Page 12 - The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, March 20,19.80
By SHELDONKIRSHNER
TORONTO —
To say that Jeenagers have problems is to linder-"State the case. Teens suffer from a variety of physical and psychological ailments and often their parents and family doctors are all but powerless to help them.
"The teen, years are traumatic times," says Dr. Diane Sacks, acting head of the Adolescent Medical Glinic of the Hospital For Sick Children.
It is a time, she explains, of momentous change in a person's life. A teen may be wracked by • a crisis of self-identity or goal, direction. Bodily changes, or the onset of puberty, may cause confusion and distress. And the relationship between a teen and his parents may be trying, as the teenager oscillates between rebel-lionand dependence.
"Most doctors don't have the time to sit down arid deal with their problems." Dr. Sacks ex--plains. "You have to treat them with respect, arid you can't rush them.''
All too often, for under-staindable reasons, teens simply do not get the special corisideration from doctors they're entitled to, the New York-born pediatrician added in an interview.
Dr. Martin Wolfish, now chief of pediatrics at North York Hospital, established the Adoleiscent Medical Unit 10 years ago in response to the high rate of drug abuse among teenagers. Hospitals were unable to deal with their drug-related problems; and this led Dr. Wolfish and his associates to setup Toronto's only teen clinic associated with a major hospital.
One .of his associates was Dr. Sacks, a Univer-; sity of . Pittsburgh graduate in her mid-30s who has dealt with the full -gamut of teen ailments. She is a member of a well-trained staff consisting, of eight part time pediatricians, one fiill time nurse practitioner, one full time social worker, three part time psychiatrists, one part time psychologist and one full time nutritionist,.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Diane Sacks head of unit at Iiospital
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Approximately 8,500 teens, including 12-year olds, visit the clinic annually, either by appointment through a nurse or doctor, or on a walk-in basis.
Doctors and parents are aware of the problems that plague teenagers, but relatively few of them can cope with the physical and mental troubles of their charges. :
Dr. Sacks, a mother of a boy and. a girl aged five and seven, talks about the problems of youngsters betwieen 12 and 18.
A boy in his ninth or tenth grade who is doing well in school becomes a truant. He doesn't want to take gym classes, being reluctant to expose his body in the shower. He may feel this way because he isn't developing as properly as his peers. He is embarrassed • or ashamed of his .body, though he-should not be.
A girl of 15 or 16 is losing weight rapidly and has no appetite. Her period has stopped. She has a disease called anorexia nervosa. "Obviously, these girls have a poor self-image of themselves. Otherwise, they wouldn't feel the need^to-ltwe^so" much weight. In, most-cases, the: period'returns as they regain their weight."
•. In another instance, a girl who is sexually active may fear she is pregnant because her period is late or has not come at all: Dr. Sacks says the majority of girls are not pregnant, and
their late period is usually a furictionof their distress.
According to one survey cited by Dr: Sacks, 16% of; girls participating in their first act of: sexual inter-. course become pregnant. -Eighty five percent of them do not iise contraceptives.
Almost always it is the female, rather than the male, who visits the.clinic when a pregnancy occurs. Dr. Sacks discloses. "We wish the boys would come, too."
Doctors at the clinic see a: number of teens who have contacted sexual diseases, with the incidence of gonorrhea being higher than syphilis.
immiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Depression anotlier
ailment
liiinuiiiiiinHiiiiimiiHiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Also coming into the clinic are girls with smaller than average breasts and hair on their faces and chests. "Body image is vitally important," Dr. Sacks admits. "We try to build up their self-esteem in other areas."
A major cause for worry among teens is goal orientation. "It's very difficult for them to select attainable goals in an era of economic uncertainty, she observes.
Suicide is "a really worrisome and not infrequent" problem, though Dr. Sacks has ho statistics. ' 'We take all suicide gestures and statements seriously."
Depression is another ailment; partly triggered by lack of self-confidence. "They have an unclear ; idea of what's expected by, parents, schools, and peers." v • The clinic rarely gets teens, who are high on drugs, largely .because
•teenagers and their friends are mOre aware of its hazards than_iri the past. Glue sniffing is characterized as an !'horrendous problem" by Dr. Sacks. Teens who indulge^ in it do not realize that the fumes can cause permanent hrain damage. The glue induces lethargy, but if teens knew thatit also damaged the brain, they might seek advice at the clinic.
According to Dr. Sacks, Jewish teens report a high incidence of anorexia nervosa. She doesn't know the reason. "It's just a fact;" However, they're underrepresented in pregnancies, possibly because Jewish girls are goal oriented and know that a pregnancy could disrupt their plans for the future. Dr. Sacks says she has no facts on whether Jewish girls are more or less sexually active than other girls, ' ■
Dr, Sacks practices medicine at the clinic a few half days per week, and runs a private practice in Don Mills. She and her husband, Mai, an acous-tics.engineer, have liveci in Canada for the last 10 years.
If she has a pastime, it is playing the piano. But she has little time for the keyboard, whose rudiments she is now learning, the practice of medicine consumes riiuch of her thoughts and energy. And for that thousands of teenagers are^rateful.
The KiichenAid
Superba Dishwasher with
exclusive SOAKN'SCRUB CYCLE does
your soaking automatically.
The messiest: kitchen clean-up job has always been: removing crusted-on
.foods from pots, pans and casseroles.' And sometimes from dishes.
■■ .Until now.-
Now, the .KitchenAid Superba model has a new exclusive Soak n'Scrub Cycle that automatically soaks and loosens encrusted foods. Then It washes, rmses and dries everything.
PAY A LITTLE MORE.. GETA LOT MORE
Your _
KIcchemAld
Headquarters for
LOW PRICES!
See
HBfflCAPLAN
ii07VIABlanRd.
7BM655 767-1814
Kl«ch«nAM
MadeinCwada CO
0
WITZERS
heroic noshes and buffet banquets.
For lunches, buffets or bashes, for bosses or clients, at the office or at-homiB .
WITZERS
f>uts it all together deli ciously. Visit one of our delis and see the last of the old' time . delicatessehs in opera-tion.
All you have to add is aci appetite.
ENJOY! ENJOY!
Eight Locations
To Serve You
©WITZER S
DEI:-CITY
322 Spadinj Ave. Phone 364 ?i09 ■ . IMPORTED CIGARS -A I DISCOUNT PRICES
DEL-CITY NO 2
Toronto Dominioiv Centre
Vork ■ jtia .-. Welhag|,ii|
Concourse
364-91)00 ■
DEL-CITY No3
Hudson's B.iy Centre
2 Bioor St. E. 922-5700 . ■ . .
DEL-CITY ••04
1 30 Bloor St. W. (in. the iDDDy) d22'790O
IMPORTED CIGARS AT DISCOUNT PRICES
AIRPORT DEL-CITY
7310 Torbram Rd.
Malton
671-0900
Licensed Under U.L.B.O.
3 minutes away from The International Centre
Biagel Bar
Hudson's Bay Centre
2 Bloor.St. E. 922—5800
DEL-CITY AND
Bagel Bin
Bank of Nova Scotia BIdg., Concourse 1 St. Clair Ave; E: At the subway doors; 922-3337
DEL-CITY AND
Bagel Bin Hamilton
1685 Mam St. W - . 527-4000
Jul
FAlClOUS FANCY DELICATESSEN PARTY TRAYS FEATURING . .
Corned Beef •. Pastrami.
• Baby Beet • Turkey Rolled Beef • Salami
• Stuffed Chicken • Cole Slaw • Potato Salad • Dill Pickles.
• Tomatoes •Olives Sweet Peppers •Mustard • Light -and Dark Rye Bread • Assortea Rolls- • .Napkins Plastic Forks • Plates
• After Dinner-Mints
Chicken or ChMM Trays
... Hickory Smoked or Roasted Turkeys.
Party catering . hot line
364-2300
(Ben Lechtman photo)
Dr; Diane Sacks treats the ailments of teenagers at Hospital for Sick OUldren.
■yw s<w ■ Hie—-bt%L^ J^u sik sik-«K-
THANKS
for a great first year in business!! Come Celebrate With An
ANNIVERSARY SALE
, Ctil March 29/80)
up to^
price off
• lacli.ss' sp.ortswear * excitingaccessones '. ,qold jewellery * fashion watches
^ee ^ee*s T^lace
(I
^ee ■ lyeeS r^mce Deanna Jubas
15 Transwell Avenue (3 bl. n. of Finch at Bathurst) 222-6811 . downstairs of beauty, salon ?c
1 ue.sdav ; \Vi.'din.'.sdii\. Sliturilav 9 5: [liursdaViS: l-riduv 9-7 vv yK ~--^fci ^« —
[ •
FREE DEUVERY 789-3446
PASSOVER
Quality meat market takes this happy tradition and makes it delicious!
chicken soup, matzo balls, gefelta fish, eggies, potatoekugel; boiled whitefish, coleslaw, chopped liver, kishka, baked carp, chicken fricassee, latkes, pickled pike, potatoe salad, khishes, sweet and sour meatballs. v
YOUR COMPLETE GOURMET SPECIALTY STORE
• QUALITY meat
• QUALITY fish
• QUALITVpoultry _ '
• QUALITY b-b-q products
• QUALITY traditional cooked foods QUALITY ... WE'RE not your ordinary meat market -
^94 EGLINTOM AVE.,WEST
.. deliciously preserving tradition
Cont'd from Pag* 1
"I am no lover of the status quo," declared Mrs. Namir, "but I state unequivocally that if : a woman is capable and .educated in Israel she can go farther and faster than women elsewhere in the world.*'
She cited the fields of law, medicine, pharmcy and social work ,as the fastest growing areas for women professionals. , Decision-making posts in the faculties of universities and schools,, business and industry and in pbliti-cal life are also open to the right women, she claimed.
Oneofherrecom-. mendations while chairperson of the committee on the status of women was that every pplitical party had to open up 25% of its positions to qualified women.
But she admitted there is a shortage of women to take up. the positions.
\Vhile conceding a macho mentality and traditional social and religious attitudes block changes, she said the real obstacles to women's advancement are "poverty and lack of education."
Mrs. Namir, who has no children of her own, said she joined Pioneer Women Na'amat because its programs for youth and the underprivileged are her deepest social concerns. ;
In 1%7 she became the top leader of Pioneer Women Na'amat when she served as the. general secretary of the Tel Aviv Working Mothers' Organizations.
A woman in the public eye all her life, she is accustomed to speaking out on issues of nationah concern./^
. She.' repudiates settle- -ments in the occupied
territories while at the same time rejecting an indiependent Palestinian state on Israel's borders as "too dangerous."
She arguies rather for more settlement in the upper Galilee — where 60% of the farmers are Arabs so that Israel can consolidate its OAvn internal security. _ " I want Israel to be a Jewish state/^^e said. "Absorbing over a million
hostile Arabs into our country will never work."
Commenting on the open dissent Peace Now activists create abroad, she expressed concern over the misinterpretation aroused-in non-Jewish communities, but said this is the price to be pai«!l for real freedom, . Mrs. Namir is the widow of the former mayor of Tel Aviv, Mordechai Namir. ~
Cont'd from Page 1
sermon for teaching Christian-Jewish relations in general and for the Holocaust in particular. Lucyk selected a specific text from the New Testament and explained how easily it ca>n be misinterpreted as a denunciation of Judaism. He stressed the importance of rethinking the often subtle anti-semitic elements in Christian literature. "
A luncheon with guest speaker Dr. Eva Fleisch-ner, Mont Clair State College, concluded the conference. Dr. Fleisch-nfer underscored the. worth of opening up. the Holocaust as a topic for Christians and Jews. She said that as a result of such conferences more Christians would learn to understand Jews and themselves better.. ■ ■
JEWELLERY
(I can get it for you
There are two ways to.buy Jewellery: The EASY way, or the SMART way. The "easy "way is to walk Into a.big name jewellery store, and pay. a high.price. The SMART way is to visit me. (That's easy ,Msn't it?) Yes, the same lOKt, 14Kt, & 18Ki, gold "pendahtii .chains, diamond rings, etc., you find iri fancy stores will be yours at TREMENDOUS SAVINGS!. Be smart, and hfiake things easy for yourself .visit me soon.
JEWELLERY FROM
CYNTHIA
3433 Bathunt StTMt
(corner Melrose)
787-2581 Closed Mondays
Free parking •cross the street
SEE US FOR YOUR PASSOVER NEEDS BEST QUALITY - LOWEST PRICE-.
"THE-BEST HOMEMADE.HE ' . . > ; IN torn" GOLDY'S. 938 Egllhton Avenue West 782-9364.
R^k^ Swim Sch^
Children from 2 1/2 years. SPECIAL ADULT CLASSES
For the Spring Series Register Now 221-2690
Frank's Aqua Day Camp Ltd.
Door to door transportation Lunch h snacks Red Cross program Sports, A&C, overnights etc. Only limited enrolment
For brochures call:
Frank Uebmam 221-2690
Reports of Child abuse haiie more tlisiii doubleil
The new Ontario Child Welfare Act requires ^ that professional persons who work with or who Jreat children must report suspected cases of child abuse to aChildren's Aid Society.
Thafsthelaw. . Reporting suspicions of child abuse , is one of the best ways to help prevent child abuse happening again.
Child abuse is everyone's concern.
Teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers-all persons wtio work with or who treat children-need your active support if they are to keep children from being abused. The professionals need your assistance. You're part of the solution.
To find out more about child abuse write for our free b66kletr\ "YOU AND THE ABUSED CHILD".
Write to: Child Abuse Information Ministry of Community and
: Social Services
^ 7th Roor, Hepburn Building Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M7A1E9 -.
Ontario
Keith Norton,
Minister of Community and Sodal Sen/Ices._
WilliamDavis^Premler. ^"