The coronavirus pandemic touches almost every facet of life for people in the U.S. The way we work, the way we play, the way we socialize – it’s nearly impossible to find an area of day-to-day living that coronavirus does not affect. At the start of the pandemic, most of us thought we were at the beginning of a temporary, passing phase. We’d shelter-in-place, social distance, wear masks, and stick
It’s back to school season. Which means, during COVID, back to homeschooling. In many districts, schools won’t open as usual this fall. Due to surging infection rates around the country, many schools will continue the distance-learning model. There’s also no projected date for when in-person classes will resume. And while many adolescents and parents bemoan this decision, there are some adolescents who are, frankly, thrilled. Because for them, school was
Santa Clara County has received attention in recent years from media and mental health professionals concerned about the alarming rates of mental health issues among youth. For example, in Palo Alto, specifically, there were an unusual amount of teen suicide clusters over the past decade. Between two Palo Alto high schools, the suicide rate is four or five times the national average. And Palo Alto is only one of the
Research shows that, like grandparents, aunts and uncles play a unique part in a child’s or adolescent’s life. In an interview with Forbes, Melanie Notkin, bestselling author of Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids, says that the more aunts and uncles a child has, the more opportunities for positive influences that child gains. Sometimes serving as quasi-parents, other times serving
The nationwide pandemic abruptly shifted all schools to a distance-learning model last spring. And while some students might have thrived in this new educational setting, many students suffered. This article addresses this latter category: those whose academic performance suffered – maybe severely – when schools shifted to a virtual platform. If this happened to your teen, they might have struggled through every virtual class, assignment, and online exam. Or they
If you’re a parent, teacher, or professional who works with youth in Contra Costa County, California, you might be interested in the current rates of adolescent substance use in cities such as Danville, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and Moraga. While our past articles have focused on substance use in high school students, this article discusses the alarming rate of early substance use/exposure in elementary school students. The following information
Everyone knows that grandparents have a special, unique bond with their grandchildren. In certain situations, this bond is sometimes deeper than the parent-child bond. But did you know that studies show being close with your grandparents – and vice versa – has positive effects on mental health? Being Close to the Grands Means Better Adolescent Wellbeing In 2009, a study published in The Journal of Family Psychology found that adolescent
When it comes to your teen, the cup is always half-empty. No – scratch that. It’s always completely empty. Even when a situation has redeeming qualities, your teen sees it as all bad. They get stuck in a cloud of disappointment, misery, or gloom, and nothing you say changes their opinion. You keep wondering: Why is my teenager so negative? And what can I do to help them? Typical Adolescent
If your teen struggles with thoughts of suicide or has attempted suicide in the past, we’re sure you know they need mental health treatment as soon as possible. At this point, you might be trying to determine what kind of treatment facility is best for them. Below is an overview of the various treatment options that might be available for your suicidal teen. Inpatient Hospitalization If your teen is actively
Parenting is one of the greatest joys in life. Parenting any child is a challenge and a blessing. You get to watch a human being grow right before your eyes, from infancy to adulthood. Along the way, you see them learn to walk and talk. You teach them how to do everything from tying their shoes to driving a car. You send them off to school when they’re little and
