Adults often joke about the moodiness and unpredictable nature of teenagers. As teens go through puberty, spend more time with friends and less with family and discover their own identities, the shifts don’t come easy — for them or their families. But, as a parent or guardian, when should you be concerned about your teen’s mental wellbeing? How can you determine if your child is […] The post Five Ways to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

How teenagers manage and use social media is a complicated topic. Sure, social media can be a valuable tool and resource. Many times, it’s where teenagers express themselves, develop their identities and connect with others. But it can also be the source of depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation and other mental health challenges. Major concerns are cyber bullying, sexual content, negative pressure and feelings of inadequacy […] The post Helping Teens Build Healthy Social Media Habits appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

In my sophomore year of high school, I took the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course as part of my gym class, and my number one takeaway is that mental health is just as important as physical health. This is especially true for student athletes like me, who often sacrifice their mental wellbeing for a sport. tMHFA covers a broad range of mental health […] The post What Student Athletes (and Their Coaches) Need to Know About Mental Health appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

As conversations around mental health become more common, it is increasingly important that we consider the mental health of everyone – especially teens. Half of mental health challenges begin by age 14, so it’s crucial to start these conversations early so you can maintain an open dialogue as teenagers mature. Studies show that healthy friendships are important to mental wellbeing. They can help increase a […] The post Talking to Your Teen About Mental Health appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, the effects on our teens are far-reaching: Many have had extracurricular activities changed or cancelled, classes may be online and opportunities to be social have lessened. Those day-to-day changes have had an impact, according to a teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) study. Preliminary data shows that approximately 87% of students report stress and problems resulting from the changes […] The post How tMHFA Can Help During and After COVID-19 appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

Bullying is not an unfamiliar concept, especially for nearly 20 percent of students aged 12-18. According to the Mental Health First Aid curriculum, one in five American high school students reports being bullied at school each year. In addition, nearly 7 percent of high school students skipped school at least once in the past month because they felt unsafe either at school or on their […] The post How to Help a Friend Who Is Being Bullied appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

A majority of parents say their children’s mental wellbeing worsened during the past year and a half because of remote learning and social isolation due to COVID-19, according to a new poll from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The post National Council for Mental Wellbeing Poll Finds Youth Mental Health Worsened Dramatically Because of COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

In my sophomore year at Bellows Free Academy High School (St. Albans, Vermont), I attended a small conference at nearby St. Michael’s College that focused on the mental wellbeing of student-athletes. I participated in different activities and listened to different speakers, but what stuck with me the most was the final presentation. This was a presentation that became a conversation between hundreds of student-athletes from […] The post tMHFA Taught Me to Take Care of My Mental Health as a Student-athlete appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

Being a teenager isn’t always simple, especially with the added complications of the COVID-19 pandemic – online school, changing physical distancing guidelines, activities put on hold. The last two years have been a whirlwind at best. If you have had a rough time adjusting or notice that a friend hasn’t been themselves recently, that’s OK! It’s important to remember that your emotions and mental wellbeing […] The post Helping Your Friend Connect with a Trusted Adult appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more

Dozens of schools and youth-serving organizations throughout New Jersey will provide free teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training to the youth they serve through an innovative grant program established by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in partnership with Born This Way Foundation. The post The National Council for Mental Wellbeing Will Provide Free Mental Health Training to 6,300 New Jersey Teens appeared first on %%EXTBLOGLINK ..read more