Now it is 1984...

Jezebel alerted me to these items yesterday.

1. More than 200 children, some as young as thirteen, have been "identified as potential terrorists by a police scheme that aims to spot youngsters who are vulnerable to Islamic radicalisation." Teachers, parents, and other community figures have been asked to "be vigilant for signs that may indicate an attraction to extreme views or susceptibility to being groomed by radicalisers."

2. Doctors (mainly pediatricians) are being asked to screen adolescents for depression. Left untreated, depression can cause social isolation, school problems, and suicide. The panel emphasized that they did not want this advice to lead to drug treatment alone.

However, despite the fact that talk therapy is more effective than drugs, there is a shortage of mental health practitioners who specialize in teen treatment (and no shortage of drug companies pushing pills). It seems likely that many kids will be treated with drugs unnecessarily. Will have to cross my fingers on that one....

Theme song for this post: Dead Kennedys/ California Uber Alles

Now it is 1984/Knock-knock at your front door/It's the suede-denim secret police/They have come for your uncool niece....