title: Promoting Teen Mothers' Mental Health.
abstract: In this second article in a two-part series, we call for the integration of strengths-based and trauma-informed care into services for teen mothers. Nurses working with teen mothers in health clinics, schools and home visiting programs can play a pivotal role in promoting their mental health. Many teen mothers have high levels of psychological distress and histories of adverse experiences that cannot be ignored, and cannot solely be addressed by referral to mental health services. Nurses must be prepared to assess for trauma and be open to listening to teen mothers' experiences. Principles of strengths-based and trauma-informed care are complementary and can be integrated in clinical services so that teen mothers' distress is addressed and their strengths and aspirations are supported. Potential screening tools, interviewing skills and basic strategies to alleviate teen mothers' distress are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Patricia Freed is an Associate Professor of Nursing, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO. The author can be reached via e-mail at pfreed@slu.edu Lee SmithBattle is a Professor of Nursing, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freed
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: SmithBattle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support