Twenty years ago, recreational cannabis products were illegal in almost every state in the country. Twenty-one states allowed the medical use of cannabis, and in 14 states, possession of small amounts of cannabis was decriminalized. However, marijuana was completely illegal for medical and recreational use in most states, and cannabis use among teenagers was at […]
Read MoreAdolescence is a critical period in life, characterized by drastic physical, mental, and psychological changes. Young people between the ages of 13 and 19 begin to gain a sense of independence and determine their place in the world. These developmental years typically set the stage for the remainder of their lives. It’s also a time […]
Read MoreIn the United States, rates of teen depression are on the rise. The pandemic increased awareness about the increase in teen mental health issues in general. Experts on adolescent development warned the accumulated stressors of stay-at-home orders, virtual school, and uncertainty/fear of disease and illness would exacerbate existing mental health issues among teens already diagnosed […]
Read MoreTeen mental health is a primary concern in our society right now. The pandemic significantly disrupted the end of the 2019-2020 school year and the entire 2020-2021 school year. So far, the 2021-2022 school year – fingers crossed – appears to be a return to our regularly scheduled programming. Or, at very least, most high […]
Read MoreFor centuries, our practice of medicine and understanding of disease was limited by one simple factor: we couldn’t look inside the human body. When pioneers began peering inside the human body, that always happened after a person was deceased – and that practice itself was considered heresy by the dominant powers of the time. Fast […]
Read MoreOver the past two and a half years, everyone from politicians to public health officials to teachers to family, friends, and peers gave parents of teens an endless stream of free, unsolicited advice. Parents heard from all sides – including dozens of articles on our Parent Tips and Advice page – that the pandemic and […]
Read MoreIt’s been two years since officials issued the first shelter-in-place orders in California. Schools went virtual, businesses adapted to the new circumstances, and everyone wondered how long the pandemic would last and what the consequences would be. Adolescent development experts and mental health professionals warned the public health safety and COVID-19 mitigation measures would have […]
Read MoreWe have some good news for teens in depression treatment. It works. Three New Studies Show Treatment is Headed in the Right Direction When we read about mental health issues in the news these days, almost everything we encounter is negative. Headline and stories are filled with dire warnings about the precarious state of teen […]
Read MoreExpanded Access Needed in Rural Areas and for Low-Income Families In the post-pandemic 21st century, most parents of teenagers know the state of mental health among adolescents in the U.S. is at a crossroads. Some experts say our teens are in crisis or call our current situation a bona-fide emergency. Crisis, emergency, or longstanding problem […]
Read MoreCan Exercise Really Reduce Symptoms of Depression in Teens? The short answer: yes. Over the past twenty years, our awareness of the benefits of exercise has increased dramatically. Of course, before the recent revolution in self-care, mindfulness, and the scores of peer-reviewed scientific studies documenting the benefits of exercise, we knew that exercise was good […]
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