Two out of 10 adolescents and their parents undergo a difficult phase in their lives, according to the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA).
In a media briefing dubbed as “Parenting the Adolescent: the Common Problems and Challenges Teeners Face Today” held last July 8 at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City, Dr. Cynthia Leynes, PPA past president, tackled the two major concerns of parents during adolescents — rebellion and sexuality.
In her lecture, Leynes stressed that adolescence is the stage filled with challenging and sensitive issues between the adolescent and his/her parents, hence must be dealt with extreme care.
She said some of the most common problems encountered by parents with their adolescent include sibling rivalry, academic underachievement/overachievement, peer pressure, rejection, dating and premarital sex, lust, masturbation, pornography, use of alcohol and illegal drugs, smoking and gambling.
“Adolescence is a stage most dreaded by parents and has been typically seen as a period of storm and turmoil,” Leynes said.
She added that these common problems affect the emotional and psychological state of an adult. Thus, proper parental guidance and supervision is needed.
However, parents tend to experience the anxiety of letting go. That is because parents are generally very protective before adolescence.
“We continue to be protective and catering but the adolescents need a space to move away to, a time to talk and to speak out how they feel,” Leynes added.
The forum also discussed the issue of homosexuality. Dr. Felicitas Soriano, PPA immediate past president, said that being homosexual is either nature or nurture.
Modern society appears to be more tolerant and permissive of gays. “The increasing number of homosexuals might be due to the openness of the present society,” said Dr. Georgina Oliver, vice president of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist of the Philippines.
“Homosexuality used to be classified as a mental disorder but now it is called alternative lifestyle,” Oliver added.
Recognizing the importance of attending to the mental needs of teenagers in responsible parenting, Otsuka (Philippines) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. launched the Light One’s Life: A Patient Quality of Life Program during the forum.
In partnership with PPA, this advocacy campaign program aims to heighten awareness on mental health conditions, and educate families of patients to help them cope with these conditions.