Is Mental Illness Genetic? Genetic Factors Explored
Are mental illnesses inherited or are they a result of a person’s environment? This question drives scientific investigations, shapes conversations in society, and affects how people view mental health. But finding the answer isn’t simple. Below, we’ll explore this issue, considering how genetics, environment, and personal experiences all play a role. What is Mental Illness? […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Eating disorders impact millions of people worldwide. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, “An estimated 9% of the U.S. population, or 28.8 million Americans, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.” February 28th marks the beginning of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, a crucial time for spotlighting this critical […]
Teen Marijuana Use: Compared to Adults, What’s the Risk of Addiction and Mental Health Disorders?
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 […]
Is Your Teen at Risk of Human Trafficking?
Child trafficking is a serious problem in the U.S. and worldwide. This abhorrent practice almost disappeared in the U.S. in the 1990s, but is back, and increasing every year. The return of child trafficking is directly related to the prevalence of the internet, smartphones, and social media/messaging technology. Texting and messaging technology appeared in the […]
Dance, Drama, and Drawing: How to Support a Teen’s Interests in the Arts
In the year 2021, teens looking for ways to spend their spare time have virtually unlimited options. Instant connectivity – a result of the computer revolution – allows them to go online and connect with peers who share their same interests at any time they choose. Teens can connect with teens halfway around the world, […]
Parents of Teens: Encourage Exploration, But Set Limits
If you’re the parent of a teen interested in improving your teen’s social skills, you probably spend time reading up on teen psychology. Here’s a theme, or trope, you likely see all the time: Life is about experiences. The more new, diverse experiences you have, the more you learn and grow. The more you learn […]
Get to Know Your Teen: What Are YA Novels?
Nothing compares to getting lost in the pages of a fantastic book. Talented authors can keep you engaged for hours at a time, turning page after page as you anticipate what comes next. Summer reading programs at local libraries and Scholastic book fairs were a large part of childhood for many adults today. The advent […]
Should You Care if Your Teen Wants to Read a Banned Book
Banning books is not a new practice. Attempts to keep adolescents from reading material unsuitable for their age range have been around for over a century. Historians usually consider Uncle Tom’s Cabin as the first nationally banned book in the United States toward the end of the 1800s. We’d like to think limiting access to […]
Does Social Contagion Cause Teens to Identify as Transgender?
News stations have spent the last few years stoking debates about transgender individuals. From transgender people enlisting in the military to whether transgender people should be allowed to play sports to which restroom transgender people should use, the small but substantial portion of the population has faced intense public scrutiny from every direction. An estimated […]
Preventative Psychiatry for Teen Mental Health
Teen 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 […]