By Paula Day

Teenagers' concerns, ranging from communicating with parents to eating disorders, were topics of mini-courses offered during St. Pius X High School's Health Fair, Nov. 11.

Professionals from the medical field and private individuals volunteered their expertise in an expanded, day-long event whose theme was "The Choice Is Yours."

"You Can Prevent Teenage Suicide," presented by Renee Brachfeld of North DeKalb Family and Children's Clinic, was high on the list of first choices the young people made when selecting the three mini-courses they would attend. According the Sister Mary Kay Finneran, who organized the fair, "Laughter: The Power and the Joy" and "Creative Dating" also attracted high interest.

Taking wholistic approach to health, the fair offered physical care such as blood pressure checks, and sight and hearing test; psychological presentations on self-esteem and motivation; and spiritual themes, such as logic of keeping God's laws in order to achieve happiness and self-fulfillment. Over 70 mini-courses offered throughout the day gave St. Pius' students a smorgasbord of health information.

Ms. Brachfeld said after her presentations that "a lot of the students obviously were familiar with the topic of teenage suicide. They mentioned having heard suicidal comments from friends and a number mentioned having lost friends to suicide."

She described suicide for teens as "a last ditch attempt to get away from problems that seem not to be solvable -- to stop the pain."

"We need to let them know they have other options -- which include caring people," she said.

After input by parent Mary McCarthy based on family counselor and author Clayton Barbeau's ideas, a group of sophomores role-played family communication situations in a course, "Raising Our Parents In These Difficult Times." tenth-grader Jennifer Eyl commented afterward, "I learned to look at communication from their side. They're dealing with things like aging and I can better understand some of the reasons they give me when I ask to do something and they won't let me."

A roomful of thoughtful juniors and seniors heard a state policeman say the life expectancy for their age group is steadily declining because of the country's number one killer: the automobile driven by someone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The trooper told the teens that one out of 10 drivers they would meet on Atlanta's streets on any weekend would be legally defined as intoxicated.

Junior Kathie Dorsten was motivated by Pamela McCreary's presentation, "Choices." Ms. McCreary, 32, has returned to school to follow a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor and her talk convinced Miss Dorsten that "if I really want something, to go for it."

A video, "Tomorrow's Child and You," explained the need for pre-natal care and the health risks of teenage pregnancy in a dramatization about a young girl who gives birth to a retarded child. Senior Christine Nanna commented, "It was sad -- I felt sorry for her -- having a retarded child and a kid at her age. Her life has to be changed now." The program, endorsed by the Knights of Columbus, is part of an education exhibit produced by Retarded Citizens- Atlanta.

A presentation on stress and how to cope with it by David Crane helped Kathy Poole. She reported the next day that she had already used the relaxation methods he suggested.

This year's structure of mini-courses was a new facet of annual event. "I was overwhelmed by the willingness of people, professional groups from hospitals and clinics and private individuals, to give totally of their time," Sister Finneran, a Sister of Charity, said. "They realize the need for prevention and were willing to do anything to help in prevention -- in a situation where the students were learning so much because they were having fun, too."