about Respect Rx

Hey all! I'm Courtney Macavinta, co-author of the best-selling book for teen girls RESPECT and founder of Respect Rx, which is devoted to empowering girls, women and their advocates to boost self-respect, sisterhood and social change in their lives—and our world.
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Body Image + Health, Sex

Does Teen Depression = Risky Sex?

Hot Topic

Sexually experienced teens with higher levels of depressive symptoms are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, a new University of California, San Francisco study shows.

Rx: The study's lead author Dr. Jocelyn A. Lehrer told Reuters Health, and I agree, that: "The study findings underscore that it is important for parents to be familiar with signs of depression among adolescent boys and girls. In addition to providing strong and consistent emotional support to their teens, it is important for parents to encourage and actively support their teens in seeking mental health care when needed."

We know that when we are hurting or struggling, the self-respect boosting move is to get help (that's why it's Respect Basic No. 7). And when it comes to sex, having negative or not-so-fulfilling experiences also leads to depression: Girls can fall into major disrepsect spirals in the sexual arena when we are feeling down about ourselves, exploited, or like no one cares about us.

And the depression-sex connection made by the UCSF study is just another reason we need to offer teens well-rounded Sex Ed that covers:
• the mind-body-soul (not just will you or won't you)
• their options
• communication skills
• building internal resources and self-respect
• how to make healthy choices for YOU, based on your values and needs
• how to take responsibility for your health
• what to do when it doesn't feel right across the board and how to set new boundaries, get support, bounce back

Young adults (all of us?) need more holistic support when it comes to taking care of themselves and making decisions about sex (and everything before and after). This is especially critical when you consider that half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in people under 25 years of age.

Here are some tools you can use when it comes to the depression-sex connection:

Dealing with Depression

Sex: The 7 Questions

Help! Mental Health

 

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<< Previous: My Daughter's Friends Are Disrespectful | Next:That's Hot >>