“At-risk” youth is a term we hear often when we discuss the youth at risk for domestic violence, drug addiction, and substance abuse. Most often, the term “at-risk” refers to specific demographics based on race, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status. What fails to be understood too often is that all children are at-risk because the…
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Adults are meant to guide children and help them pick up clues for finding out who they are. Rather than tell children who they are or aren’t, adults are supposed to support children in the discovery process. When children are appropriately supported in their personal and emotional development, they build essential confidence, self-esteem, self-awareness, and…
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Nervous breakdowns are not reserved for adults. Substance abuse or no substance abuse, a teen or adolescent can reach a peak of what they are capable of handling in their life. Substance abuse might develop as a nervous breakdown begins to build as a child tries to control, manage, and cope on their own. …
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The World Health Organization, WHO, recently released a report outlining the leading causes of death to adolescent’s worldwide. On average, more than one million adolescents die every single year. Adolescence, according to this study by WHO, is quantified between the ages of 10-19 years old. 3,000 deaths per day of young people between those innocent…
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When an epidemic of the proportions the opioid epidemic is ravaging the world, the youth have to be taken into consideration. Losing friends, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, schoolteachers, and other critical adults in their lives to opioids takes a toll. Experiencing the opioid epidemic second hand has an effect. Exposure to a drug-affected…
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When we think of body image issues, we often think of girls. As a culture, we place a higher emphasis on body image on the feminine form than we do the male form. However, males of all ages face body image expectations as well as body image discriminations. The heavy focus on female body image…
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A limited but interesting research study conducted by the University of East Anglia found that early interventions to PTSD with the use of cognitive behavioral therapy as treatment can have positive and lasting effects for young people. Many parents wait to provide treatment or therapy of any kind for post traumatic stress disorder until their…
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Teens and adolescents need a nutritional breakfast. Breakfasts of the past which might have included sugary cereals, microwave meals, pastries, and other non-nutritional foods become a thing of the past. Whole food breakfasts centered on nutritional and dietary principles for mental health becomes part of the normal daily routine for teens and adolescents. Recovery from…
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Depression is more than a passing phase of teenage angst- a point which cannot be emphasized enough. Hormones, mood, social changes, and an emerging identity can all be contributing factors to a demonstrative change in personality and demeanor. Chemical imbalance, poor coping skills, or even a presence of hidden substance abuse problems can also contribute…
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Teens who eat too much of a non-nutritionally balanced diet and exercise too little are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression compared to their peers. Teens who have a balanced diet that includes highly nutritional foods and regularly exercise or participate in some form of physical activity have a lower likelihood of developing…
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