There has been an uptick in teens posting about difficult experiences, challenging feelings, or emotional topics. For some teens, this is a way to be authentic or raise awareness about something they care about. For others, it can be a cry for help as they struggle with mental health issues. And for some, it can simply be attention-seeking behavior, which
Read moreWhat your teen sees when they look in the mirror can impact their mental and physical health, including how active they are and their risk for an eating disorder. According to the National Institutes of Health nearly half of children and teens have body image issues. And it’s no wonder since our society has an image-driven culture that focuses on
Read moreAccording to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and trying to relieve stress. Mental health challenges among teens, which have been increasing over the last decade, seem to significantly influence substance abuse. The study used data from 15,963 health assessments of 13- to 18-year-olds evaluated for substance
Read moreAnxiety is an epidemic among today’s youth. While it’s always a good idea for anyone with anxiety to seek counseling, mental health professionals are unfortunately in high demand and expensive, so that’s not always an option. If you have a teen who is suffering from anxiety, and you haven’t been able to get them into therapy, this blog is for
Read moreAlthough our culture pushes the holidays as a joyous time, the reality can sometimes be different. Hectic schedules can make us feel stressed. There is pressure to spend money we don’t have for gifts. A change in the family, from divorce or death, can rekindle grief during this time. The winter weather can give us the blues. The change in
Read moreLosing a pet, friend, family member, or other loved one is heartbreaking, and the emotional rollercoaster that follows can be overwhelming. Grief is a natural process and a necessary part of healing, but that doesn’t make it easier. The holidays can be an especially difficult time to deal with grief. If you have a teen who is grieving, it’s important to remember
Read moreAdolescence is an emotional roller coaster, and it can seem like teens have over-the-top reactions. For parents, the constant turmoil can be frustrating. But, it’s important to understand that most teenage drama has to do with biology. Brain development and hormonal shifts lead to mood swings that are often beyond a teen’s ability to control. Some teen drama is a way to
Read moreIt’s normal for everyone to wonder about their purpose. Unfortunately, our mind can spiral to a darker place, getting to the point where you wonder, “What is the point of life?” These feelings can sometimes lead to or accompany depression or hopelessness. As a parent, it can feel scary when a teenager wonders if there’s any purpose to life. They
Read moreThe U.S. Surgeon General recently issued an advisory that social media is hurting our nation’s children. Social media causes teens to lose sleep, withdraw from face-to-face interactions, spend too much time staring at screens, and engage with content that is making them anxious and depressed. Unfortunately, 95% of teens between 13 and 17 have a smartphone, so there’s a general feeling among parents
Read moreOur nation faces a provider shortage in the mental health field at the exact same time that our nation’s youth are suffering from an epidemic of mental health illnesses. The CDC says that 80% of youth who need treatment have no access to a specialized mental health provider. Additionally, it takes years for people to qualify as mental health counselors,
Read moreLast week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of their Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey, which has been conducted every other year for three decades, includes responses from 17,232 U.S. high school students and measures adolescent health and well-being. Collected in fall 2021, these survey responses represent the first data collected by CDC since
Read moreAdolescence is both a time of critical brain development and high social media use. Adolescent brains are going through the most development and reorganization, second only to infancy, making them more susceptible to environmental influences. As a result, many doctors and parents wonder how social media will impact this generation. In today’s blog we examine the results from two recent
Read moreDealing with the emotions we feel inside is an important life skill that we all must develop. People who learn coping skills for managing their emotions have better relationships with others, report better well-being, and are more successful in their personal and professional lives. Parents often complain that their teens’ over-the-top reactions to the smallest issues are infuriating, but there’s
Read moreResearch has shown that the maintenance of family traditions is far more important to children of all ages than most parents realize. Despite their eye-rolling, teens gain a sense of belonging through family rituals that make them part of a clearly defined unit. Simple things – such as sharing a special meal or wearing a holiday outfit or watching a
Read moreAs Thanksgiving approaches, many parents might be wondering how to make the holiday meaningful to their teens or how to raise their teens to be more grateful… or at least less entitled. Raising a teen who is grateful or who appreciates the good things in their life is a worthy goal. Years of research convincingly shows that, when compared with
Read moreIn the last decade, there has been a big push to reduce the stigma of mental health to great effect. More and more people are recognizing the importance of good mental health and willing to discuss mental illness. As a result, the subject of mental health is significantly increasing on social media. For example, TikTok videos with #mentalhealth in the
Read moreOver the last decade, mental health among youth has deteriorated, and it’s only gotten worse in the past couple of years. Compared with 2019, emergency room visits for suicide attempts rose 51% for adolescent girls in early 2021. Depression and anxiety doubled during the pandemic, with 25% of youths experiencing depressive symptoms and 20% suffering anxiety symptoms. The National Institutes
Read moreIn a recent report from Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University, researchers describe a dramatic rise in social media posts, particularly on Twitter, related to self-harm. Among the disturbing statistics in the report is that since October 2021, hashtags related to self-harm such as #shtwt,” which is short for “self-harm Twitter,” have increased roughly 500 percent, and the number
Read moreSeptember is National Suicide Prevention Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that, in 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34. It is estimated that 12.2 million Americans seriously considered suicide, 3.2 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted suicide in 2020. Believe it or not, all
Read moreThe school year is soon starting, and with it comes renewed pressure. Teenagers today are under a lot of stress. They feel pressure from parents, teachers, peers, and social media. They worry about their grades, their future, fitting in, body image, getting their homework done, extracurriculars, climate change, racial injustice, school shootings, cultural expectations, and so much more. And beyond
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