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Parents

Parents

Parents

Parents

Family & Home Life

How to Handle Family Members Who Deny Mental Illness

When your teenager receives a diagnosis for a mental health disorder, one thing you realize is that you need all the support you can get. Support from your spouse, co-parent, or partner. Support from your own parents, siblings, and friends: from wherever and whomever, every little bit counts. You may tough it out at the beginning, without telling anyone what’s happening. However, most parents of teens with mental health issues

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Teens and Mental Health
Parents

Teens and Mental Health in the News: The NBC Report

It’s been a year. The vaccines are here. Public health officials, in collaboration with state, municipal, and community resources, are in the process of distributing doses to as many people in the U.S. as they can. They’re doing it as quickly as possible, under challenging circumstances. Whether this means our kids will be back in school full-time later this spring, over the summer (for year-round districts), or in the fall,

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Family & Home Life

How to Get Your Teen to Eat More Vegetables

March is National Nutrition Month. The latest research on the relationship between diet and emotions shows that food has a significant impact on how we feel. A poor diet can make adolescents more vulnerable to negative emotions (such as anger and anxiety) as well as mental health disorders like depression. On the other hand, eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet, complete with plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, has been proven by evidence

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Family & Home Life

Compassionate Parenting Promotes Generosity in Kids

Giving doesn’t always come naturally to kids. Whether your child is a toddler or a teen, childhood is often a time that’s “all about me.” Lecturing, bribing, and nagging might work every once in a while, but they won’t turn your child into an instinctive giver. Instead, generosity is a practice that must be cultivated. A 2020 study from the University of California, Davis shows children are more likely to

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Parents

When Is It Time to Seek Alcohol Treatment for Adolescents?

Alcohol is the most abused substance among teens in the U.S. Most parents understand their teenager is likely to experiment with alcohol at some point during adolescence. That goes for all teens, and most parents understand their teen is not immune. From students who do everything by the book to students who love to rebel for the sake of rebelling, the chances are they’ll have a drink – probably more

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Parents

For Parents: How to Understand Changes in Psychiatric Medication

Are psychiatrists guessing about what to prescribe? If you have a teenager with a mental health disorder that requires medication, you may become discouraged if the first medication their psychiatrist prescribes does not improve their symptoms or offer them any relief. We understand how hard that can be. The types of mental health conditions that may require medication include: Depressive Disorders Anxiety Disorders Psychotic Disorders Behavioral Disorders For children and

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Mental Health ER Visits
Parents

CDC Report – Mental Health ER Visits for Kids and Teens Increased in 2020

Officials predicted negative consequences for youth – and now we have the data. In the weeks and months following the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic here in the U.S., professionals who work with children and adolescents warned that young people might experience a wide range of negative consequences as a result of the various mitigation strategies prescribed by our public health officials. Virtual school, social distancing, shelter-in-place orders, and restrictions

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Parents

When Alcohol Causes the Most Harm

Alcohol can damage the brain and body at every age and stage of life. Addiction to alcohol – also known as alcohol used disorder (AUD) – increases the problems alcohol causes. Long-term daily exposure to alcohol can lead to significant dysfunction, disability, and, in some cases, death. A 2020 study identified three specific time periods when alcohol does the most harm. These include: 1. Pregnancy Drinking – even moderately –

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Parents

Report: Almost Half of California Teens in Psychological Distress

A policy brief published on January 27th by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research reveals a set of statistics that are a genuine cause for alarm for parents of teenagers living in California. Data collected throughout 2019 by researchers for the annual California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) show that what many parents, teachers, and community leaders feared might happen appears to have happened: the coronavirus pandemic has had a

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Parents

Psychiatric Medication and Disordered Eating – Is There a Connection?

It’s an established scientific fact that some medications prescribed for mental health disorders have a direct effect on appetite and eating. Stimulant medications for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause a decrease in appetite, which may lead to weight loss. Some studies connect early exposure to ADHD medication to adult obesity, but that evidence is inconclusive. Current research indicates the relationship between ADHD and obesity is

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