Looking for a good resource for your teens to learn some real-world advice on dating? Look no further than this free download from Annie Fox, M.Ed. Her website also has some other free downloads, so be sure to check it out!

Teen Survival Guide [2.4 MB PDF file]

Congrats to Dalton Banister, our StayTeen video contest winner! Daltonis 17 years old and is home schooled in Portales. He is very involved in our community. Check out his video to get a sense of his involvement! Enjoy the extra spending money this holiday season! We’ve posted Dalton’s winning entry below.

We would like to thank all of our participants for your hard work and creativity in helping us with this contest. Judging was more difficult thanks to all of your wonderful submissions.

We would like to apologize for a typo in the initial post about the Council’s StayTeen video contest. We initially posted that the winner would be selected and announced on December 15. This was incorrect.

The winner will be announced on Friday, December 18 at 10:00 am at the Bank of Clovis, and will be highlighted here on the website soon after. Come join us at 300 Main Street in Clovis on Friday morning!

Submitted by Savannah Armijo

Submitted by Ben Singletary

Submitted by Isaac Gonzales

Submitted by Sarah Dobson

Submitted by Dalton Banister

Submitted by Ethan Peterson

One lucky Curry Co. teen could win a $1,000 cash prize!

In conjunction with the national Stay Teen Organization video upload program, the Curry County Wellness Council is sponsoring a local “How Do YOU Stay Teen” video contest.  The national Stay Teen Organization has a website where teens can upload their own videos, taken from a cell phone or video camera, that describe what “Stay Teen” means to them.

Locally, the Curry County Wellness Council is using this successful approach by sponsoring a video contest within the county. Teens will be able to make their own 30 second video/public service announcement using their cell phones or camera. These videos will feature what they do to Stay Teen, whether that be motocross to cheerleading to playing in a band, or whatever!  Most importantly, they are activities that you do when you don’t have the responsibilities of raising a baby.  All videos will be shown online and one talented teen will be chosen to win $1000 in December.

Just take some video and edit it (or not) as you see fit.  The ending audio should be something like:  “Here’s life without adult responsibilities – remember Just Stay Teen.”

Entries must be submitted no later than midnight on Monday, November 30th. Judging will commence on December 1st thru the 11th, with a winner to be announced by December 15th.

Why should you enter?  Because of a cash prize of $1000 that is sponsored by The Bank of Clovis and the Wellness Council.

Only one prize, one winner. Start making your plans or working out your ideas and have fun. Someone will win!

How To Enter:

Upload your final video to YouTube.com and email a link to the video to currywellness@gmail.com. Be sure to include “StayTeen Contest” in the subject line. Your entry will be featured on our website and judging will begin on December 1st, 2009.

If any teen is interested in participation, program details are available from Ms. Kathy Valunas at Clovis High School.

There will be a Teen Apex Event on Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 12-2 p.m. at the Lincoln Jackson Family Center. The event will be geared towards local 7th and 8th grade students. Free hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided. Guest speaker, Kenneth White from Cannon Air Force Base will speak to the students about leadership and will give a step dancing demonstration along with his military dance troop. For more information, please call Christina at (575) 769-2103.

Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 6, 2009. The purpose of the National Day is straightforward. Too many teens still think “It can’t happen to me.” The National Day helps teens understand that it can happen to them and that they need to think seriously about what they would do in the moment. (www.thenationalcampaign.org)

The Curry County Wellness Council has planned activities during the week of May 4-9 in recognition of this important national event. The Wellness Council will have kiosks set up at three different locations where teens will be able to take the national online survey and will have a chance to win many prizes including a grand prize drawing of an Apple ipod Nano. The kiosks will be set up at the following location and times:

Taco Box             May 4-8    3:30-5:00 p.m.
Java Loft              May 8-9    6:00-8:00 p.m.
North Plains Mall     May 9     1:00-5:00 p.m.

Teens may also take the national survey throughout the month of May at StayTeen.org.

It is perfectly normal to feel sad or upset, or to be unhappy with situations in your life.  But when these feelings linger for weeks, months and even years, depression needs to be considered.

Depression is a considered to be one of the most common health conditions in the world.  It is a medical illness that involves both the mind and body.  Depression can be caused by a variety of genetic, biochemical and environmental factors.  Some individuals can experience just one episode of depression while other may experience repeated episodes of depression. Depression does not discriminate and no one is immune from the risk of getting depression.

The essential feature of depression is experiencing a depressed mood, or the loss of interest or pleasure, in nearly all activities.  Other symptoms may include changes in appetite or weight: decreased sleep or too much sleep: fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plans, or attempts.

For children or adolescents depression is experienced by moods that are irritable rather than sad, increased aggression, withdrawal, isolative behaviors and complaints of chronic headaches.

These symptoms may vary from person to person.  They can interfere with a persons relationships, work, daily activities, and even a persons ability to eat, bathe, and care for themselves.  While depression can affect anyone, its effect may vary depending on a person’s age and gender.

If uncared for, depression can take a terrible toll on an individual’s life and on their families.  Depression usually doesn’t get better on its own, and may get worse if left untreated.  Depression can place an individual at risk for suicide, substance abuse, anxiety heart diseases, other medical conditions, work/school problems, family conflicts and social isolation.

Effective diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the symptoms of depression.  There a variety of methods available for the treatment of depression.  Treatment can consistent of medications, psychotherapy, cognitive-behavior therapy and alternative type therapies such as acupuncture or Tai Chi.  If you think you may have symptoms depression, seek professional care.  If you have a loved one who you think may have these symptoms of depression encourage them to seek professional care and support. Depression is treatable and can be helped to improve the quality of a person’s life.

Submitted by Corrine Casarez-Turner, LPCC, Mental Health Resources

Are television, movies, and magazines glamorizing teen pregnancies today? Newsweek has an interesting article and accompanying video with an interview of one teen’s perspective. Check it out and give us your feedback in the comments.