Now We're Stressed Out

In 2014, the Allegheny County Executive and Allegheny County Health Department launched the Live Well Allegheny campaign to improve the health status of our community, specifically surrounding physical activity, healthy eating, and smoking cessation. In order to expand the target audience beyond adults and families, the Live Well Allegheny: Student-Led Health Initiative was developed in 2015. The purpose also being to identify health concerns related specifically to adolescents. That is where I come in – my primary task is to develop, recruit, and facilitate this program.

From day one, stress became an overarching theme in our discussions with the high school students. Adolescence, by definition, is considered a period of heightened stress due to the many changes experienced, including physical maturation, drive for independence, increased salience of social and peer interactions, and brain development (Casey et al., 2011). Growing up—negotiating a path between independence and reliance on others—is not an easy job.
The majority of young people appropriately handle stress by finding strategies or resources to cope and move on. But for others, specific events and stressors begin to add up. Stress that is inadequately managed can lead to anxiety, withdrawal, aggression, physical illness, or poor coping skills such as drug and/or alcohol use.
For the Live Well Allegheny students, the most interesting aspect of our conversations has been the triggers of stress. Our group, consisting of varying backgrounds including socioeconomic status, has a wide range of external factors contributing to their stress levels. On one hand, you have the suburban kids who are cramming for AP exams and adding more extracurricular activities to build their resumes – all in preparation for college. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are students facing violence in their communities and limited access to healthy foods. Although completely different in nature, both groups are facing high levels of stress.
The University of Minnesota recommends the following for young people:
• Learn and practice coping skills to get them through an immediate conflict or problem. Coping strategies must emphasize self-responsibility to find positive, non-destructive ways to find relief.
• Develop communication skills that involve being able to talk and selecting a good listener. It is important to express feelings, vent emotions, and talk about the problems and issues. Peers are good sympathizers, but it often takes an adult perspective to begin to plan how to make changes for the better.
• Problem-solving skills are important when sorting out the issues, setting goals, and making plans to move forward are skills that can be taught and practiced.

Although it is critical for teenagers to learn coping strategies, awareness of adolescent stress by adults can empower them to play a role in emotional development. Stress affects everyone, but developing habits at an early age is a powerful way to prevent adverse health outcomes in the future.
For more information about the Live Well Allegheny health campaign, check out the website: www.livewellallegheny.com