As we all know, teens thrive from social interactions.

So how does COVID-19 affect this? Your teen may be asking you if they can have some friends over, or if they can go to a friend’s house.

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According to the CDC director, an individual can have COVID-19 and be asymptomatic. This increases the chances of COVID-19 being spread to others, including high-risk individuals. This is why it is so important to practice social distancing, and to tell your teens NO to hanging out with friends at this time.

 

During this stressful time, teens may struggle with social distancing and turn to substances to cope.

According to the 2018 Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA), 34% of Sweetwater County high school students reported drinking at least one time within the past 30 days. When asked how they acquired their last alcoholic beverage, 22% of students reported getting it from adults aged 21 or over, and 20% of students reported getting it from their parents or a friend’s parent.

Underage drinking is not only illegal, it can cause serious harm to teens as the brain is still developing, not to mention the increased risk of teens driving impaired.

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Ways to Increase Safety for Our Teens

• Secure alcohol and medications in a gun safe or another locking device.

 

• Dispose of any unused medications

   

  There are 3 medication drop box locations in Sweetwater County
  • Southwest Counseling Service (2300 Foothill Blvd., Rock Springs)
  • Green River Police Department (375 W. Flaming Gorge Way, Green River)
  • Rock Springs Police Department (221 C. St., Rock Springs)

 

• Offer healthier alternatives for coping such as:
  • Journaling
  • Going on walks
  • Listening to music
  • Coloring
  • Having family game or movie night
  • Virtual social interactions with friends

Free medication lock boxes and Deterra drug deactivation bags are available through Southwest Counseling Service and Sweetwater County Prevention Coalition.

For more information, call (307) 352-6680.

 

Southwest Counseling Service and Sweetwater County Prevention wants to remind you of the following resource:
Together WE can make it through this.

 

Southwest Counseling Service on-call services are available and operating 24 hours-7 days a week: (307) 352-6680
24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Text WYO to 741-741

 

National Disaster Crisis Line: (800) 985-5990

Taking care of yourself will be important during this period of time of social isolation.

We tend to be social and wanting to have contact with family, friends, neighbors and others. With social distancing and normal routines being interrupted, it will be important to keep a balance in your new normal.

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Watch for signs of increased mental distress:

• Increase worry, irritability and/or anger
• Changes in sleep patterns and eating habits
• Difficulty concentrating or being able to focus
• Increase use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs

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What can you do?

• Create a routine each day to help give a sense of normality and productivity
• Stay in contact with friends, family and others through calling, texting and social media
• Take a walk outside, remember to exercise to relieve stress
• Watch your self-talk and negative thinking
• Limit media watching-stay informed but avoid feeling overwhelmed from information.
• Take one day at a time and focus on what you can control and what you can do.

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Southwest Counseling Service continues to operate with modifications. Southwest Counseling Service offices are open.
Southwest Counseling Service is requesting individuals do not to come into the facilities if they are sick, coughing, running a temperature, sneezing, etc.

The majority of groups for Southwest Counseling Service will be conducted by telehealth. SCS is also utilizing telephone calls and telehealth with individual clients. Emergency Services are available.

Southwest Counseling Service Offices

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Main Office for questions call the College Hill Location

(307) 352-6680

Foothill Location

(307) 352-6677

Green River Location

(307) 872-3205

Ankeny Location

(307) 352-6689

Teens and the Importance of Social Distancing

April 16, 2020

Written By Dani and Megan, Sweetwater County Community Prevention Specialists