As a parent, one of your biggest responsibilities from early childhood is to teach respect and good manners to your child while nurturing their self-esteem. For children, good behavior is learned through positive reinforcement, communication, and consistent support from parents and caretakers. There are many factors behind a seemingly sudden defiant child with disrespectful behavior, but a change in their behavior can be startling and disheartening. If your child begins exhibiting disrespectful behavior, it’s important to stay calm and act respectfully back to them. This teaches that anger or ..read more

How to support a child with mental health issues and substance abuse, and find appropriate placement The teenage years are difficult. Being a kid is more complicated than it ever has been, and the older a child gets, the more pressures mount. As grades, athletics, social media, college applications, strict parents, pandemics, and climate change demand their attention from the outside, we can forget about what might also demand their attention from the inside. With so much external input, the mental health of our children has never been worse. Some studies estimate that upwards of 1 in 5 childr ..read more

Body shaming culture is one of the worst issues teenage girls and boys have to deal with. For adolescents who struggle with body image issues, negative comments about their appearance can push them over the edge. As a parent, it’s crucial to understand how to help your child if they’re undergoing bullying and body shaming. Below is everything you need to know to recognize the signs of body shaming, help your child if they’ve been body shamed, and how to help your child overcome body shaming and improve their overall body image. What is Body Shaming? Body shaming is also known as fat shaming. A ..read more

There’s no question that today’s youth struggles with unprecedented challenges that most people have never had to grapple with. Political instability, inflation, school shootings, and social media all contribute to our nation’s youth mental health crisis. Bubbling underneath the surface for decades has been the pervasive worry of climate change. From a young age, we teach our children to understand the impact that they have on our planet, and how they fit into the complicated and delicate ecological system of plants, animals, and natural wonders that surround us. Now, that our planet has begun ..read more

Generation Z is usually defined as the cohort of individuals born between the years 1997 and 2012. One of the defining characteristics of Gen Z is their digital literacy. Members of Generation Z were born after the invention and proliferation of the internet, and as a result, their entire lives have been marinated in unfathomable amounts of digital information. If you’re the parent or loved one of a person who belongs to Generation Z, you might have some questions about their mental health concerns. Zoomers, as they are often called, report more mental health concerns than any previous generat ..read more

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is one of the most horrifying behaviors for parents to witness in their child. Deliberate self harm is almost always a sign of a serious underlying mental health condition and it can be a way for a child to cope with difficult emotions or situations. NSSI usually starts in adolescence and is more common in girls than boys. As many as one in four girls self-injures, according to a recent 2018 survey. However, it is important to remember that anyone can engage in self harm, regardless of age, gender, or background. If you are worried about someone engaging in nonsu ..read more

As your child grows into their teenage years, it becomes easy to drift apart. Their toddler years are gone in a flash, then their elementary and middle school days are over, and suddenly, there’s a teenager in your house who wants an extended curfew. Worst of all, they would rather spend time alone in their room than with their family. As teens develop their own identities, it’s normal for them to want to spend more time alone or with their peers. As a parent, it can seem impossible to stay connected with your teen as they become increasingly more reluctant to spend time with you. In this arti ..read more

It is no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant mental health impact on teenagers. The age group of 13 to 18-year-olds went from attending school, playing sports, socializing with friends, and seeing family regularly to being completely isolated at home with their immediate family. To put it simply, our kids weren’t allowed to be kids. Physical health aside, teens’ mental health paid a high price to keep them safe at home. Experts say they were already concerned with the poor mental health of this age group, and the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated mental health challenges for ..read more

Teen suicide is one of the most heartbreaking tragedies that can occur. The signs of suicidality in teens are often subtle, and many teens don’t realize they’re at risk. If you think your teen might be suicidal, it’s important to get help right away. With suicide being the second leading cause of death in people aged 15 to 24, there’s no better time to learn the warning signs and risk factors so you know when to get help. Below are some of the signs to look for so you can prevent a suicide attempt and get your teen the help they need to recover from their mental disorders. Talking About Suicid ..read more

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology, around 90% of teens aged 13 to 17 actively use social media platforms, showing just how big of an influence social media can have in their lives. It’s not all bad news though. While there are some negative effects of social media on teenagers, there are also many positive ones. Social media can help teens stay connected to friends and family, which is especially important if they don’t live close by. Social media is also a powerful tool to help children and teens stay up-to-date on current events and news. However ..read more