Throughout the highs and lows, a fulfilling life is possible for every adolescent—experiencing bipolar disorder included. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member A common misconception with bipolar disorder is that children cannot experience it. While often diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood, glimpses into that experience can show up by childhood—experiences that, if identified, can assist to better symptom management and wellbeing throughout the course of their lives.  About 2.9% of children and adolescents will experience cycles of extreme highs and lows in mood ..read more

With the catharsis of creating art and the connectivity of absorbing art in mind, we are combining creativity and advocacy for our AIM for Awareness Design Challenge. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member I’m not sure art can exist without emotions. Each expressional modality feels as if it only exists as just that: expression. Art seems to ask us to crawl out of our minds and into our feelings and oh, can it evoke some strong ones.  I feel the raised goosebumps on my arms when I listen to a moving piece of music. I’ve heard “ugh, I could’ve done that” countless ti ..read more

New research confirms that sunlight exposure has positive impacts on depression and anxiety. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member When discussing mental health, we often hear the sentiment: it’s about going back to the basics.  From our primary care doctor’s office to receiving a meme from a friend—basic mental health care reminds us humans that we are just like the plants we seemingly can’t keep alive in our homes: in need of simply water, fresh air, and some sunlight in order to feel good.  While these “tried and true” answers are often easy to dismiss in s ..read more

This Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skill is a thoughtful strategy for clear, effective communication no matter what conversation you’re walking into. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member AIM Youth Mental Health is all about bridging the gap between the latest psychology research and access to care for youth struggling with their mental health. Our Toolkit blog series is one way in which we bring empirically-backed tools directly to our community. Each Toolkit focuses on sharing a skills-based mental health tip that is applicable for anyone: parent and youth, alike.&nb ..read more

This AIM researcher is asking teens for their input on mental health solutions and helping them get out of negative thought spirals in the process. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member Welcome to Research Updates! A new series where we share interviews with our doctors and fellows conducting groundbreaking research on all aspects of youth mental health.  Dr. Hannah Lawrence is an assistant professor at Oregon State University in the School of Psychological Science where she leads the Translational Imagery Depression and Suicide (TIDES) Lab. Dr. Lawrence’s program ..read more

This article is in collaboration with The National Alliance for Eating Disorders. The Alliance provides a free therapist-staffed helpline and interactive online referral database, as well as many free, weekly, therapist-led (virtual and in-person) support groups.⁠  By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member The holiday season can be both joyful and often challenging, especially for those experiencing eating disorders. Nearly 3% of teens will struggle with a diagnosable eating disorder, which once they reach adulthood, become the 2nd highest mortality rate amongst mental ..read more

We hope you will join us this Giving Tuesday as we work to create a world of mentally healthy children and youth. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member For many, the holidays act as a cataclysm for stress.  According to C.S. Mott’s National Poll on Children’s Health, one in six parents report high stress levels during the holidays, with one in five stating that said stress negatively impacts their child’s experience of the season… Couple that with nearly one in five children experiencing a diagnosable mental health condition, and stress becomes as synonymous with t ..read more

You’ve seen the headlines – youth mental health is at an all-time low. Nearly one in five children has a diagnosable mental health condition. For these young people, the right treatment can be life-changing – and lifesaving. Unfortunately, many young people don’t receive the mental health support they need, often due to barriers such as stigma, fear, and lack of accessible treatment options. Yet childhood is a pivotal time for mental health treatment: over 50% of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14.  For me, the holidays are a happy – if hectic! – time of year. But for childr ..read more

And the case for adding ‘random acts of kindness’ to your self-care routine. By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member Kindness not only feels good, it also is good for us. The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley—a leader in research on the science of social and emotional well-being—confirms that “experiments have actually demonstrated again and again that kindness toward others actually causes us to be happier, improves our health, and lengthens our lives.” In fact, it may have even contributed to our survival. Evolutionary anthropologist Brian Hare and journalist V ..read more

What is ADHD? It’s etiology, types, symptoms, coping strategies, and even strategies for parents all covered in this Toolkit. . By Meadowlark Monaghan, AIM Youth Advisory Board Member ADHD, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is an experience that affects many young people—around 5-7% of youth, worldwise. Rates of diagnosis are higher in the U.S., perhaps because of strong achievement pressures and all-too-often, quick diagnoses.  While each child with ADHD will have a unique experience, there is common ground with the kinds of challenges they may face and possible solutions th ..read more