The halls of WHS were buzzing with commotion as students cleared out of the crowded auditorium, each one experiencing a burst of emotion after the shocking show they had just witnessed.

On Dec. 1, BreakDown STL performed three presentations for WHS students in the CJB Auditorium that combined real-life situations with music, dance, drama, statistics and motivational speaking.

BreakDown STL is a non-profit organization that specializes in training student volunteers to become “positive role models” in order to mentor and empower fellow teens to “live their lives at a higher standard.” The organization, founded by Jenna Imergoot in 2006, takes part in an on-stage program that travels to various schools, youth groups and churches.

BreakDown STL claims to “educate, equip and empower teens to make positive life choices regarding relationships, sex, alcohol, drugs, bullying, self-harm and suicide by providing culturally relevant preventative health education.” However, the 90-minute show offered no instruction for seeking help with troubling issues and presented only the preventative method of abstinence, the concept of being sexually inactive until marriage, as an answer. Weighted with the responsibility of performing in front of several high schools within the St. Louis Metropolitan area, BreakDown STL crumbles miserably in terms of delivering solutions to problems faced by teens.

Sexual behavior among teens is inevitable. In a 2013 survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47 percent of high school teens had engaged in sexual intercourse at some point. Among those teens, 41 percent admitted that they did not use a condom the last time they had sex. This is alarming considering that sexual intercourse without protection can have up to a 30 percent chance of resulting in pregnancy.

Relying solely on abstinence when educating teenagers about sex is counterproductive. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, abstinence-only education is ineffective in preventing teenage pregnancy and may actually be contributing to the high teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S. Furthermore, if a large portion of an audience is going to engage in sex no matter how they are persuaded to do otherwise, they should instead be taught how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy as well as serious sexually transmitted diseases and infections, rather than being left to explore their sexualities blindly.

The absence of sexual education was not my only issue with BreakDown STL’s presentation. BreakDown’s portrayal of domestic violence among high school couples lacked finesse. Most people tend to think of domestic violence as a female victim and male perpetrator, like the situation showcased in the presentation, but that isn’t always the case. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence shared that one-fourth of men have been victims to some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Strict gender roles developed by society have had a great influence on the concealment of this unisex issue. Men are expected to “man up” and deal with their problems on their own instead of seeking the help they need. All victims deserve support and resources to help them feel safe.

Assistance should also be delivered to those who are harmful to themselves. The National Institute of Mental Health reported in 2014 that an estimated 2.8 million U.S. adolescents between the ages 12 and 17 had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. As a result, suicide is the second leading cause of death for this age group, which is sickening due to the fact that many of these deaths could have been prevented.

Handling topics as serious as sex, drugs, alcohol, self-harm and suicide with care is crucial when speaking to adolescents. Though BreakDown STL showcased a variety of these pressing dilemmas, not once did the presentation recommend asking for help, and that was its ultimate downfall.

If you’re in a difficult situation and don’t know what to do, don’t be afraid to ask someone else for help. Do not simply rely on your peers. Seek out a school guidance counselor, teacher or trusted adult for advice. If you aren’t comfortable enough to openly share your troubles, there are anonymous hotlines, like the Crisis Call Center, that offer 24 hour, non-judgmental assistance. Simply call 775-784-8090 or text “ANSWER” to 839863. They will be able to put you in touch with the assistance you are in need of.