Our local school psychologist has organized a depression screening for
the local "alternative" high school, the one where you go if you are not
doing well in regular high school. I agreed to be involved as the
physician if he needed back up. Last week he was calling parents to get
their consent and answer any questions. He call me. "Why am I calling
you, Dr. Vicki?" he asked when he recognized my voice. "I have a teen
ager attending there," I replied. "She's depressed and high risk and,
yes, you may screen her and refer her for services." It has not changed
our working relationship nor does it seem to bother the parents in my
practice. As a matter of fact, it may help them feel more comfortable
discussing their teens with me.
Vicki
wrote:
The 'ol nature vs nurture argument. :) Though I have no doubt that a
combination contributes, the older I get, the more I believe in nature.
I am friends with a doc here - wonderful mother, wonderful family. Her 15 yr.
old daughter has decided to take a walk on the "wild side." She is hurt and
befuddled, wondering where she want wrong. With firm conviction, I told her it
wasn't her - she'd simply raised her daughter to the point that she was capable
of making her own decisions and her own mistakes.
It's a place all of our children, and patients, come to.
Tammy
wrote: