Sir John A. Macdonald parents learn about technology, teen anxiety

More than 30 parents of Sir John A. Macdonald High Schoolstudents listened to two experts speak about two major topics affecting their children.

Cpl. Jadie Spence with the Upper Tantallon RCMP, spent four years with the Internet Child Exploitation Unit in Halifax.

He told parents about legislation introduced recently regarding sharing intimate images without consent and the possible consequences. For teens 18 and older, Spence said there is mandatory minimum jail time if there is a conviction.

"For youth, you have a criminal record if you're charged and convicted and all the restrictions and all the problems you have with having a criminal record in terms of applying for university, applying for jobs. It's in your history there," said Spence.

Spence said youth can also be placed on the National Sex Offender Registry. He said parents need to have an understanding of what their kids are doing on their phones, what apps they have and who they are communicating with online. Spence said instances of intimate images being shared without consent often go unreported.

"[Parents] have to monitor, they have to check, they have to communicate with their children."

Before Cpl. Spence's presentation, Dr.Daniel Chorney,a child psychologist, spoke to parents about anxiety in teens.

"By the time they get to high school, anxiety gets a little more complicated because we start worrying a lot more about what other people think about us," said Chorney.

Chorney's presentation was about what parents can do if their child is experiencing anxiety. Chorney said the biggest warning sign is avoidance.

"Whenever you're afraid of something, you have a fight or flight response, and what a lot of teens and kids will do is automatically do whatever they can to get out of that situation." said Chorney.

Chorney said other examples of signs are if teens are expressing physical signs of anxiety and future bad thoughts.

"Stomach aches, headaches, a lot of tears before going to events when events don't become enjoyable any more, you're so anxious about what's going to happen that you don't really enjoy it."

Chorney said not addressing teen anxiety could lead to more problems, such as depression.