It’s well-established that youth mental health has suffered in recent years—with wide-ranging factors contributing to the problem including the proliferation of social media among young people and the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]
What We Know About Youth Mental Health Visits to the ER
August 7, 2023 By
New Evidence on Adolescent Mental Health and Social Media
June 27, 2023 By
A sweeping new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General outlines the best available evidence on how social media is affecting the mental health of youth in the United States. [Read more…]
COVID Learning Loss Is Real
March 22, 2023 By
The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on our well-being that linger years after the virus first spread among humans. We already know that mental health declined significantly during the pandemic, especially among young people. The pandemic also led to the increased prevalence of sleep problems and eating disorders. [Read more…]
The Benefits of Mindfulness Education In Schools
February 10, 2023 By
You have heard by now that teens in the U.S. are struggling with mental health more than ever before. A survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted in 2021 found 44% of teens experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness that prevented them from participating in normal activities. Almost 20% of teens said they had considered suicide, and 9% said they attempted suicide. Research finds these problems are more pronounced among lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens. [Read more…]
New Guidance Promotes Treating Childhood Obesity
February 9, 2023 By
The American Academy of Pediatricians is recommending a new approach to childhood obesity that addresses the condition as a complex disease and recommends intense behavioral treatment.
Twenty-one of the nation’s top experts in childhood health developed new guidelines after reviewing the body of evidence on childhood obesity; this is the first time in 15 years the group has addressed the topic. [Read more…]
Connecting With Older Adults Is Good For You and Them
January 23, 2023 By
In modern society, most of us live in silos surrounded by people similar to us; this applies across many factors including race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and age. In fact, young people and even middle-aged adults today have less contact with older adults than ever before in human history. [Read more…]
Youth and Anxiety: Screening Is Essential
October 25, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Young people ages 8 to 18 should all receive an annual screening for anxiety, according to a new recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a volunteer panel of experts who make public health recommendations. [Read more…]
How Kids Learn To Read
August 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Even though it’s the dog days of summer vacation, many schools across the country are getting ready to bring students back into the classroom — and that means giving serious thought to the best ways to teach the youngest students to read. [Read more…]
How Modern Society Creates a Perfect Storm of Sleep Disturbances for Teens
August 7, 2022 By Leave a Comment
technology, bedtime and rest concept – teenage girl in pajamas with smartphone lying in bed at night
It’s the dog days of summer. With schools on summer break, you’ll find some teens awake late at night and sleeping until noon. [Read more…]
Does Your Neighborhood Affect Your Mental Health?
May 20, 2022 By Leave a Comment
The evidence clearly shows that the mental health of Americans has declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – and more so for teens, older adults, young mothers, and minorities. [Read more…]
The Ideals and Realities of Family Dinner with Young Kids
April 14, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Family dinner is a cultural norm that most families in the U.S. strive for; it’s a goal that has endured for decades. Just think of an episode of “Leave It to Beaver” with June and Ward Cleaver and their two sons sitting around a table set with fine China and a white tablecloth, discussing the day and eating a healthy meal. [Read more…]
Parenting Programs Can Help Prevent Child Abuse
March 30, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Child abuse remains a serious problem: Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S annually. No one needs an academic study to understand that abuse and neglect take a terrible toll on young people, their families, and society. We now have clear evidence that child abuse has long-term effects on its victims’ mental and physical health throughout their lives. [Read more…]
