Teens
Teen Health: Take Charge of You!
Your teenage years are meaningful and memorable. The choices you make today for your health and well-being can change the rest of your life. Having a plan for what you want for your life is an important first step in helping YOU to live your best life! You have the power to make choices for yourself. DE Thrives can help guide you along the way.
It’s Your Life. Plan It.
When it comes to your health, relationships, and education, are you ready for what’s next? You’ll have a lot to consider as you figure out what matters to you and what kind of person you want to be. Don’t just let things happen to you. It’s your life. Be informed to make your own choices and make a life plan. My Life, My Plan: Teen can help.
My Life. My Plan: Teen
Female students are more than three times as likely to experience sexual dating violence and more than three times as likely to be forced to have sex than male students in the United States.
Dealing with Life Stresses
Life can be stressful. You not only have to deal with learning about yourself but the people around you, too. From different relationships, to bullying, every teen has stress to deal with. Looking for tips on how to manage? Check out the topics below:
It is important to first take care of yourself, and that starts with your emotions. Take time to learn about your emotions and how to deal with stress.
More than 1 in 3 U.S. students and nearly half of female students reported having constant feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Continued feelings of sadness or hopelessness are defined as having these feelings almost every day for two or more weeks in a row where the student stopped doing their usual activities.
- What makes you feel happy, sad, or stressed?
- Choose how and when to react by being aware of your emotions.
- What type of things lower your stress levels? Going outside for a walk, playing with a pet, self-expression activities such as art, talking with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor?
Now that you’re getting older, you have the chance to make your own health choices. Being involved in your own health will help you make better decisions for yourself, and you will stay healthier. What’s the best way to start? Talk to your health care provider
Tell your parent you would like to speak to your health care provider alone. This will give you some one-on-one time and will allow you to ask the questions
Don’t forget to get moving! Nearly 2 in 10 Delaware adolescents aged 10–17 were classified as being obese (a body mass index, BMI, for age and sex ≥95th percentile based on the 2019-2020 NSCH data). You should do 1 hour or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to get the most health benefits from physical activity. For teens, physical activity can help improve cognition, bone health, fitness, and heart health, and can also lessen the risk of depression.
Mix up the type of exercises you are doing by including aerobic activities (any activity that gets your heart beating faster such as cycling or running), muscle strengthening (lifting weights, using your own body weight such as push-ups), and bone strengthening exercises (weight-bearing exercises such as walking).
Did you know you can also get health services including a sport’s physical and emotional health services at a School-Based Health Center (SBHC)? Learn more about SBHCs and to see if your school has one.
A healthy relationship starts with you first — trying to be the person you want to be. Then, you start to have other relationships with your friends, your partner, and your family.
Relationships with friends
- You first need to build a relationship with friends that has respect on both sides. You should respect your friend. Your friend should respect you. Look for authentic safe relationships with people who care about, support, value, and respect you.
- If someone close to you is struggling with family problems, you don’t need to fix what’s wrong. Ask how they are doing, listen, and seek help if that is what is needed. Need support or someone to talk to? Check out the teen emotional health resources below.
- Be true to what you value. Don’t let others make you do or say something that doesn’t match up with your beliefs, who you are, or the person you want to be.
If you follow the above, in time you will start to find friends who have the same beliefs and values as you. You will start to see that you have made strong, respectful, and impactful relationships in your life. These relationships will help build and shape you as a person as you get older.
Relationships with your partner
- There needs to be respect and safety in every relationship, especially if you are in an emotional or sexual relationship with a partner.
- Set boundaries and know your limitations. If you are feeling uncomfortable in a relationship, you have the right to say “no” and walk away from unhealthy and unsafe relationships. This is not just limited to a partner but could be between friends or family as well. If you feel unsafe in any relationship or at home for any reason, you can get help! For free help, dial 2-1-1
, or text 302-231-1464 . The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers a 24-hour domestic violence hotline. If you live in Sussex and Kent Counties, call 302-422-8058 . If you live in Northern Kent County, call 302-678-3886 . If you live in New Castle County, call 302-762-6110 . For bilingual services call 302-745-9874 .
Relationships with your family
No family is “perfect.” Families come in all shapes and sizes with their own set of problems.
- Talk to an adult you trust, like a parent, older sibling, or counselor at school. If talking is difficult, send a text or email. Ask to see a counselor. In Delaware, if you are 14 years or older, you can see a counselor
without a parent.
Let’s be clear, bullying is never okay. It can happen in many ways: verbal, mental, physical, relational, cyber, and sexual. Rumors, teasing, hitting, and unwanted texts are all forms of bullying. Almost 1 in 5 students in the U.S. were bullied at school during the past year.
Verbal
Verbal bullying includes any sort of teasing, taunting, name-calling, or threatening by way of speech or written word.
Mental
Mental bullying includes any type of unwanted psychological harm. This could include believing the negative sayings the bully is trying to influence you with.
Physical
Physical bullying includes undesired and/or violent contact. This could include being slapped on the face.
Relational
Relational bullying is an attack on someone’s character or reputation.
Cyber
Cyberbullying happens over the internet, social media, and texting.
Sexual
Sexual bullying is a type of bullying and harassment that occurs in connection with a person’s sex, body, or sexual orientation, or with sexual activity.
What Can You Do About Bullying?
Try to ignore a bully or make sure you stick with your friends so you are not alone with a bully. Want to learn how to deal with a bully? Talk to a trusted adult or learn more about bullying.
You were born to stand out! Peer pressure can influence you in both good and bad ways. It can motivate you to strive for success or try to fit in, or it can impair your judgment and push you toward risky behaviors.
Feeling pressured? There are things you can do:
- Pay attention to your feelings. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
- Give an excuse. It can make it easier to say no if you have a ready reason.
- Have a secret code to communicate with friends or parents. Something you can say or text that lets them know you need out of a situation now.
- Plan ahead. Think about what you can say or do in many situations.
Need help? It could be good to talk to someone who can listen. Talking about how you feel can sometimes be awkward or difficult. Your voice matters. You matter. Contact the Crisis Text Line 24/7, by texting DE to the number 741-741
Are you sexually active or thinking about it? If you are sexually active, you may want to think about birth control. Unprotected sex can result in STIs/STDs
The first step is to learn your reproductive cycle
When you are thinking about birth control
Surprisingly, although the conversation may be difficult, most parents would want to make sure you’re using birth control and protection. Most teens don’t use birth control because they don’t want their parents to find out. Most likely your parents would want you to be safe. It may seem awkward at first to talk to your parents, but they can help protect you and avoid a mistimed or unwanted pregnancy.
If you aren’t able to talk to your parents about sex, talk to a trusted adult, family member, or your health care provider.
Did you know birth control for teens could be free?
What if You Find Out You’re Pregnant?
Pregnancy happens, even if you’re a teenager. Teen pregnancy comes with a high cost to your health. It also comes with emotional, social, and financial costs for both teen mothers and their children.
The Reality of Teen Pregnancy
Being a teen parent will force you to grow up fast. Think about it — being a teen parent is like babysitting all day, every day, and not getting paid. Parenthood is the main reason why most teen girls drop out of school. A baby won’t solve relationship problems or make your partner stay with you. Most teen fathers don’t marry the mother of their child. Graduation, college, parties, spring break, sleeping in … all the fun things you’re looking forward to will have to be put on hold, maybe even forever. The majority of families begun by a young unmarried mother are poor. Babies are expensive. Costs can add up to $10,000 in the first year alone. Without a degree or job, how would you pay for that?
If you do become pregnant, make sure you and your baby have the best chance for a healthy life — make sure you visit the health care provider in your first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you need help with insurance, you could qualify for Medicaid. Teen pregnancy comes with a high cost to your health. It also comes with emotional, social, and financial costs for both teen parents and their children.
There are programs to help you along your pregnancy journey.
The Home Visiting and Community Health Worker programs are two ways you can get help when it comes to navigating pregnancy. Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as a connection between health/social services and the community to simplify access to services and improve service delivery. CHWs aim to build individual and community capacity to improve health outcomes through a variety of activities such as outreach, health education, informal counseling, social support, linkages and referrals to health care, as well as community resources such as financial coaching or housing. There are Community Health Workers available statewide to help you.
The Home Visiting program can lead you in the right direction. A Family Support Specialist can help you to raise healthy children, support your education, and inform you about available resources that match your needs as a teen parent. Call 2-1-1
What else could you do to have a good pregnancy? Check out our Expectant Moms page.
Expectant Moms
Need Assistance?
Need help with something that can’t wait? Whether a way to find or pay for healthy foods or another urgent need you or your friends may have, Help Me Grow at Delaware 2-1-1 is a free one-stop call center to answer questions or get you the help you need. Contact Delaware 2-1-1 now! You may also text your ZIP code to 898211.
Breaking Down Barriers
Now is the time for everyone to make the choices to stay healthy, but not everyone has the same opportunity to do that.
Additional Resources
Below are resources and outside services that can help.
School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs)
School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) are located in school settings for students to receive physical, emotional, and preventative care. This early intervention is delivered by qualified medical professionals. Learn more about SBHCs and see if your school has one.
Nemours KidsHealth for Teens
Teens can learn about coping, choosing healthy relationships, nutrition, and fitness, and get tips on managing their medical care from Nemours — a leading children’s health provider.
12–18 Years: Teen Articles
Relevant, current teen topics are regularly covered in this blog on everything from TikTok to menstrual cycles to emotional tipping points.
CDC Childhood Overweight & Obesity
Get childhood obesity facts, causes, consequences, clinical guidelines, a BMI calculator, and more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
PPE Pre-Training Checklist
Want to become a PPE? Review the pre-training checklist to become a Peer Educator, complete, and return to your program administrator. The checklist includes access links to all information needed.
Develop Healthy Relationships
Project THRIVE
Services help Delaware students who are struggling with traumatic situations, such as physical or emotional abuse, community violence, racism, bullying, and more. Dial 2-1-1 or text THRIVE to 898211 to get started!
Emotional Health
Help is Here Delaware
Your emotional well-being matters. Experiencing a mental health challenge can be confusing and frightening. You or someone you care about may be suffering and need help. But you may not know where to turn. Help is Here. Call the Delaware Hope Line for free 24/7 counseling, coaching, and support as well as links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services.
Your Voice Matters
Talking about how you feel can sometimes be awkward or difficult. Your voice matters. You matter. Contact the Crisis Text and Hotline 24/7, by texting DE to the number 741-741 or calling the Crisis Hotline
Child Mind Institute
A nonprofit providing expert care and support for children with mental health and learning disorders. Find information to help support you when struggling with emotional health challenges.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Since mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, the National Alliance on Mental Illness has essential information and resources intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.