.

 And his faith went beyond the stained glass.  If you are a parent of teens, get your teen into a youth program where they have the opportunity to make and form relationships with other adults.

 But for safety sake, look for programs that require background checks on the adults in their programs.