Demi Lovato's Treatment Sheds Light On Teen Issues, Expert Says

'The biggest step is being brave enough to tell somebody you might need some help,' Dr. Dorian Traube tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena


Demi Lovato
Photo: Jim Spellman/ WireImage

Now that Demi Lovato has entered a treatment facility to deal with "emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time," her public struggle is shedding light on a whole range of issues that many teenage girls face. Lovato has been open in the past about the pressure she's under, including her self-esteem issues and constant media scrutiny.

Dr. Dorian Traube, assistant professor at the University of Southern California's School of Social Work, spoke to MTV News about the advice she has for young people who might be going through a similarly difficult time.

"Well, I think regardless to whether the bullying contributed to what sent her to seek treatment, she's in treatment because she's having issues related to self-esteem and mental health, and all of that makes you feel lonely," she explained. "So I think it's important for young women or teens to realize that it is important to find an environment in which they feel like they excel and treated with respect and that they have a good cadre of friends around them."

Traube urged young people to find that safe haven. "If they don't find that at school, they should try and find that in extracurricular activities," she advised. "It is as important to have a number of people around them their own age that they can relate to, but they also need some adults in their life that they trust, because there are a lot of confusing messages that come at teens. So it's important to have an adult that has a little bit more perspective on it who they respect and trust who can kind of help them decide those messages."

She added that there are a number of places teens can turn to if they feel they need assistance. "At the end of the day, the stuff that is happening with Demi Lovato is related to mental health, and we don't like to talk a lot about mental health, especially among teen girls," she explained. "It's a very stigmatized thing to talk about, but they should know that all teenage girls go through some mental-health difficulties, whether or not it's related to self-esteem or depression or insecurity. And so there are tons of resources out there ranging from local community activities to seeing a therapist to engaging in some group treatment with other teen girls. There's a cadre of really good services out there, but the biggest step is being brave enough to tell somebody you might need some help."

Share your well-wishes for Demi in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651467/20101103/lovato__demi.jhtml

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Why I Drink

I'm drinking "pink lemonade" at my mom's house right now. Too many nights here might turn me into a closet drunk. All I have to say is one day this miniature Yorkie will be mine.?

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/9/21/why-i-drink.html

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Jonathan Kasdan Shares His 'First Time' With Castle Rock (Exclusive)

Jay A. Fernandez
Writer-director Jonathan Kasdan has set up his next project, "The First Time," with Castle Rock Entertainment. Kasdan wrote and will direct the teen romance, which focuses on the first weekend in the blooming love between a boy and a girl in high school.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/riskybusiness/~3/gY_I1KhuZVY/jonathan-kasdan-shares-time-castle-34148

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Usher's VMA Performance Proves He's Still King: Making The Show

Singer held back at rehearsals, harnessing his energy for Sunday's show.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Usher performs at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

The King is back!

Usher thrilled the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night with his stunning combination performance of "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love."

The singer moved and grooved, proving that he's the R&B star that everyone pays attention to for the big moments.

The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647708/20100913/usher.jhtml

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Miley Cyrus' Movie 'LOL' Picked Up By Distributor

Remake of 2008 French hit co-stars Demi Moore and Ashley Greene
By Gil Kaufman


Miley Cyrus
Photo: Fotonoticias/ WireImage

Miley Cyrus will cement her transition from kiddie TV star to teenage vixen in her upcoming movie "LOL," which was just picked up for distribution by Lionsgate, according to Variety.

The English-language remake of the 2008 French hit reportedly includes a number of scenes that might make Cyrus' "Hannah Montana" fans blush; her character is said to lose her virginity, smoke pot and kiss two girlfriends on the lips.

Co-star Demi Moore told MTV News in April that though Cyrus — whose parents announced their divorce this week — plays a wild child in the film, in real life she's "incredibly grounded" and not at all like her "LOL" character.

"[Miley] is a true professional, and she truly has a wonderful family," Moore said. "It really shows." The veteran actress plays the overbearing, confounded mom of Cyrus' character, who gets freaked out after accidentally reading her daughter's journal and finding out just how out of touch they have become.

The movie, which also stars "Twilight" alum Ashley Greene, does not have a release date. Like the French original, it is written and directed by Lisa Azuelo; the cast also includes Thomas Jane ("Hung"), Gina Gershon ("Rescue Me"), Marlo Thomas ("That Girl"), Fisher Stevens ("Awake"), Adam Sevani ("Step Up 3D"), Jay Hernandez ("Takers") and Austin Nichols ("One Tree Hill").

Cyrus and Greene were spotted shooting scenes for the film in Detroit earlier this summer and recently moved to Paris to continue production. In photos released last month, a smiling Cyrus, embraced at the waist by co-star Douglas Booth, is standing alongside a pensive-looking Greene and other castmembers Ashley Hinshaw and Lina Esco. In other shots, Booth and Cyrus are snuggling on a double-decker bus while Greene is on another bus. Booth and Cyrus also were filmed standing on a bridge chatting.

Cyrus has said that in her post-"Hannah Montana" career, she's looking to film more serious, mature movies, and that she intends to take a break from music to pursue her film career.

"I'm working on lots of different films: drama, action, comedy," she said. "I like challenges, so I'm doing a little bit of everything.

"The more I make music that doesn't truly inspire me, the more I feel like I'm blending in with everyone else," she added. "I'm taking some time off [from music]."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651097/20101029/cyrus__miley.jhtml

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