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(Describer) In computer animation, different news scenes in rectangles move fast around a turning globe.

(Describer) In front of a blue background with a triangle and circle, title: Teen Kids News. A boy sits at a desk with monitors behind him.

Hi, and welcome to "Teen Kids News," I'm Luke. We've got a lot to cover, so let's get started. Here's our top story.

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(Describer) The Teen Kids News logo is on curved screens that form a turning cylinder. Passing around it, title: Top Story.

It's not easy being a teen, but it seems it's gotten a lot tougher. As Emily reports, an Atlanta teen is using her personal challenges to help others. Okay, be honest, what makes you feel down? Thinking there's no one to talk to. Feeling isolated and just the general stress in life for me. Just seeing others in pain, seeing others that are hopeless. That puts me down. We all get depressed every once in awhile. At those times, what we most need is a friend, someone who knows we're hurting and can be there to support us, but reaching out to friends isn't always easy. When you're in crisis, making a call or even just sending a text may be too painful to deal with. That's the problem Hannah faced. Her medical condition had her so depressed she was becoming desperate. Working with her brother, Charlie, Hannah created an app she believes will help others. Before we talk about the app, tell us about your medical condition.

(Describer) Hannah:

(Hannah Lucas) Last year, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. It's called POTS. It's postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The symptoms that I particularly show are fainting, fatigue, trouble focusing. So, how did this affect you? Well, after being diagnosed with POTS, I went through a really, really awful phase of depression. Along with dealing with the normal pressures of being a teenager, I was the sick kid at school. I had a chronic illness and didn't know if I would get better or worse. And you know, kids at school, they found anything and everything to mess with me about. I would walk by kids and they would fake seizures because they thought that's what made me pass out, but it wasn't. It got so bad that recently in my engineering class, kids, when they found out I had a condition that caused me to frequently pass out, they threatened me, saying, "If I find--you better be glad that I don't find you passed out alone," and that really terrified me. In situations like you describe, some teens might turn to hurting themselves. I definitely thought about hurting myself and I actually did. I still have the scars to this day. It got--my depression got so awful, I felt so alone. I isolated myself from my friends, my family, any and everybody, and I was so depressed because of the threats, the bullying, the chronic illness. I started self-harming, and it got so bad one night that the one thought that came across my mind was, "I'm causing myself pain. "I'm causing my parents pain and money and resources. And I can end it all right here, right now." And I was seriously considering harming, or attempting suicide. And before I actually did that and I was still self-harming, my mom actually came in the room and--sorry.

(Describer) She touches her eye.

She came in the room, saw me, and she said, "Hannah, what are you doing? Why are you doing this?" and I snapped. I said, "I can't deal with this anymore, any longer. I can't take the pressure." And so, she just held me and embraced me in her arms, and we were both crying. I'm talking about, like, waterfalls coming out of our eyes. In the midst of all that chaos, I came up with the best creation that I think I could ever come up with personally. It's called the notOK app.

(Describer) Charlie:

The notOK app is essentially a panic button that, when pressed, it says, "Hey, I'm not okay," with your GPS location. It sends this message to your pre-selected up to five closest contacts. Along with that message comes a link to a web page that has the person's GPS location and directions. Above that is two buttons that say, "Yes, I can help," and "No, I cannot help." Sounds like an amazing app. Have you earned any special recognition or awards? We actually did win the International Black History award for blacks in tech, and we've been submitted for three mental health awards. That's pretty impressive. Hannah, any advice for teens who may be struggling with feelings of depression? The one piece of advice I would give anybody, no matter what age you are, if you are depressed, if you are considering harming yourself, if you're considering suicide, don't do it. You're not alone. I know how lonely it feels, trust me. I get exactly how lonely it feels, but you're not alone. Trust your friends-- I know that's hard, but find good friends that you can trust, that you can tell what you're going through. That will help you out of that situation, 'cause you're not alone and you won't make it through alone, but you will make it through. Good words of advice, but remember, if a situation is potentially dangerous, not to mention life-threatening, you should seek professional help. For "Teen Kids News," I'm Emily. Your creativity could be a vehicle to help save lives. Watch my report to find out how next.

(Luke) This report is brought to you by the National Road Safety Foundation.

(Describer) Luke:

An annual contest helps save lives and could win you a trip to New York City. Here's what you need to know to participate.

(Describer) Katie:

First, a question. What do you think are the major causes of car crashes?

(Describer) Title: Car Crash Causes.

Car crashes, I think they're mainly caused by texting and driving, you know, or maybe drinking and driving. Texting is a major cause. Underage drinking, texting and driving. The main cause is people not looking, on their phones. Phones are a big factor during car crashes. The main cause of car crashes is irresponsible drinking. Not paying attention and just, like, carelessness. Yes, but most of us don't realize that there's another cause-- drowsy driving. That means driving when you're tired. In fact, over 300,000 crashes a year are blamed on drowsy driving.

(Describer) A girl yawns and drinks coffee.

Studies show that more than a third of drivers have gotten behind the wheel when they were so tired they could barely keep their eyes open.

(Describer) Michelle Anderson:

Drowsiness and driving is a deadly combination. It results in more than 5,000 deaths every year, and half of drowsy driving crashes involve young drivers. That's why we're asking teens to help us spread the important message to avoid driving while drowsy. That's where you come in. If you're in grades 6 through 12, you can enter the Drive2Life PSA contest. It's sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation with the help of Scholastic. We hope the contest gets young people to recognize the risks of drowsy driving. We look forward to seeing their creativity.

(Katie) Come up with a great idea for a 30-second public service announcement. You can submit a script or storyboard that describes your concept, but please do not send a video. Video entries will not be accepted. If you win, you receive a $1,000 prize, plus a trip to New York City to work with an Emmy Award- winning production company. They'll help you turn your idea into a PSA that will air on TV. And action.

(Describer) A camera films a boy running a remote control car.

(Katie) The PSA will make its debut right here on "Teen Kids News." The winner will be profiled in Scholastic classroom magazines across the country. For more information and to download the entry form, check out teenlane.org or follow the link on our website.

(Describer) Anderson:

The contest deadline is February 4, so get those entries in.

(Katie) Runners up in each of two grade categories will receive a $500 prize. What are you waiting for? Your idea could help save lives. For "Teen Kids News," I'm Katie. Good luck.

(Describer) Luke:

The contest winner will be announced in spring, but to get your creative juices flowing, we'll show you last year's PSA.

(Describer) A little girl runs a toy car across and table and it falls.

(girl) Vroom, vroom, vroom.

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(Describer) Outside, a girl sits in a bigger toy car, driving it around a driveway and bumping a garbage can.

(Describer) Inside, a boy drives a remote control car into a wall. Outside, a woman gives a young man keys to a real car. Driving 40 in a 25 miles-per-hour zone, he speeds up to another car. The toys are shown crashing again.

[screeching]

Cars are NOT toys! Don't speed.

(Describer) Titles: Cars are NOT toys! Don't speed.

Next on "Teen Kids News," more student advice on making studying a bit easier. We'll be right back.

(Describer) Luke:

We could all use advice on how to do better in school. Christin's back with another "Make the Grade" report. In "Make the Grade," our study tips this week deal with managing our...

(Describer) She turns over an hourglass. Title: Make the Grade Study Tips.

time. I'd say not to procrastinate. Really buckle down and read the material. Don't put it off until later, 'cause you'll get distracted and won't be able to study. Right when you get home, just get down and do it. To procrastinate means to delay doing something you really should be doing, and teens are experts at it. In fact, studies show that 86% of high school students procrastinate. So, if you have to procrastinate about something, procrastinate about procrastinating. Your grades will thank you. I'm Christin here to help you "Make the Grade." When it comes to prom and other formal occasions, if you're a guy, you'll probably need a tuxedo. For lots of us, the thought of choosing a right tux may be more nerve-wracking than asking a girl to prom. But never fear, Emily is here with more of our series, "Prom Prep 101."

(Describer) Clothespins hold cards with letters that spell out "prom". In photos, someone puts a wrist corsage on a girl, two other girls smile for a selfie, formal suits and dresses are shown, and two couples smile together. Title: Prom Prep 101.

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The first time most guys will need to wear a tux

(Describer) She adjusts a bow tie on a mannequin.

is probably prom. Even if your big night is a long way off, listen up. We're about to get helpful advice from an expert. Jen Forman, founder of Charlotte's Closet, is a prom fashion expert. She shares examples of guys' wear that can be rented from the Black Tux website. When it comes to a tux, is it safest to go with black?

(Jen Forman) Most tuxedos are black; however we are seeing more with color.

(Emily) Does that mean that everything should be in color?

(Jen) It doesn't; if you're choosing a colorful option the key is to have minimal accessories and stay within that black and white family.

(Emily) If we go with black, can we add color?

(Jen) Absolutely, you can add color through a bow tie or a patterned pocket square. It's really about being comfortable. Prom may be your first tux, but it won't be the last. Life is full of other formal events, like weddings. With "Prom Prep 101," I'm Emily for "Teen Kids News."

(Describer) Against the background of a baseball stadium, title: Baseball Facts with Matt. A bat hits a ball.

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(Matt) Yogi Berra was a Hall-of-Fame catcher for the Yankees in the '50s and '60s; when he said stuff, sometimes it got jumbled up in his head and it came out sounding very weirdly. Those quotes are called Yogi-isms. Some of those Yogi-isms are, "It ain't over 'til it's over." True. "When there's a fork in the road, take it." Not exactly physically possible. "Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical." Doesn't exactly add up. And lastly, my personal favorite, "Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours." Just think about that for a second. I'm Matt for "Teen Kids News."

(Describer) Sebastian:

Here's this week's words of wisdom. "It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, "an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone." If that's true, why can't I remember which king was beheaded during the French Revolution? We've gotta take a break and then we'll be back with more "Teen Kids News."

(Describer) Titles: Coming up, How Do You Brush? Luke:

It's something we do every day-- in fact, a number of times a day-- yet many of us don't do it right. We assigned Jacelyn to brush up on the correct way to use a toothbrush. Okay, America, how do you brush your teeth? In circles. I put the toothbrush in my mouth and I scrub for about five minutes, then I rinse, then floss. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush and I scrub it in my mouth. What's the correct technique? We'll find out from an expert-- Dr. Gerry Curatola has literally written the book on dental care. He's from the College of Dentistry at New York University. Thanks for having me. Our pleasure. So, what is the best way to brush teeth? Well, brushing is simply not a scrubbing motion. We're not scrubbing back and forth. What we're really doing is sweeping. It's a sweeping motion. Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle, move back and forth gently, and sweep down. Start with the back and the outside of the front, upper right and upper left sides. Don't forget the tops. On the inside, the same thing. It's a gentle motion. Remember, you're not scrubbing the floor, you're sweeping. At a 45 degree angle, go all the way around. Don't forget those areas on the inside of your teeth. And if you brush your palette, it may tickle a little, but if you do it frequently, that sensation will go away. Is it better to scrub hard to get your teeth as clean as possible? Scrubbing really hard can actually do damage. You can wear the enamel of your teeth. There are gum fibers that connect where the tooth meets the gum, and those can cause some gum recession. So never, ever brush too hard back and forth at the gum line. What you really wanna do is go gently toward the gum at a 45 degree angle and sweep down. How long should you brush? Oh, that's the magic question. Most people don't brush long enough. We recommend the best way to make sure you're brushing long enough is to get a two-minute egg timer. Two minutes is the right time. How many times a day should we brush? We recommend you brush morning and night. If you have a sticky, sugary meal, it's good to brush after a meal like that, but morning and night is sufficient. What about brushes that come with motors? Are those good? Those help if you have trouble handling a toothbrush in your mouth. They can help people who have special needs or those who don't enjoy brushing themselves manually alone. So, they can be helpful. I knew that sweets like chocolate were bad for teeth, but I was surprised to learn that some healthy snacks like raisins can be worse. Raisins, even though it's a natural, dried fruit, are loaded with sugar, and they're sticky, and they get into crevices in the teeth and can actually cause more cavities than a piece of dark chocolate. As a matter of fact, we've recently discovered that there are enzymes in dark chocolate that has low sugar that can actually prevent cavities. Wow, chocolate that can prevent cavities--love it. Doc, thank you for joining us today. You're welcome. Thanks again. A wise man had this clever saying about dental care-- "If you're true to your teeth, they'll never be false to you." Words to live by.

(Describer) Shane:

If you're happy and you know it, maybe you don't clap your hands to show it. Researchers say happy people talk more than unhappy people and their conversations are different. Instead of small talk, people who are happy tend to engage in meaningful conversations. The next time someone says, "Nice day," tell them to cheer up. "I love Teen Kids News. I share it with my friend's kids

(Describer) A viewer email says, "I love Teen Kids News. I share it with my friend's kids through YouTube as my teaching tool. Signed Scott J."

through YouTube as my teaching tool. --Scott J." "Green Eggs and Ham," "Cat in the Hat," "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." Bring back memories? It's the subject of "Speak of the Week" next on "Teen Kids News." We'll be right back.

(Describer) Luke:

"Speak of the Week" is your chance to speak up. Here's this week's question.

(Describer) In an animation, an old tv replaces a person's head. Title: Speak of the Week.

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(Describer) Hannah:

He was a part of everyone's childhood. You probably still have his quirky rhymes stuck in your head. Which Dr. Seuss book was your favorite? "Horton Hears a Who," definitely my favorite. Just because of all of the silly characters, and I like the point of the story. "The Cat in the Hat," because it's something that I grew up watching with my family, so it brings back memories. I like all of them, if I'm gonna be honest. Like, I've read every single one and, like, it's, like, just, like--just, like, the words in them inspires people and it helps you understand things. The "One Fish, Two Fish," I like that one. That's one of my favorites, but I like them all. "Green Eggs and Ham" because I never liked eggs until I became an adult, so it just brings back memories. My favorite Dr. Seuss story is "Green Eggs and Ham." "Green Eggs and Ham." "Green Eggs and Ham." "Green Eggs and Ham." "Green Eggs and Ham." Sam I Am would not have a tough time appealing to teens today. With "Speak of the Week," I'm Hannah for "Teen Kids News."

(Describer) Sol:

Air conditioning is not common in Europe like it is in America, so when faced with a 95 degree heat wave in Vienna, Austria, the city decided to take steps to help hot subway riders. They came up with a novel idea. They gave out free deodorant, 14,000 sticks of deodorant in fact. It didn't make people cooler, but apparently it helped them smell better.

(Describer) Luke:

That completes our show, but we'll have another episode next week. Bye for now.

(Describer) Titles: Producer: Marilou Yacoub. Director/Writer: Alan J. Weiss. Camera and Editing: Rick Lavon, David Lauterbach. Original Theme Music: Michael Karp. Created by Executive Producers: Albert T. Primo, Alan J. Weiss. Copyright Eyewitness Kids News LLC, 2018. Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

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(female) Here's a shout-out to PR Newswire for including "Teen Kids News" on their big screen in Times Square, New York City.

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(Describer) Title: Alan Weiss Productions