September 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 moreOver the last decade, mental health among youth has deteriorated. Unfortunately, while adolescent mental health was already at a very low point, a number of recent social issues – the pandemic, an uptick in school shootings, a reckoning on racial justice, the climate crisis, and a divisive political landscape – have really intensified this downward trend. The U.S. Surgeon General
Read moreSelf-Injury (also commonly known as SI; cutting; self-harm; self-mutilation; self-abuse; and self inflicted violence) is the deliberate harming of one’s body without the intent to commit suicide. It is an intentional act of physical violence done to yourself by yourself. Cutting (making scratches or cuts on your body with a sharp object to break the skin and make it bleed)
Read moreJust like adults, teens suffer from stress in many different ways. For many people, food can become one way of dealing with stress. We have an obesity epidemic from overeating, and on the other extreme, we have too many teenagers who suffer from drastic weight loss – both of which have a very negative impact on a teen’s health. Eating
Read moreIn last week’s blog, we talked about Teen Depression. This week we’re picking that thread back up and following it to its extreme. Teen suicide is a serious problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds. It is estimated that 500,000 teens attempt suicide every
Read moreThe teen years are tough. There is no doubt that our youth face a number of challenges during a very insecure phase of their lives; however, most adolescents are able to balance the anxiety with good friendships, strong families, success in school or activities, and the process of developing a strong sense of self. As parents, teachers, coaches or other
Read moreWe adults often feel the stress of the holidays or get the blues during the winter. But sometimes we forget or don’t realize that teens get those feelings, too. The same things that can cause our stress, can bring about stress for adolescents as well: Hectic schedule Financial stress Increased family conflict or misunderstanding Crowds Pressure to live up to
Read moreSometimes in our worry over the many issues facing youth (sex, drugs, gangs, etc.), we adults forget to focus on one of the most basic of needs: proper nutrition. “You are what you eat” we always say… does that mean that teens are McDonald’s cheeseburgers? Are they french fries, pizza, soda? Maybe teens eat all those cookies because they’re sweet?
Read moreDealing with difficult personalities is a skill that everyone must cultivate to be successful in this life. Not everyone gets along. Different personalities clash. But when a child isn’t getting along with a teacher, it becomes an emotional roller coaster. Although it can be heartbreaking to watch a child deal with these hard issues, think of them as life lessons.
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