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Taking risks
“Taking risks in life is a common occurrence among all human beings whether we are young or old. ” (Health Promotion & Disease Prevention). -
Risky behaviors that affect your health
- Smoking
- Taking drugs
- Driving dangerously
- Drinking alcohol
- Unprotected and/ or underage sex
- Criminal activities
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Risks
Teenagers brains are still growing, including the parts that assist in decision making. -
Peer pressure
Teenagers are finding their feet in the world and part of that often includes a sense of wanting to belong and 'fit in'. No one likes to feel isolated or alone, especially when you are a teenager. Peer pressure can have negative and positive effects. For example smoking a cigarette because if you don't you will feel uncool. Positive peer pressure can lead to a person potentially gaining a sense of achievement, feeling brave, or learning new skills. -
Making good decisions
A good decision is often one which has been really thought through and to have asked yourself the questions stated above. Sometimes decisions that turn out not to be so good are often made when young people rush into making a decision or the decision is one which is more an outcome of peer pressure rather than one in which you have taken 'time out' to think through. -
Questions to ask yourself
- Thought and reflection: asking oneself: What will this mean if I choose to ....?
- Thinking through consequences: both positive and negative, short term and long term
- Thinking through how the decision may impact on others, such as friends, family
- Reflecting on how the decision will impact you personally