Explain adolescent firesetting risk to worried parents — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time. You are the child and adolescent / community psychiatry registrar after a clinic review. ^[2]

Candidate instructions. Acknowledge fear without amplifying stigma. Explain firesetting as behaviour, arson as a legal label if charged, and pyromania as a rare adult-oriented diagnosis that usually does not fit youth fireplay patterns. Note that youth firesetting can associate with broader later offending pathways and needs structured help, not panic labels. Cover safety (means restriction, supervision, school/fire-service liaison as appropriate). Screen briefly for mental illness, substances, bullying, and home conflict. Do not invent statute numbers. Check understanding. ^[1][2][3][4]