Okay, every year in the US, the President has to make a speech to Congress called the State of the Union. He is required by law to tell Congress each year how the Union - i.e. the Country - is faring. In reality, it's just a big bit of spin, but it's a nice tradition. There is a great early episode of the West Wing all about it.

Anyway, this isn't a politics lecture. A US website - calledtoyouthministry.com - has put something together called the State of the Teen Union, looking at how things are in the US for teenagers.

It's a set of stats and information that is both fascinating and shocking in equal measure. If nothing else, it gives you a load of good stats to recall the next time you're leading a workshop. Have a look...