Last month, CNN News reported that eight out of 10 Americans feel stress due to the slumping economy.

As the economy worsens, USA Today and Reuters are a few of the news agencies reporting an increase in teen runaways, suicide and abandonment.

“I know everyone is affixed on the economy. Everyone’s looking at their stock market portfolios and 401(k)s going down,” said Steve Simpson, a national novelist, youth advocate and former child abuse survivor, in an interview with The Register-Herald.

Simpson is not saying money isn’t important. However, “the overall concentration needs to be focused on child abuse,” he said.

“Not that AIG isn’t newsworthy, but I think children’s lives are more important.”

Simpson says he’s worried the current economic crisis is contributing to an increase in child abuse, teen runaways, teen suicides and children suffering from alcoholic parents.

Who are the final and most precious victims of today’s economic turmoil?

“Children. The economic problems will get better. Stocks will go up. But a young person’s life is a stock we can’t afford to have go down,” Simpson said.

“It is important that we recognize that the economy affects more than income and job. It affects at-risk children significantly.”

Simpson says a well-functioning family will likely weather the current economic situation with some belt-tightening and a few more family game nights.

However, the dysfunctional, abusive house may spiral into a situation of hopelessness and despair.

“A healthy family can have problems and it tends to bond them together. Unfortunately, an unhealthy family worsens. The economic crisis for a broken home is like throwing gasoline on a fire that was already going. Drug abuse picks up ... family fights ... the end result is an increase in child abuse.”

Today, suicide is the leading cause of death for teens in the country, Simpson said.

“That’s kind of appalling. I know statistically it’s become younger and younger over the last decade.”

President Barack Obama is a prime model of how the public can break the cycle, Simpson said.

“Put all politics aside. Obama grew up in a single-parent home and was eventually raised by his grandparents.

“He could have easily used many excuses to get involved with crime and certainly not become a senator or president. By statistics, he should have never been successful.”

Part of being an adult is taking the brunt for your children, he explains.

He encourages any parent who’s lost a job due to the economy to explain it to their kids, “but don’t give them a gloom picture.”

“Don’t use your kids as counselors,” he adds. “Give them hope. Even if you don’t believe it. You don’t want to make children feel hopeless. They already know there’s economic problems. They hear it on the news. They hear it from other kids in school.”

Simpson says it’s important that adults talk to family, friends or a counselor — outside the home and away from kids.

He also encourages parents to address any issues which could affect their parenting abilities immediately.

“If you know you have a drinking problem or abuse, get yourself help right away. If you’re drinking because of the economic problems, you have a right to be upset if you lost your job. However, alcoholism is never an excuse.”

He calls alcoholism “an instant abuse” to a family.

“Every day abuse goes by, it’s more and more damaging. And days of abuse takes years to undo. Even if it’s a pretense.”

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Simpson was a victim of child abuse. He uses his childhood adversities as a platform for helping others.

He has since become a successful business person and outspoken advocate for at-risk young people.

Simpson has appeared on numerous national TV shows, including NBC News, Montel Williams, Sally Jesse Raphael, Ricky Lake, Maury Povich and Geraldo, as a contributing expert.

“I lived through it. I know what it’s like. I broke the cycle,” he said.

Steve Simpson has been a volunteer on behalf of troubled people on Long Island, N.Y., for many years.

He leads a long-standing youth group in New York that deals with all the difficult issues faced by many young people today.

In “Runaway,” Simpson portrays many of the unfortunate yet compelling themes of his own life.

He addresses various topics, including: how the stress of the current economic situation can directly lead to abuse and serious problems for children; the psychology behind alcoholism and the children of alcoholics, and why things like financial worries can amplify it; how parents can admit mistakes and move on; the impact of the Internet on teens at risk; and the real reasons young people run away or try to commit suicide.

“Runaway” has been endorsed by the National Runaway Switchboard (1-800-RUNAWAY) as well as several national school curriculums.

The book can be purchased at www.powerpublishingcorp.com, BakerandTaylor.com and BookClearkingHouse.com.

A portion of proceeds from the sale will be donated to charity.

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Learn more about the history, see examples of presidential and state proclamations and find strategies for engaging communities and supporting families at www.childwelfare. gov/preventing/preventionmonth/.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month is organized to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage communities to support children and families.

— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com