Free talks to inform parents on teen issues

FOR the second year running, the North West Clare Family Resource Centre will be holding a series of free information talks aimed at parents and guardians of teens and pre-teens.
The series will cover a broad range of issues to help parents gain better skills and understanding of such topics as teen use of drugs and alcohol, teen mental health, how to help teens make positive choices and cyber bullying.
All talks will be held twice, in the daytime and in the evening, and admission is free. The talks will be held at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon and are open to the public.
The series begins with a morning session on Thursday, September 20 at 11am on the theme of Teen Mental Health. Sarah Simkin and Paul Tannian of the Jigsaw Project, Galway will talk about youth mental health and well-being and what parents need to know to support their children during the teenage years. The talk will be repeated on Wednesday, October 10 at 7pm.
The series continues on Tuesday, September 25 at 11am on the theme of Teen Use of Drugs and Alcohol. Anna O’Neill from the Clare Drug and Alcohol Service of the HSE and Garda Alan Kelly will present information to help parents identify the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use, including how parents can recognise various drugs and the associated paraphernalia. The talk will be repeated on Thursday, September 27 at 7pm.
The third talk, Teen Choices, begins on Wednesday, September 26 at 11am with Brian McManus of the Clare Youth Service and will provide information and advice on how to encourage children and teens to make choices that have positive effects on their lives. This talk will be repeated on the evening of Thursday, October 4 at 7pm.
The final theme in the series is Cyber Bullying. Brendan Smith of the Digital Enterprise Research Institute, NUI Galway will speak on the influence of cyber bullying, from mobile texting to online social media and provide advice for parents. The talk will be held twice on October 2 at 2pm and again at 7pm.
Further information on any of the talks is available from the North West Clare Family Resource Centre on 065 7071144 or by emailing info@northwestclarefrc.ie.