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Characteristics Of Common Mental Health Disorders

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Characteristics Of Common Mental Health Disorders

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The term psychological disorders is sometimes used to refer to what are more frequently known as mental disorders or psychiatric disorders.

Mental disorders are patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These disorders create distress for the person experiencing the symptoms.

The DSM-5-TR lists hundreds of distinct conditions. Anxiety and depression are among the most common types of mental health conditions that people experience. While the DSM provides diagnostic information about such conditions, including the age at which they typically appear, it does not provide guidelines for treatment or predictions related to the course of illness.

While not a comprehensive list of every mental disorder, the following list includes some of the major categories of disorders described in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the fifth edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). The DSM is one of the most widely used systems for classifying mental disorders and provides standardized diagnostic criteria.

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Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are those that are typically diagnosed during infancy, childhood, or adolescence. These psychological disorders include:

Intellectual Development Disorder

Sometimes called intellectual disability, this type of developmental disorder originates prior to the age of 18 and is characterized by limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors.

Limitations to intellectual functioning are often identified through the use of IQ tests, with an IQ score under 70 often indicating the presence of a limitation. Adaptive behaviors are those that involve practical, everyday skills such as self-care, social interaction, and living skills.

Global Developmental Delay

This diagnosis is for developmental disabilities in children who are under the age of five. Such delays relate to cognition, social functioning, speech, language, and motor skills.

It is generally seen as a temporary diagnosis applying to kids who are still too young to take standardized IQ tests. Once children reach the age where they are able to take a standardized intelligence test, they may be diagnosed with an intellectual development disorder.

Communication Disorders

These disorders are those that impact the ability to use, understand, or detect language and speech. The DSM-5 identifies four different subtypes of communication disorders: language disorder, speech sound disorder, childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering), and social (pragmatic) communication disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction and communication in multiple life areas as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors.

The DSM specifies that symptoms of autism spectrum disorder must be present during the early developmental period and that these symptoms must cause significant impairment in important areas of life including social and occupational functioning.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of hyperactivity and impulsivity and/or inattention that interferes with functioning and presents itself in two or more settings such as at home, work, school, and social situations.

The DSM-5 specifies that several of the symptoms must have been present prior to the age of 12 and that these symptoms must have a negative impact on social, occupational, or academic functioning.

Bipolar and Related Disorders

Bipolar disorder is characterized by shifts in mood as well as changes in activity and energy levels. The disorder often involves experiencing shifts between elevated moods and periods of depression. Such elevated moods can be pronounced and are referred to either as mania or hypomania.

Mania is characterized by a distinct period of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood accompanied by increased activity and energy. Periods of mania are sometimes marked by feelings of distraction, irritability, and excessive confidence.

When mania progresses, there is also the possibility of psychotic symptoms such as grandiose delusions and hallucinations. While mania occurs with bipolar I disorder, hypomania is a marker of bipolar II.

Hypomanic episodes are characterized by elevated, expansive, or irritable moods like manic episodes. However, hypomania is less severe and generally shorter in duration than mania.

Depressive Episodes

These episodes are characterized by feelings of a depressed or sad mood along with a lack of interest in activities. They may also involve feelings of guilt, fatigue, and irritability. During a depressive period, people with bipolar disorder may lose interest in activities that they previously enjoyed, experience sleeping difficulties, and even have thoughts of suicide.

Both manic and depressive episodes can be frightening for both the person experiencing these symptoms as well as family, friends, and other loved ones who observe these behaviors and mood shifts. Fortunately, appropriate and effective treatments, which often include both medications and psychotherapy, can help people with bipolar disorder successfully manage their symptoms.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive and persistent fear, worry, anxiety and related behavioral disturbances. Fear involves an emotional response to a threat, whether that threat is real or perceived. Anxiety involves the anticipation that a future threat may arise. Types of anxiety disorders include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

This disorderis marked by excessive worry about everyday events. While some stress and worry are a common part of life, GAD involves worry that is so excessive that it interferes with a person's well-being and functioning.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a fairly common psychological disorder that involves an irrational fear of being watched, judged, humiliated, and/or embarrassed. The anxiety caused by this disorder can have a major impact on an individual's life and make it difficult to function at school, work, and other social settings.

Specific Phobias

These phobias involve an extreme fear of a specific object or situation in the environment. Some examples of common specific phobias include fear of spiders, fear of heights, or fear of snakes.

The four main types of specific phobias involve natural events (thunder, lightning, tornadoes), medical (medical procedures, dental procedures, medical equipment), animals (dogs, snakes, bugs), and situational (small spaces, leaving home, driving).

Panic Disorder

This psychiatric disorder is characterized by panic attacks that may seem to strike out of the blue and for no reason at all. Because of this, people with panic disorder often experience anxiety and preoccupation over the possibility of having another panic attack.

People may begin to avoid situations and settings where attacks have occurred in the past or where they might occur in the future. This can create significant impairments in many areas of everyday life and make it difficult to carry out everyday routines.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

This condition is a type of anxiety disorder involving an excessive amount of fear or anxiety related to being separated from attachment figures. People are often familiar with the idea of separation anxiety as it relates to young children's fear of being apart from their parents, but older children and adults can experience it as well.

The person experiencing these symptoms may avoid moving away from home, going to school, or getting married in order to remain in close proximity to the attachment figure.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Trauma- and stressor-related disorders involve exposure to a stressful or traumatic event. These were previously grouped with anxiety disorders but are now considered a distinct category of disorders. Disorders included in this category include:

Acute Stress Disorder

Acute stress disorder is characterized by the emergence of severe anxiety for up to one month after exposure to a traumatic event. Some examples of traumatic events include natural disasters, war, accidents, and witnessing a death.

As a result, the individual may experience dissociative symptoms such as a sense of altered reality, an inability to remember important aspects of the event, and vivid flashbacks as if the event were reoccurring. Other symptoms can include reduced emotional responsiveness, distressing memories of the trauma, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions.

Adjustment Disorders

Adjustment disorders can occur as a response to a sudden change such as divorce, job loss, end of a close relationship, a move, or some other loss or disappointment. This type of psychological disorder can affect both children and adults and is characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, depressed mood, worry, anger, hopelessness, and feelings of isolation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can develop after an individual has experienced exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Symptoms of PTSD include episodes of reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things that remind the individual about the event, feeling on edge, and having negative thoughts.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Reactive attachment disorder can result when children do not form healthy relationships and attachments with adult caregivers during the first few years of childhood. Symptoms of the disorder include being withdrawn from adult caregivers and social and emotional disturbances that result from patterns of insufficient care and neglect.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders are psychological disorders that involve a dissociation or interruption in aspects of consciousness, including identity and memory. Dissociative disorders include:

Dissociative Amnesia

This disorder involves a temporary loss of memory as a result of dissociation. In many cases, this memory loss, which may last for just a brief period or for many years, is a result of some type of psychological trauma.

Dissociative amnesia is much more than simple forgetfulness. Those who experience this disorder may remember some details about events but may have no recall of other details around a circumscribed period of time.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder involves the presence of two or more different identities or personalities in one person. Each of these personalities has its own way of perceiving and interacting with the environment.

People with this disorder experience changes in behavior, memory, perception, emotional response, and consciousness.

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Depersonalization/derealization disorder is characterized by experiencing a sense of being outside of one's own body (depersonalization) and being disconnected from reality (derealization). People who have this disorder often feel a sense of unreality and an involuntary disconnect from their own memories, feelings, and consciousness.

Somatic Symptom Disorders

Formerly referred to as somatoform disorders, this category is now known as somatic symptom disorders. Somatic symptom disorders are a class of psychological disorders that involve prominent physical symptoms that may not have a diagnosable physical cause.

In contrast to previous ways of conceptualizing these disorders based on the absence of a medical explanation for the physical symptoms, the current diagnosis emphasizes the unusual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occur in response to these symptoms. Disorders included in this category are:

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Somatic symptom disorder involves a preoccupation with physical symptoms that make it difficult to function. This preoccupation with symptoms results in emotional distress and difficulty coping with daily life.

It is important to note that somatic symptoms do not indicate that individuals are faking their physical pain, fatigue, or other symptoms. In this situation, it is not so much the actual physical symptoms that are disrupting the individual's life as it is the extreme reaction and resulting behaviors.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Illness anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive concern about having an undiagnosed medical condition. Those who experience this psychological disorder worry excessively about body functions and sensations are convinced that they have or will get a serious disease, and are not reassured, even when medical tests don't detect any illnesses.

Conversion Disorder

Conversion disorder involves experiencing motor or sensory symptoms that lack a compatible neurological or medical explanation. In many cases, a person develops the disorder after experiencing a real physical injury or stressful event, which then results in a psychological and emotional response.

Factitious Disorder

Factitious disorder used to have its own category, but it is now included under the somatic symptom and related disorders category of the DSM-5. A factitious disorder is when an individual intentionally creates, fakes, or exaggerates symptoms of illness. Munchausen syndrome, in which people feign an illness to attract attention, is one severe form of factitious disorder.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by obsessive concerns with weight and disruptive eating patterns that negatively impact physical and mental health. Types of eating disorders include:

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosais characterized by restricted food consumption that can lead to weight loss. Some people with anorexia are underweight, while others may be of average or above-average weight. Those who experience this disorder also have a preoccupation and fear of gaining weight as well as a distorted view of their own appearance and behavior.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosainvolves binge eating and then taking extreme steps to compensate for these binges. These compensatory behaviors might include self-induced vomiting, the abuse of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise.

Rumination Disorder

Rumination disorder is marked by regurgitating previously chewed or swallowed food in order to either spit it out or re-swallow it. Rumination disorder can occur in infants, children, teens, and adults. It's also more common in people who have anxiety, depression, or another psychiatric disorder.

Pica involves craving and consuming non-food substances such as dirt, paint, or soap. Pica is more common among young children than adults, but it is also known to occur during pregnancy. A lack of nutrients may also trigger non-food cravings in some instances.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder involves episodes of binge eating where the individual consumes an unusually large amount of food during a short time period, such as a couple of hours.

People with binge-eating disorder often feel they have no control over their eating. Binge eating episodes are sometimes triggered by certain emotions such as feeling happy, anxious, or bored, or following stressful events.

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Sleep disorders involve an interruption in sleep patterns that leads to distress and affects daytime functioning. Examples of sleep disorders include:

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a condition in which people experience an irrepressible need to sleep. People with narcolepsy may experience a sudden loss of muscle tone, also known as cataplexy.

They are also prone to hypnagogic hallucinations, which happen as someone falls asleep, and hypnopompic hallucinations, which happen as someone wakes up.

Insomnia Disorder

Insomnia disorder involves being unable to get enough sleep to feel rested. While all people experience sleeping difficulties and interruptions at some point, insomnia is considered a disorder when it is accompanied by significant distress or impairment over time.

Hypersomnolence

Hypersomnolence disorder is characterized by excessive sleepiness despite an adequate main sleep period. People with this condition may fall asleep during the day at inappropriate times such as at work and school.

Breathing-Related Sleep Disorders

Breathing-related sleep disorders are those that involve breathing anomalies-such as sleep apnea-that can occur during sleep. These breathing problems can result in brief interruptions in sleep that can lead to other problems including insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

Parasomnias

Parasomnia is a term that describes sleep disorders that feature unusual behaviors. Such disorders include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, sleep talking, and sleep eating.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological condition that involves having uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move the legs in order to relieve the sensations. People with this condition may feel tugging, creeping, burning, and crawling sensations in their legs resulting in an excessive movement which then interferes with sleep.

Disruptive, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders

Disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders are those that involve an inability to control emotions and behaviors, resulting in harm to oneself or others.

These challenges with emotional and behavioral regulation are characterized by actions that violate the rights of others such as destroying property or physical aggression and/or those that conflict with societal norms, authority figures, and laws. These disorders include:

Kleptomania

Kleptomania involves an inability to control the impulse to steal. People who have kleptomania will often steal things that they do not really need or that have no real monetary value. Those with this condition experience escalating tension prior to committing a theft and feel relief and gratification afterwards.

Pyromania involves a fascination with fire that results in acts of fire-starting that endanger the self and others. People who struggle with pyromania purposefully and deliberately have set fires more than one time. They also experience tension and emotional arousal before setting a fire.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Intermittent explosive disorder is characterized by brief outbursts of anger and violence that are out of proportion to the situation. People with this disorder may erupt into angry outbursts or violent actions in response to everyday annoyances or disappointments.

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a condition diagnosed in children and adolescents under the age of 18 who regularly violate social norms and the rights of others. Children with this disorder display aggression toward people and animals, destroy property, steal and deceive, and violate other rules and laws. These behaviors result in significant problems in a child's academic or social functioning.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional defiant disorder begins prior to the age of 18 and is characterized by defiance, irritability, anger, aggression, and vindictiveness.

Depressive Disorders

The category of depressive disorders includes a number of conditions. They are all characterized by the presence of sad, empty, or irritable moods accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms. They differ in terms of duration, timing, and causes. Some include:

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: A childhood condition characterized by extreme anger and irritability. Children display frequent and intense outbursts of temper.

Major depressive disorder: A condition characterized by loss of interest in activities and depressed mood which leads to significant impairments in how a person is able to function.

Persistent depressive disorder:This is a type of ongoing, chronic depression that is characterized by other symptoms of depression. While the symptoms are often less severe, they are longer lasting. Diagnosis requires experiencing a depressed mood on most days for a period of at least two years.

Other specified depressive disorder: This diagnosis is for cases when symptoms do not meet the criteria for the diagnosis of another depressive disorder, but they still create problems with an individual's life and functioning.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: This condition is a form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) characterized by significant depression, irritability, and anxiety that begins a week or two before menstruation begins. Symptoms usually go away within a few days following bleeding.

Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder: This condition occurs when an individual experiences symptoms of a depressive disorder either while using alcohol or other substances or while going through withdrawal from a substance.

Depressive disorder due to another medical condition: This condition is diagnosed when a person's medical history suggests that their depressive symptoms may be the result of a medical condition. Medical conditions that may contribute to or cause depression include diabetes, stroke, Parkinson's disease, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain conditions, cancer, infections and HIV/AIDS.

Depressive disorders are all characterized by feelings of sadness and low mood that are persistent and severe enough to affect how a person functions.

The diagnostic criteria vary for each specific condition. For major depressive disorder, diagnosis requires an individual to experience five or more of the following symptoms over the same two-week period.

One of these symptoms must include either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities. Other symptoms can include:

Significant weight loss or gain

Decreased or increased appetite

Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia)

Feelings of slowed physical activity or restlessness

Lack of energy or fatigue that lasts most or all of the day

Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Difficulty thinking or concentrating

Preoccupation with death or thoughts of suicide

Treatments for depressive disorders often involve a combination of psychotherapy and medications.

Substance Use and Addictive Disorders

Substance-related disorders are those that involve the misuse of different substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and alcohol.

These disorders may include substance-induced conditions that can result in many associated diagnoses including intoxication, withdrawal, or the emergence of psychosis, anxiety, and delirium. Examples of substance-related disorders include:

Alcohol-related disorders: Theseinvolve the consumption of alcohol, one of the most widely used drugs in the United States.

Cannabis-related disorders: These disordersinclude symptoms such as using more marijuana than originally intended, feeling unable to stop it, and continuing to use it despite adverse effects in one's life.

Inhalant-use disorders: Theseinvolve inhaling fumes from things such as paints or solvents. As with other substance-related disorders, people with this condition experience cravings for the substance and find it difficult to control or stop engaging in the behavior.

Stimulant use disorder: Thisinvolves the use of stimulants such as meth, amphetamines, and cocaine.

Tobacco use disorder: This is characterized by symptoms such as consuming more tobacco than intended, difficulty cutting back or quitting, cravings, and experiencing adverse social consequences as a result of tobacco use.

Gambling Disorder

Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders are characterized by acquired deficits in cognitive function. These disorders do not include those in which impaired cognition was present at birth or early in life. Types of cognitive disorders include:

Delirium is also known as acute confusional state. This disorder develops over a short period of time-usually a few hours or a few days-and is characterized by disturbances in attention and awareness.

Other Neurocognitive Disorders

Major and mild neurocognitive disorders have the primary feature of acquired cognitive decline in one or more areas including memory, attention, language, learning, and perception.

These cognitive disorders can be due to medical conditions including Alzheimer's disease, HIV infection, Parkinson's disease, substance/medication use, vascular disease, and others.

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior. It is a complex, long-term condition that affects less than 1% of people in the United States.

The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria specify that two or more symptoms of schizophrenia must be present for a period of at least one month.

One symptom must be one of the following:

Delusions: Beliefs that conflict with reality

Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't really there

Disorganized speech: Words that do not follow the rules of language and may be difficult or impossible to understand

The second symptom may be one of the following:

Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior: Confused thinking or bizarre behavior or movements

Negative symptoms: The inability to initiate plans, speak, express emotions, or feel pleasure

Diagnosis also requires significant impairments in social or occupational functioning for a period of at least six months. The onset of schizophrenia is usually in the late teens or early 20s, with men usually showing symptoms earlier than women. Earlier signs of the condition that may occur before diagnosis include poor motivation, difficult relationships, and poor school performance.

The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that multiple factors may play a role in the development of schizophrenia including genetics, brain chemistry, environmental factors, and substance use.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders is a category of psychiatric conditions that include:

Each condition in this classification has its own set of diagnostic criteria.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 specify that in order to be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a person must experience obsessions, compulsions, or both.

Obsessions: Defined as recurrent, persistent thoughts, impulses, and urges that lead to distress or anxiety

Compulsions: Repetitive and excessive behaviors that the individual feels that they must perform to reduce anxiety or to prevent some dreaded outcome from occurring

Treatments for OCD usually focus on a combination of therapy and medications. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or a form of CBT known as exposure and response prevention (ERP) are commonly used. Antidepressants such as Anafranil (clomipramine) or Prozac (fluoxetine) may also be prescribed to manage symptoms.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are characterized by an enduring pattern of maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can cause serious detriments to relationships and other life areas. Types of personality disorders include:

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing disregard for rules, social norms, and the rights of others. People with this disorder typically begin displaying symptoms during childhood, have difficulty feeling empathy for others, and lack remorse for their destructive behaviors.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder involves severe social inhibition and sensitivity to rejection. Such feelings of insecurity lead to significant problems with the individual's daily life and functioning.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder is associated with symptoms including emotional instability, unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, and impulsive behaviors.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent personality disorder involves a chronic pattern of fearing separation and an excessive need to be taken care of. People with this disorder will often engage in behaviors that are designed to produce care-giving actions in others.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is associated with patterns of extreme emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors. People with this condition feel uncomfortable in settings where they are not the center of attention, have rapidly changing emotions, and may engage in socially inappropriate behaviors designed to attract attention from others.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is associated with a lasting pattern of exaggerated self-image, self-centeredness, and low empathy. People with this condition tend to be more interested in themselves than in others.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, inflexibility, and mental and interpersonal control. This is a different condition than obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a distrust of others, even family, friends, and romantic partners. People with this disorder perceive others' intentions as malevolent, even without any evidence or justification.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid personality disorder involves symptoms that include being detached from social relationships. People with this disorder are directed toward their inner lives and are often indifferent to relationships. They generally display a lack of emotional expression and can appear cold and aloof.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder features eccentricities in speech, behaviors, appearance, and thought. People with this condition may experience odd beliefs or magical thinking as well as difficulty forming relationships.

A Word From Verywell

Various factors influence a person's risk of developing a psychological disorder, including biological, social, environmental, cultural, and economic factors. Factors such as social support and coping skills can have protective effects.

Some conditions are short-term, while others may be lifelong. Conditions can also change over time.

Psychological disorders can cause disruptions in daily functioning, relationships, work, school, and other important domains. However, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people can find relief from their symptoms and discover ways to cope effectively.

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Explore a List of Psychological Disorders From the DSM-5

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Psychological disorders are grouped into different categories in the DSM-5. Explore this list of different types of mental disorders and how they are categorized.

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The Mental Health Resources for Parents are online resources aimed specifically at parents of adolescents and young adults. Health care providers and youth serving professionals can offer these additional resources or print the PDF one-page reference sheet to parents looking for additional information, including online resources, support groups, peer networks, helplines, treatment locators, and advocacy opportunities.

Mental Health Online Resources for Parents
Mental Health Networks
Mental Health Treatment Guides
Treatment Services Locator

MENTAL HEALTH ONLINE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

Center for Young Women's Health and Young Men's Health: These websites provide information targeted at parents of adolescents, including guides on how to support children suffering from depression and eating disorders. http://youngwomenshealth.org/parents/ and http://youngmenshealthsite.org/parents/

Jed Foundation: Promoting emotional health and prevent suicide among college students, this website provides resources, including Transition Year, that are designed to help parents recognize the signs of a mental health problems and help their child's transition to college. http://www.jedfoundation.org/parents

Kelty Mental Health Resource Center: Numerous resources for parents and caregivers can be found at this website including a resource library and family toolkit. http://keltymentalhealth.ca/family

Teen Mental Health: Geared towards teenagers, this website provides learning tools on a variety of mental illnesses, videos, and resources for parents and caregivers. http://teenmentalhealth.org/care/parents/

MENTAL HEALTH NETWORKS

Balanced Mind Parent Network: This network guides families raising children and teens with mood disorders to the answers, support, and stability they seek. http://www.thebalancedmind.org/
TREATMENT SERVICES LOCATOR

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Mental Health Resources For Parents of Adolescents and Young Adults

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The Mental Health Resources for Parents are online resources aimed specifically at parents of adolescents and young adults. Health care providers and youth serving professionals can offer these additional resources or print the PDF one-page reference sheet to parents looking for additional information, including online resources, support groups, peer networks, helplines, treatment locators, and advocacy opportunities.

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"With good mental health literacy, we learn how to take better care of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. We are empowered and provided with the skills that we need to help us build better lives, better systems of care and a better society." ~ Wei & Kutcher 2018
GET LITERATE The Elementary Mental Health Literacy Resource (EMHLR) is a classroom-ready resource designed to support multiple school environments, including in-person, online and hybrid instruction. With character-driven and developmentally-informed materials, the EMHLR engages students to:
build and maintain positive mental health
decrease stigma surrounding mental illness
increase understanding of common mental disorders
improve help-seeking skills LEARN MORE The Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide provides a complete set of evidence-based, online modular resources proven to increase the understanding of mental health and mental disorders, decrease the stigma of mental illness and enhance help-seeking efficacy among both students and teachers. LEARN MORE The first publication of its kind, providing
students with information on topics
including time management, relationships,
money, school, sexual activity, mental illness,
suicide and addictions. It includes self-help
information for socio-economic & healthcare
needs and contains recommendations on
where to get help. LEARN MORE

What are Mental Disorders? What is Brain Injury? What is Stigma? We need to know as much about our minds as we do our bodies. Check out our videos on our YouTube channel to learn more.

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"With good mental health literacy, we learn how to take better care of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. We are empowered and provided with the skills that we need to help us build better lives, better systems of care and a better society."

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Dr. Gabor Maté: Consequences of Stressed Parenting

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Updated from an original article written by Terry Clark-Jones.
Coping strategies to guide you and your family when dealing with everyday stress and crisis situations.

Stress is a normal part of life. We all encounter stress in a variety of different situations, forms and amounts. What causes stress for one person may seem like no big deal to someone else.

Stress can come from seemingly small events like heavy traffic or a long line at the store, or it can be a result of a crisis event, like the loss of a job, a death in the family, a pandemic such as that caused by the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes the infectious disease COVID-19, or the catastrophic flooding experienced in mid-Michigan.

The most important thing to do is to recognize, accept and manage your stress to avoid negative physical and emotional consequences. Stress that is not managed can manifest into chronic stress. Chronic stress has been shown to suppress your immune system, increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels and exacerbate underlying conditions like anxiety and depression.

Figuring out what stress management tools work best for you can be a process. While there is no perfect way to manage stress, here are some tips that may work for you and your family:

Know your own stress cues. For example, when you're stressed, do you become forgetful, short tempered, clumsy or something else? Think about what gets your attention the most. Observe your kids and other family members for signs of stress and ask them to do the same for you. Sometimes other people notice our stress cues before we do.

Take time to do something that is meaningful, relaxing and fun to you and your family. Read a book, sit on the porch and enjoy the scenery, enjoy coffee with a friend, or have a family movie or game night.

Practice deep breathing or mindfulness. When you start to become anxious and extremely stressed, try sitting and breathing for a minute or so. It helps if you actually say in your mind, "I am breathing in, and I am breathing out." It may sound silly, but it keeps your mind focused on something you can control: your breath. It helps to quiet your mind and help you relax. Teach kids how to use their breath to calm down. Incorporate family breathing breaks throughout your daily routines. The more you practice this when you are not stressed, the easier it is to tap into when you need it the most.

Get enough sleep. Most health experts recognize that individuals who get at least 8 hours of sleep are less stressed, less sad and can manage anger Try an afternoon nap to supplement your sleep needs, if possible. Some people find that even a 15-minute "cat nap" can feel very refreshing. Just try not to sleep the afternoon away so you can still fall asleep at night. Make sure you are keeping a healthy sleep schedule for your kids too.

Accept your emotions and feelings. It is OK to feel sad, anxious, angry or stressed. Noticing these emotions and naming them can help us be compassionate towards ourselves. Console yourself like you would your best friend: "Wow, I am sorry to hear you are feeling stressed/anxious. I am here for you. Need a hug?" You can help your children accept their stressed or anxious emotions if you recognize and name them and follow up with a hug.

Consider the emotional needs of your family members. Our priorities may shift suddenly in a crisis. Make sure you understand and honor the needs of family members or other household residents during the recovery process. According to North Dakota State University Extension, it is important for adults to model appropriate emotional responses for children, as maintaining balance and calm will help them to navigate through their own emotions.

Conserve your energy for things you can control. There are countless things that happen of which we have no control. Instead of spending energy on what if scenarios, devote your energy to tasks and actions that you can complete to begin the process of restoration, healing or returning to normal.

Develop or use your support system. Your support system consists of the people who may or can fill different roles in your life. Use your support system to talk about your feelings and help you. If you are limited from in-person socializing, reach out to people on social media, text messaging, email or video calls to help you feel more connected to your support network. You may be helping them feel more connected as well.

Laughter is the best medicine. Humor and laughter are great stress relievers and promote well-being. Find some family-friendly comedies. Have a family joke-telling contest.

Focus on your health and the health of others in your family. Often during stressful times, individuals will turn to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism. These behaviors can lead to more stress and anxiety afterwards. Instead, concentrate on healthy habits, such as eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more water. Try to fit in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. You can do this by taking a walk around the house or neighborhood or putting on some music and dancing. You could even have a family dance contest where each person teaches the others a new dance move.

Get professional help. If you are feeling overwhelmed, seek assistance from an outside source such as your primary care provider or a mental health professional. Mental Health America is a great resource for information on self-help tools and mental health screenings.

Michigan State University Extension has a variety of classes to help people learn to manage stress. Please visit our website to find offerings and experts in your area.
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and , - Updated from an original article written by Terry Clark-Jones. Coping strategies to guide you and your family when dealing with everyday stress and crisis situations. Stress is a normal part of life. We all encounter stress in a variety of different situations, forms and amounts.

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There's no need to stress over finding free mental health care. Here are several mental wellness bolstering services and resources that don't cost a dime.

With so many families facing unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety, there's never been a better time to care for your mental well-being. But if it seems like mental health care will end up causing financial stress, take heart: There are free resources out there to help.

"We are in the midst of a shared traumatic experience and in these times of increased stress, our own issues become more magnified, whether that is individually or in families or couples," says Stephanie Macadaan, a Los Angeles-based licensed marriage and family therapist and creator of The Happy Couple Plan. "The closer to 'in the moment' that you can understand, process, and deal with these challenges the better. Thankfully, right now, mental health services are more available and flexible than ever due to everything being online." And plenty of these services don't cost a dime.

Check out these free mental health care resources for families.

1. Take Advantage of Individualized Offers

Certain resources might be available to you based on your residence or employer. If you're an impacted doctor, nurse, or social worker, you can register for 1,000 free months of therapy through Talkspace. To access the much-needed benefit during this emergency, health care workers should register after downloading the app from Google Play or Apple's App Store or via the Talkspace website and provide their NPI and state of residence for verification.

If you live in New York, you can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.

If you attend, work at, or even live near a university, you might be eligible for free mental health care there. And if you're currently employed, it's worth investigating whether your employer has an employee assistance program (EAP), which could qualify you for a set number of free counseling sessions and other wellness resources.

2. Check out Online Materials From Trusted Sources

3. Connect on Social Media

Talkspace, an online and mobile therapy company, has created a free therapist-led Facebook support group, where anyone-whether they're a member of the site or not-can seek guidance and receive tips and resources about their mental health as it relates to the coronavirus outbreak, directly from a licensed therapist.

The company is also offering guidance over their Instagram Stories, which is open for questions related to the coronavirus and relevant topics (anxiety, loneliness, fear, working from home). Specially trained and licensed therapists will respond. All past Q&As are available via Talkspace's COVID-19 Highlight.

4. Work With a Therapist in Training

Contact your local psychoanalytic training institute, which might offer free therapy, as long as you can commit to a set number of sessions. You'll be able to work with a qualified therapist who is under supervision.

5. Check out an Online Therapy Startup

Meanwhile, Talkspace is offering seven-day free trials and $100 off (with code 1004U), which should cover multiple appointments.

6. Do a Mindfulness or Meditation Series

Various sites and apps host free meditation series. For an introduction to mindfulness meditation that you can practice on your own, download the UCLA Mindful App ( iTunes / Google Play), stream, or download guided meditations on their site.

7. Phone a Free National Hotline for Help

These free national hotlines are set up for moments of crisis, so if you're experiencing a critical need, you can contact one that fits your situation. While they do not offer therapy directly, the workers on the helplines can help you locate free therapy resources nearby:

8. Ask About Pro Bono Services

Don't hesitate to contact a therapist you're interested in working with and asking if they might take you on pro bono. According to Psycom.net, many mental health care professionals take on at least one or two pro bono clients to serve the public. Angelle E. Richardson, Ph.D., LPC, assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University explains, "Often therapists are willing to work with clients based on their income to ensure that they can get the services that they need."

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Free Mental Health Resources for Families

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There's no need to stress over finding free mental health care. Here are several mental wellness bolstering services and resources that don't cost a dime. With so many families facing unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety, there's never been a better time to care for your mental well-being.

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The Resource for Advancing Children's Health

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What Is Therapy?

Therapy is a way to get help with a problem. If you go to therapy, you'll have meetings with a therapist to talk.

The therapist will ask questions and listen to you. This helps the therapist know what you need. Going to therapy helps people learn to cope better, communicate better, and do better.

Your parent or doctor might suggest you go to a therapist if you're dealing with a problem. Or it might be your idea - you might be the one to ask your parent or doctor to find a therapist to talk with.

What Problems Do Therapists Help With?

Therapists are trained to help people with all kinds of problems.

Therapists help people going through tough times like:

They help people with painful feelings like:

They help people with conditions like:

Why Do People Need Therapy?

People need therapy when they have problems they can't cope with alone. Therapy helps people talk about their feelings. It helps them work through problems and learn new skills. When they do this, they start to communicate better and do better.

People need therapy for different reasons. Some people need to ease depression or anxiety. Others need it to improve their attention, learning, and focus. Some people need help with anxiety, worry, or fear. Everyone deserves help to deal with problems.

How Does Therapy Work?

In therapy, people learn by talking and doing. A therapist will share activities and ideas to build the skills a person needs. People learn ways to solve their problems.

Therapy builds helpful thoughts and encourages healthy behaviors. Therapists help people feel encouraged as they learn. They help people see the good in themselves and find their strengths.

What Happens in Therapy?

At first, your therapist will talk with you, ask questions, and listen to learn more about you. This helps your therapist understand the problem. Together you will make goals for what you want help with.

In therapy sessions, you might:

Talk. Therapists have people talk about their feelings. Talking is a healthy way to express feelings. It helps people feel accepted, understood, and ready to learn.

Do activities. Therapists might teach lessons about emotions, coping skills, or facing fears. Activities and worksheets help make these lessons interesting.

Practice new skills. A therapist might teach skills like mindfulness andcalm breathing. You might learn ways to face fears or lower stress. Or how to speak up for yourself. In your therapy meetings, you might practice the skills you learn.

Solve problems. Your therapist will ask how problems affect you at home and at school. You will talk together about how to solve these problems.

How Long Do People Do Therapy?

How long therapy lasts depends on your goals. Most of the time, a therapist will want to meet with you once a week for a few months.

How Can You Help Yourself?

If you're going to a therapist, here are ways to build on the work you will do:

Be ready to grow. Have a positive attitude. Believe in yourself. Tell yourself, "I can" instead of "I can't."

Ask parents, teachers, and friends for support. Let them help and show they care.

Work on your strengths. Spend time doing the things you are good at. This helps you build confidence.

Take care of your body. Exercise and eat healthy foods. Get enough sleep. Take time to relax. Be with people who bring out your best.

Take care of your mind. Learn mindful breathing to help you be calm and focused. The more you do this, the more it helps.

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Therapy is a way to get help with a problem. If you go to therapy, you'll have meetings with a therapist to talk. The therapist will ask questions and listen to you. This helps the therapist know what you need. Going to therapy helps people learn to cope better, communicate better, and do better.

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When faced with a personal conflict, relationship or family troubles, or a mental health condition such as depression, stress, or anxiety, many people turn to a therapist for help. A therapist is a person who has received training to help treat mental or physical health problems. In the context of psychology, a therapist is a person who is trained and licensed to practice psychotherapy.

Finding the right therapist can often be a lengthy and challenging process, and some people may not know where to begin. Determining what kind of therapist is best suited to treat a particular issue may not be the easiest task, and a therapist's ethics or credentials are also often a topic of consideration. It may also be impractical, impossible, or even dangerous for some individuals to spend any length of time on the telephone, contacting potential therapists and describing the issues they would like to explore in therapy.

GoodTherapy.org offers a directory to help you in your search for a therapist. Using the directory, you can search by therapist location, specialization, gender, and age group treated. If you search by location, your results will include the therapists near you and will display their credentials, location, and the issues they treat. Some types of therapists that may list in our directory include:

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs): Licensing requirements vary by state, but LCSWs hold graduate degrees and typically have at least two years of clinical social work experience. LCSWs may provide individual, family, or couples therapy. They often work in schools, public health and medical fields, or other community and group settings.

Licensed Addiction Counselors (LACs): LACs are not typically referred to as therapists, but they may practice alongside therapists. Typically, LACs have a bachelor's degree and will have a minimum of one year of training in addiction counseling.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs): LMFTs, who focus primarily on marriage and family therapy, will have a master's degree and typically must complete an internship before practicing.

Because GoodTherapy.org has high membership standards, our directory is one of the safest places to find a therapist online. We require all therapists who list in our directory to have a graduate-level education and to agree to the elements of healthy therapy. Therapists who list with us pay a membership fee, which helps support our services. They must also have a professional license or reside in a jurisdiction in which it is legal to practice without a license or as an intern under supervision.

A therapist is often the first point of contact for a person seeking mental health care, and the primary role of the therapist is to help people process challenges in their lives. They often help individuals navigate conflict, resolve internal struggles, and address mental health conditions. When a therapist is not committed to healthy, ethical therapy, this can cause significant harm to a person in treatment. We recognize some therapists engage in unethical behavior, and so we strive to list in our directory only those therapists who promote a healthy and ethical therapeutic practice.

At GoodTherapy.org, you will also find a wide range of resources aimed at helping you in your search for a therapist. If you are in crisis or know someone who is, you can find relevant information and resources on our crisis help page (/in-crisis.html). This page also offers resources to those who have experienced or are experiencing sexual assault and abuse or domestic violence.

If you wish to learn more about a particular mental health condition or issue treated in therapy, we have pages that provide detailed information on these topics. We also have a section devoted to types of therapy, where you can learn more about particular therapeutic techniques that may be of interest to you.

We wish you the best in your search for the right therapist.

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When faced with a personal conflict, relationship or family troubles, or a mental health condition such as depression, stress, or anxiety, many people turn to a therapist for help. A therapist is a person who has received training to help treat mental or physical health problems. In the context of psychology, a therapist is a person who is trained and licensed to practice psychotherapy.

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Comprehensive Mental Health

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Yakima Center - Comprehensive Healthcare

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Sign up to get the latest news from Comprehensive Healthcare: upcoming events, trainings, updates on new or current programs, and more

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In Washington state, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens 15 to 19 years old. According to the Washington Healthy Youth Survey (2018), 32% of eighth graders, 40% of 10th graders, and 41% of 12th graders felt so sad or hopeless for 2 weeks or more that they stopped doing their usual activities. 16% of 8th graders, 18% of 10th graders, and 18% of 12th graders reported making a suicide plan. Most students who reported feeling sad or hopeless said they have an adult to turn to for help, however, 13% of 8th graders, 16% of 10th graders, and 15% of 12th graders report there are not adults for them to turn to when feeling sad or hopeless.

Comprehensive suicide prevention planning informs all adults in schools and communities about how to intervene with a young person exhibiting warning signs for suicide. There is a place for everyone in suicide prevention. OSPI strives to provide resources and support to help inform educational service districts, school districts, and schools in the development of Suicide Prevention Plans

Suicide Postvention in Schools

The grief associated with a death by suicide can be quite overwhelming. When a school community experiences a loss by suicide the effects can be felt on various levels. Using protocols that follow model guidance and knowing where to turn for help is critical.

OSPI, in partnership with Forefront Suicide Prevention and Washington state's Educational Service District (ESD) Behavioral Health Navigators, created the Suicide Postvention Guide for Schools in Washington State. This guide gathers best resources from materials that already exist and provides resources to enhance a school's ability to respond with resources specific to their distinct ESD.

Also see: Suicide Postvention Guide for Schools in Washington State PPT slides and Suicide Postvention in Schools Handout. To request an editable version of the PPT slides, that can be localized for your district, please email Tayler Burkhart.

Introduction to the Student/Youth Mental Health Literacy Library

The Student/Youth Mental Health Literacy Library gives any teacher, school counselor or other staff member a comprehensive resource of professionally vetted curricula and school presentations to easily and quickly compare available programs at their fingertips. The site has three very important features.

1. A detail of every listing, along with an inventory of defined Mental Health Literacy Components. Each detailed listing also includes an inventory of six Mental Health Learning Standards as currently described by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as a comparison metric.

2. Each entry is backed with all available existing evidence and data surrounding the listing, as well as links to all available studies for both quick reference and in-depth review.

3. A Quick Reference Table is provided for fast, convenient comparison for all listings so that a choice can be made with ease and links followed to access and implement a chosen program.

In addition to these three important components, the University of Washington SMART Center has prepared an Implementation Guide Toolkit featured on the site that provides best practices for program implementation. This toolkit has a wealth of information to aid teachers with any facet of their teaching program across any subject matter, but is intended as a tool to help implement Mental Health Literacy with ease. The toolkit also provides resource links for more in-depth exploration in this area.

Behavioral Health Coordinator/Navigators

The Children's Behavioral Health Workgroup, formed in 2016 by the legislature, was tasked with identifying barriers to children's behavioral health services. The workgroup's recommendations to the legislature included strategies for improving access and coordination in early learning, K-12 education, and health care systems. One of those recommendations created the OSPI Children's Regional Behavioral Health Pilot Project, authorized by RCW 28A.630.500. In December 2019, a Legislative Report was written to provide an overview of the learnings of the Pilot Project.

HB 1216 included funding, in the 2020 budget, to establish Behavioral Health Coordinator/Navigator positions in all nine of Washington's Educational Service Districts (ESDs). Below is a list of resources related to these positions as well as contact information for each of the Navigators.

Regional ESD Behavioral Health Navigator Discussion

Four Regional Behavioral Health Navigators convened to discuss elements of their daily work in increasing and sustaining behavioral health care access for our Washington students. This recorded discussion will provide viewers with an understanding of the work Navigators engage in across their regions.

Resources

CARE is a research-backed, web-based course to provide educators and other school staff guidance to help students who may be going through difficult times. The program is designed to give educators the tools and confidence to identify students who may be at risk for emotional or behavioral distress, including suicide, substance use, violence, and sexual abuse. CARE will help all school staff understand when and how to intervene and make referrals to counselors and mental health professionals, based on their district's policy and procedure.

CARE

CARE is available to everyone who works with students in Washington State, from administrators to support staff.

Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses can take the course, but it does not meet the course requirement for certification or recertification. Those courses can be found on the Professional Educator Standards Board website.

Joining the Course

The course is a free, one-hour, online module that meets the criteria set forth by RCW 28A.320.127 which requires educators receive training on how to recognize and respond to students experiencing emotional or behavioral distress.

CARE may be taken individually or in a group, and a Facilitator Guide is provided to guide staff through the specific examples, discussion questions, additional resources, and role play exercises.

Know the warnings and take action if you see:

Talking or writing about suicide or death

Giving direct verbal cues, such as "I wish I were dead" and "I'm going to end it all"

Giving less direct verbal cues, such as "You will be better off without me," "What's the point of living?", "Soon you won't have to worry about me," and "Who cares if I'm dead, anyway?"

Isolating themselves from friends and family

Expressing the belief that life is meaningless

Giving away prized possessions

Exhibiting a sudden and unexplained improvement in mood after being depressed or withdrawn

Neglecting his or her appearance and hygiene

Dropping out of school or social, athletic, and/or community activities

Obtaining a weapon (such as a firearm) or another means of hurting themselves (such as prescription medications)

Bullying Prevention SSHB 1163 (2011)

Adds mental health and suicide prevention to the essential academic learning standards in health and fitness RCW 28A.230.095

Troubled Youth ESHB 1336 (2013)

School counselor, psychologist, social worker, and nurse to receive suicide prevention training.

RCW 28A.410.226

Issues of Abuse course content include recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students, substance abuse, violence, and youth suicide.
RCW 28A.410.035
School districts must adopt a plan for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students: substance abuse, violence, and youth suicide.
RCW 28A.320.127

OSPI to develop and maintain a Model School District Plan for Recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress.
RCW 28A.320.1271

Requires that each Educational Service District develop and maintain the capacity to train on youth suicide screening and referral, and student emotional and behavioral distress.
RCW 28A.310.500

K-12 Schools Suicide Prevention SSB 6431 (2014)

OSPI to assist schools in implementing youth suicide prevention activities.
RCW 28A.300.288

Sexual Abuse Response Plans HB 2597 (2016)

School districts plan must also include training for recognition of sexual abuse, notification requirements, and staff response procedures.
RCW 28A.320.127,
RCW 28A.320.160,
RCW 28A.400.317

The purpose of a prevention plan is to protect the health and well-being of all students by having procedures in place to prevent, assess the risk of, intervene in, and respond to students in crisis. Prevention of youth suicide, violence, substance use/misuse, and the early identification and treatment of behavioral health disorders are most effective when students, staff, parents, and community members have access to prevention information and resources.

OSPI Resources for Comprehensive Suicide Prevention

Guides and Examples of Comprehensive Suicide Prevention

Training for School Professionals

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) maintains the list of approved trainings required for school nurses, counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Contact an ESD Prevention Director to find out about their training schedule or see the PESB Website for other training options.

School-based Programming

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center Page for Resources and Programs has a searchable database of evidence-based programs and practices for education, screening, treatment, environmental change that can be filtered based on intended population.

School staff have day-to-day contact with many young people, some of whom experience mental distress or illness that could result in feelings of hopelessness that could lead to suicidal behavior. Those who work in schools are well-positioned to observe students' behavior and act when they suspect that a student may be at risk of self- harm and/or suicide.

Specific steps should be followed in order to identify and help young people at risk, including a referral to someone in the school who has been trained to assess suicide risk. School systems should include efforts to recognize the warning signs, refer students to appropriate resources, and create reentry plans for students coming back to school after a crisis that coordinate with mental health treatment plans.

Warning Signs that require immediate action:

Talking or writing about suicide or death

Giving direct verbal cues, such as "I wish I were dead" and "I'm going to end it all"

Giving less direct verbal cues, such as "You will be better off without me," "What's the point of living?", "Soon you won't have to worry about me," and "Who cares if I'm dead, anyway?"

Isolating themselves from friends and family

Expressing the belief that life is meaningless

Giving away prized possessions

Exhibiting a sudden and unexplained improvement in mood after being depressed or withdrawn

Neglecting his or her appearance and hygiene

Dropping out of school or social, athletic, and/or community activities

Obtaining means such as a firearm or prescription medications

Responding to the Warning Signs:
It takes time and courage to reach out to students on a personal level, but your interest can be a lifeline to a child in crisis.

Intervention Resources

Warning Signs that may indicate a youth is at risk and needs to be referred for screening:

A sudden deteriorating academic performance. Teens who were typically conscientious about their school work and who are now neglecting assignments, cutting classes, or missing school altogether.

Self-mutilation. Some young people resort to cutting their arms or legs with razor blades and other sharp objects to cope with emotional pain. Self- mutilation is an unmistakable sign that something is wrong.

A fixation with death or violence. Teens may express this fixation through poetry, essays, doodling, or other artwork. They may be preoccupied with violent movies, video games, and music, or fascinated with weapons.

Unhealthy peer relationships. Teens whose circle of friends dramatically changes, who don't have friends, or who begin associating with other young people known for substance abuse or other risky behaviors may signal a change in their emotional lives.

Volatile mood swings or a sudden change in personality. Teens who become sullen, silent, and withdrawn, or angry and acting out. Conversely, and teen sullen by nature may start to behave uncharacteristically cheerful. Both internalizing and externalizing behaviors warrant a conversation to determine if the student is at risk.

Indications that the student is in an unhealthy, destructive, or abusive relationship. This can include abusive relationships with peers or family members. Signs of an abusive relationship include unexplained bruises, a swollen face, or other injuries, particularly if the student refuses to discuss them.

Risk-taking behaviors. Risk-taking behaviors often co-occur and are symptomatic of underlying emotional or social problems. Such behaviors as unprotected sex, alcohol or other drug use, driving recklessly or without a license, petty theft, or vandalism can be an indication that something is wrong.

Signs of an eating disorder. An eating disorder is an unmistakable sign that a student needs help. A dramatic change in weight that is not associated with a medically supervised diet may also indicate that something is wrong.

Difficulty in adjusting to gender identity. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex teens are a vulnerable population and have higher suicide attempt rates than their heterosexual peers. While coming to terms with gender identity can be challenging for many young people, LGBTQI youth face social pressures that can make this adjustment especially difficult, particularly if they are not in a supportive environment.

Bullying. Children and adolescents who are bullied, as well as those who bully, are at increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation. (Bullying and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: A Meta-Analysis Melissa K. Holt, Alana M. Vivolo-Kantor, Joshua R. Polanin, Kristin M. Holland, Sarah DeGue, Jennifer L. Matjasko, Misty Wolfe, Gerald Reid
Pediatrics Feb 2015, 135 (2) e496-e509; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-1864)

Ask the Tough Questions: Do not be afraid to ask a student if they have considered suicide or other self-destructive acts. Research has shown that asking someone if they have contemplated self-harm or suicide will not increase that person's risk. Rather, studies have shown that a person in mental distress is often relieved that someone cares enough to inquire about the person's well- being. Your concern can counter the person's sense of hopelessness and helplessness. However, you need to be prepared to ask some very specific and difficult questions in a manner that doesn't judge or threaten the young person you are attempting to help. For example:

1. Sometimes when people feel sad, they have thoughts of harming or killing themselves. Have you had such thoughts?

2. I've noticed you are going through some rough times. Have you ever felt your life is a burden on others? Do you ever wish you could go to sleep and not wake up?

3. Are you thinking about killing yourself?

Be Persistent: The person you are contacting may feel threatened by your concern. They may become upset or deny that they are having problems. Trust your instinct and be consistent and firm, and make sure that they get the help they need.

Be Prepared to Act: You need to know what to do if you believe a student is in danger of harming themselves. Know the school's procedures from the crisis response plan for this situation and explain to the student the steps you will be taking.

Do Not Leave a Student at Imminent Risk of Suicide Alone: If you have any reason to suspect that a student may attempt suicide or otherwise engage in self-harm, you need to remain with the student (or see that the student is in a secure environment, supervised by caring adults) until professional help can be obtained.

Get Help When Needed: If you believe that the student is in imminent danger, you, or another member of the school staff, should call 911 or (800) 273-TALK (8255). Tell the dispatcher that you are concerned that the person with you "is a danger to themselves" or "cannot take care of themselves." These key phrases will alert the dispatcher to locate immediate care for this person with the help of police. Do not hesitate to make this call if you suspect that someone may be a danger to him- or herself. It could save that person's life.

Use Your School's Support System: School districts have crisis plans for working with students who are experiencing emotional or behavioral distress Familiarize yourself with these plans and use them when appropriate.

Connect with Parents or Guardians: Do not promise confidentiality to anyone when it comes to issues regarding their safety. If a student opens up to you about their feelings, talk privately with them about putting the steps of the school's crisis plan in place, and include them in the conversation. Follow the school's communication plan for contacting parents or guardians when a student is at risk. If you believe that contacting the parents or guardian may further endanger the child (if, for example, you suspect physical or sexual abuse), contact the proper authorities. School staff are mandated reporters and are required to report suspected child abuse.

Suicide is a public health issue. Media and online coverage of suicide should be informed by using best practices. The way media cover suicide can influence behavior negatively by contributing to contagion or positively by encouraging help-seeking. See the following resources for best practices when reporting on a death by suicide: Reportingonsuicide.org

Social Media Campaigns that Promote Help-seeking

Crisis Lines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider through a toll-free telephone number: (800) 273-TALK (8255).

Ayuda en Español

Lifeline Crisis Chat provides online emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention services. The chat specialists listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing.

Crisis Text Line: Text HEAL to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly.

Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860 This line is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis.

Apps

A Friend Asks Don't be afraid to ask for help for a friend or yourself.

MY3 Lets you stay connected when you are having thoughts of suicide.

Suicide Safe from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, this suicide prevention app will help providers integrate suicide prevention strategies into practice and address suicide risk.

Websites

Articles & Research

National Resources on Suicide and Suicide Prevention

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Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention, & Postvention

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In Washington state, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens 15 to 19 years old. According to the Washington Healthy Youth Survey (2018), 32% of eighth graders, 40% of 10th graders, and 41% of 12th graders felt so sad or hopeless for 2 weeks or more that they stopped doing their usual activities.

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Developmentally, the years between childhood and adulthood represent a critical period of transition and significant cognitive, mental, emotional, and social change. While adolescence is a time of tremendous growth and potential, navigating new milestones in preparation for adult roles involving edu…

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(lengthy but worth the watch)

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Brain Matters documentary | Early Childhood Development

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Checking in with Jonah Larson, crochet prodigy

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Navigating childhood challenges can be stressful, and sometimes deep breathing isn't the solution that works for your child. When your child is in need of tension relief, try one of these techniques:

1. Try an inversion. For centuries, Yogis have understood the calming power of bringing the head below the level of the heart, otherwise known as inversion. Whether it's relaxing in child's pose, bending over to touch your toes, or practicing a headstand, inverting the body has a restorative effect on the autonomic nervous system, which controls the body's response to stress.

2. Visualize a quiet place. Research has shown that visualization is beneficial for a range of populations to reduce stress levels. Ask your child to close their eyes and picture a calm, peaceful place. Then, gently guide them to slowly start to build up a picture of how it looks, smells, and feels to be there.

3. Drink water. Dehydration has been linked to a reduction in mental performance. Pour your child a tall class of cold water and have them sip it slowly. You can try this with them, and observe the calming effect this has on your own nervous system.

4. Sing out loud. Everyone knows the sweet relief associated with rocking out to your favorite tune. But the physical act of singing out loud, even if it is off key, has been shown to release endorphins, the "feel good" chemical in the brain.

5. Do the "Downward Facing Dog" pose. Just like inversions help reset the autonomic nervous system, the yoga pose known as Downward Facing Dog in particular has the added benefit of activating several muscles in the arms, legs, and core. This stretch helps muscles begin to burn additional blood glucose that is made available by the body's fight or flight response.

6. Paint it out. Not only does painting give the brain something to focus on other than the stressor, but participating in visual arts has been linked to resilience to stress in general. If the thought of dragging out the tempera gives you stress, have your child try "painting" with shaving cream on a plastic shower curtain in the yard. Not only is clean up a breeze, but your child will smell great when they are finished.

7. Jump rope. Set a timer for 2 minutes, put on some music, and challenge your child jump to the beat of the song. If your child isn't able to jump rope, playing hop scotch is a great alternative.

8. Jump high. Challenge your child to a jumping contest to see who can jump highest, longest, fastest, or slowest. This is another great way to get in some exercise to help your child blow off some steam.

9. Blow bubbles. Just like blowing on a pinwheel, blowing bubbles can help your child gain control of their breathing and thus, their mental state. Bonus: Running around popping bubbles is just as fun as blowing them.

10. Take a hot bath. After a long day at work, there is nothing more relaxing than laying in a bathtub of hot water with the lights turned down and no interruptions. The same holds true for kids. Use bath time as a chance to help your little one unwind from the activities of the day. Introduce a few simple bath toys and allow your child to relax as long as they need to.

11. Take a cold shower. While the complete opposite of a hot bath, cold showers actually have a restorative effect on the body. Not only do cold or even cool showers reduce inflammation in the muscles, it improves heart flow back to the heart, and leads to a boost in mood. One study on winter swimmers found that tension, fatigue, depression, and negative moods all decreased with regular plunges into cold water.

12. Have a cozy drink. There is a reason why many people herald September as the beginning of Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season. Drinking a warm drink on a cool day makes your body feel warm, almost like a hug from the inside. Giving your child a warm hot chocolate or warmed milk with a splash of vanilla will elicit the same response you have over that first sip of your PSL.

13. Blow out a candle. Light a candle for your child to blow out. Then re-light it and move it further and further away from them, so they have to take deeper and deeper breaths to blow it out. This is a great way to practice deep breathing, while making a game out of it.

14. Watch fish. Have you ever wondered why there is always a fish tank in hospitals and medical centers? The University of Exeter in the UK did, and found that watching fish swim in an aquarium reduces blood pressure and heart rate. Better yet, the larger the fish tank, the greater the effect. The next time your child needs to calm down, take them to the local lake, hatchery, or aquarium for a little fish-watching therapy.

15. Count backwards from 100. Not only does counting give your child a chance to focus on something other than what is bothering them, counting backwards offers an added concentration challenge without overwhelming their brain.

16. Repeat a mantra. Create a mantra that you and your child can use to help them calm down. "I am calm" or "I am relaxed" work well, but feel free to get creative and make it something personal to you and your child.

17. Breathe into your belly. Most of us breathe incorrectly, especially when we are in a stressful situation. Have your child think about their belly like it is a balloon. Tell them to breathe in deep to fill the balloon, and breathe out to deflate it. Repeat this simple process 5 times and notice the effects.

18. Shake a glitter jar. "Calm Down Jars" have been making their way around Pinterest for a while now, but the concept behind them is sound. Giving your child a focal point for 3-5 minutes that is not the stressor will allow their brain and body to reset itself. These jars can be made simply from sealed canning jars filled with colored water and glitter or with baby food jars filled with warm water and glitter glue.

19. Go for a run. Running has been shown to reduce stress, and can sometimes be more effective than a trip to the therapist's office. Going for a 10 minute jog can not only affect your child's mood immediately, its effects on their ability to cope with stress can last for several hours afterward.

20. Count to 5. Just when it seems as though they "can't take it anymore", have your child close their eyes and count to five. This form of 5-second meditation offers the brain a chance to reset itself and be able to look at a situation from a different perspective. It also gives your child a chance to think before they act in a volatile situation.

21. Talk it out. For children who are able to verbalize their feelings, talking about what is bothering them gives them a chance to let you know what is going on while processing it for themselves. The trick is to resist the urge to "fix" the problem. Your child needs you to listen and ask appropriate questions, not offer unsolicited advice.

22. Write a letter in the voice of your BFF. We would never talk to our best friend in the same critical way we talk to ourselves. The same is true for our children. Tell them to be kind to themselves, and ask them what they would tell a best friend to do in their situation.

23. Decorate a wall. We're not talking about paint and decor, but poster tack and pictures from magazines or printed from the internet can give your child a chance to create large-scale temporary art in any space. The creative process is what is important, not the end result.

24. Create a vision board. Have your child cut out words and pictures from magazines that speak to their interests, desires, and dreams. Then have them glue these pictures and words onto a poster board to display in their room. Not only does the process of creation allow them to think about what they want from life, displaying things they love gives them an opportunity to focus on what is really important when they are upset.

25. Give or get a bear hug. Hugging allows your body to produce oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone in your body necessary for immune system function. Not only does a 20 second hug reduce blood pressure, increase feelings of well-being, and reduce the harmful physical effects of stress, both you and your child will reap the benefits!

26. Walk in nature. According to Stanford scientists, walking in nature has been proven to improve cognition and reduce stress. Even if you do not have time to spend the 50 minutes researchers did, taking a 15 minute walk in nature works can be just what your child needs.

27. Envision your best self. This is a great way to motivate your child to work toward a goal. Have them write down where they would like to see themselves in a week, a month, or a year, with this specific goal in mind.

28. Blow on a pinwheel. Similar to the candle exercise, blowing on a pinwheel focuses more on controlled exhalation rather than deep inhalation. Tell your child to make the pinwheel go slow, then fast, then slow to show them how they can vary the rate at which they blow out the air in their lungs.

29. Squish some putty. When a child plays with putty, the brain's electrical impulses begin firing away from the areas associated with stress. Try a store bought putty or make your own.

30. Take up pottery. Much in the way playing with putty fires electrical impulses in your child's brain, sculpting with clay or throwing pots can have a similar effect. It also has the added benefit of being considered "active learning", a powerful condition that allows your child to learn through exploration.

31. Write it out. For older children, journaling, or writing their feelings down can have a profound effect on their mood, especially if they can do so without the fear of having it read. Give your child a notebook to keep in a safe place, and allow them to write about how they feel, assuring them you will not read it unless they ask you to.

32. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. A cousin to "write it out", gratitude journaling has been linked to better performance in the classroom as well as a reduction of stress outside of learning environments. Having a separate notebook only for things your child is grateful for will give them the freedom to keep their journaling activities separate.

33. Name your emotion. Often when children become overwhelmed, it is because they have difficulty identifying the negative thoughts they are having. Whether your child is quick to anger, panic, or obsess to ensure things are perfect, ask them to give this feeling a name, and help them talk back to it. For instance, by asking your child, "is Mr. Perfect bothering you again?" you can work together to help them challenge their perfectionism, rather than fight them over it.

34. Rock in a rocking chair. Not only does rocking in a rocking chair provide non-weight bearing strengthening to the knees and core, its repetitive nature offers stress-relief as well. Rock in a rocking chair with your child or allow them to rock by themselves as a way to self-soothe their frenzied emotions.

35. Push against a wall. This trick is perfect for allowing the body to get rid of stress hormones without having to go outside or even leave the room. Have your child try to push the wall over for 10 seconds, 3 times. This process allows the muscles to contract in a futile attempt to bring the wall down, then relax, releasing feel-good hormones into the body.

36. Crinkle tissue paper. Babies are inherently aware of this trick as one of their favorite things to do is crinkle paper. Not only does crinkling tissue paper provide a satisfying noise, the textural changes in your child's hand sends sensory feedback to the brain in a pathway away from those associated with stress.

37. Pop bubble wrap. Anyone who has received a package in the mail knows the joy of popping row after row of bubble wrap. The same material can be found at most retailers and dollar stores and be cut into manageable pieces for stress-relief anywhere, anytime.

38. Roll a tennis ball on your back. An old physical therapy trick, rolling a tennis ball on your child's back will give them a gentle massage when they are most in need of a calming touch. Focus on the shoulders, neck, and lower back as these are typical places where the body holds tension.

39. Roll a golf ball under your feet. Rolling a golf ball under your child's feet can not only improve circulation, but there are pressure points on the bottom of the feet that relieve stress and relax the muscles of the feet and legs. Roll over the entire sole of your child's foot using various pressures for maximum benefit.

40. Go to your calm down space. Having a designated "Calm Down Space" in your home gives children an opportunity to retreat when they feel out of control and rejoin the group when they need to. It is important to make this space comfortable so your child wants to visit it when they are in need of a self-imposed "time out".

41. Play music. Music has a profound effect on mood, sleep, stress, and anxiety. Use a variety of musical styles to set the tone in your home, car, or your child's room.

42. Have a dance party. Adding a physical component to your musical enjoyment gets your kids moving and is a fun way to be active. Crank up the tunes and have a dance party in your living room when your child is in a bad mood and watch their mood transform.

43. Do a primal yell. Sometimes all of your child's emotions are simply too much to contain in their body. Have them stand with their feet shoulder width apart and imagine their feelings boiling up from their toes through their legs and body, and out of their mouths. They don't have to yell words, or even maintain a certain pitch, just whatever comes out that feels good to them.

44. Change the scenery. How many times have we thought to ourselves, "Just walk away," when confronted by a big emotion? Your child may simply need a change of scenery in order to calm down. If you are inside, head out. If you are outside, find a quiet space indoors. Either way, change the scenery and you will likely change the mood.

45. Go for a walk. There's a real reason people go for walks to clear their heads. Not only is the fresh air and exercise restorative, but the natural rhythm walking creates has a self-soothing quality. Take your child on a walk, and they may even open up to your about what is on their mind.

46. Plan a fun activity. When you are in an anxious moment, it can seem as though the walls are closing in and the world will come to an end. Some children need to focus on what is ahead of them in order to reset their internal dialog. Plan something fun to do as a family, and let your child have a say in it. Any topic that will get them focused on a future something to look forward to can be helpful.

47. Knead the bread. Grandmothers around the world will tell you that the process of bread making is a tremendous stress relief. Simple recipes are abundant online that allow your child to get their hands dirty turning and pushing dough. The best part is that at the end, you have homemade bread to show for it!

48. Make a bracelet. Crafting in general can facilitate a state of "flow" or a state characterized by complete absorption in an activity. The same concept can be extended to knitting, crochet, folding laundry, or any activity where your child forgets their external surroundings.

49. Get on a bike. Bicycling for children has largely become a thing of the past. With the introduction of bicycle lanes and paved trails in urban areas, bicycling is safer than ever and can be a powerful form of self-soothing. Not only is it easy on the joints, it promotes balance, exercise, and can be done with the whole family.

50. Take a coloring break. It's not without good reason that restaurants give children coloring; it gives them something to focus on, and can be a great mindfulness activity that reduces anxiety. Make a trip with your child to pick up some crayons and markers, and get them excited about filling in the pages of a coloring book.

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50 Calm-Down Ideas to Try with Kids of All Ages | GoZen!

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50 amazing calm-down ideas for kids when they feel anxious, angry, or fearful. These are great for adults too.

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Dr. Dan Siegel's Hand Model of the Brain

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Y2Y Teens Discuss Stress, Anxiety and Mental Health

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Researching the efficacy of Lumosity

What we did

Lumos Labs conducted a randomized study of Lumosity brain training and published the results in a peer-reviewed research journal.

In it, half of the 4,715 participants who completed the study trained five days per week, for fifteen minutes each day on Lumosity while the other half did online crossword puzzles as an active control.

What we found

After 10 weeks, Lumosity users improved more than the control group on our assessments of working memory, short term memory, processing speed, problem solving, fluid reasoning, and overall cognitive function.

These results are promising, but more research is needed to determine the connection between improved assessment scores and everyday tasks in participants' lives.

Next questions

Future research should address the risk of inadvertent experimenter bias and the risk of attrition bias in this study, as both the Lumosity and crossword groups had approximately 50% attrition rate. As with all scientific research, there is also a risk of publication bias.

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Lumosity Brain Training: Challenge & Improve Your Mind

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Challenge your mind with Lumosity, the #1 app with 50+ brain games for memory, math, vocabulary, and more. Start training today!

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Tales from a teenage mental health advocate | Amanda Southworth | TEDxPasadena

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Meditation and Relaxation

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Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Join the millions experiencing better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.

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Builds purpose and empathy

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents unexpectedly find themselves inside their homes with their kids. We have some ideas to help keep everyone busy.

DALLAS - Many parents in Texas and across the nation are in the same boat. People have their kids home for an unexpected period of time.

There are plenty of ways to keep everyone entertained right inside your own home.

The easiest way is to think up of games, which don't have to involve boards or cards.

You have the classics like I Spy, 21 Questions and Charades. If someone wants to test how closely his or her kids listen, Simon Says can also do the trick.

Four Corners is another creative options. This involves having one person assigning numbers to each corner of a room and then sitting in the middle of the room blindfolded. Then everyone else chooses a corner to stand in quietly. The person in the middle picks a number and anyone in that corner is out. The game keeps going until there is one person left as the winner.

Don't forget about Hide-and-Seek and Sardines if you have enough space. No matter how much area you have, parents can get musical with "Name That Tune" and see which kid can figure it out the fastest.

TIME TO GET ACTIVE

A lot of kids will want to keep working out their motor or mental skills. There are plenty of ways to do that.

If you have paper in the house, you can always have a paper airplane competition. Once you're done and your kids are old enough, writing letters to family and friends can keep them focused for a good amount of time.

Some kids want to get a little more messy (pending parents' approval). If there is Diet Coke and Mentos in the house, mixing those two things together in the backyard can create for some fun moments. Even if you don't have those items, simply cooking or baking with your kids is always an intriguing challenge for everyone involved.

Have any old clothes in your closet? Some shirts and pants from decades ago? You can always let your kids play dress-up with your clothes or their own.

When you need something to do after dinner to get your kids ready for bed, why not do some indoor camping? Grab a tent and sleeping bags or just pillows and blankets. With the right outdoors soundtrack, you can create the perfect mood for a night in the wilderness (indoors).

NO, NOW IT'S REALLY TIME TO GET ACTIVE

There is obviously going to be a lot of pent-up energy in a lot of households. Your kids can still remain active without going outside.

Why not try some balloon ping-pong? Tape a paper plate to a popsicle stick, blow up a balloon and let the games begin!

Pull out the tape and start marking off squares for some hopscotch. You don't need concrete to hop away.

Pillow fights. Enough said.

And if things starting getting a little messy, why not give the "cleap-up race" a try? (Don't deny it, you've done it before).

Here are some ideas from the Fort Worth Moms social media group:

Here are some educational ideas from the Plano Moms social media group:

More on WFAA:

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Stuck inside your home? Here are some things to do with your kids besides looking at a screen

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents unexpectedly find themselves inside their homes with their kids. We have some ideas to help keep everyone busy. DALLAS - Many parents in Texas and across the nation are in the same boat. People have their kids home for an unexpected period of time.

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Discover ideas that spark the curiosity of learners.

Browse hundreds of TED-Ed Animations and TED Talks designed to spark your child's curiosity. You'll also find thousands of other video-based lessons organized by age-level and subject.

Discover lessons

Create customized lessons for your child.

Create lessons around any TED-Ed Animation, TED talk or YouTube video. You can search for and select a video, then add interactive questions, discussion topics and more. You can easily share the lessons and track the results.

Your child can share their ideas with the world.

Our Student Talks program allows educators to guide students through a presentation literacy curriculum where they learn how to discover, explore and present their big ideas as TED-style talks.

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You have JavaScript disabled For the best experience, please turn JavaScript on. Here's how Browse hundreds of TED-Ed Animations and TED Talks designed to spark your child's curiosity. You'll also find thousands of other video-based lessons organized by age-level and subject. Discover lessons Create lessons around any TED-Ed Animation, TED talk or YouTube video.

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20 Indoor Activities for Kids (besides screens)

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Collect hand-me-down clothes and thrift store finds as a dress-up box. Kids can create costumes for a play, with you as the audience. Or, they can let their stuffed animals star as puppets, and hide behind the couch for a dramatic reenactment starring their pretend friends.

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As the US continues to struggle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing recommendations remain in place, millions of US children and adolescents aren't expected to attend school in-person in the fall - meaning they'll often be stuck inside their homes and using the internet as a primary means of human connection. The situation has resurfaced a long-standing, difficult-to-answer question: Is technology going to ruin my teenager's brain?

For years, some have blamed the growing rate of teenagers suffering from mental health issues in the US on the drastic increase in how much they're engaging with digital devices compared to previous generations - but there isn't much hard evidence to back up those claims.

It's true that we're seeing unprecedented levels of teenagers using digital devices - some 95 percent of US teens have access to a smartphone, and 45 percent say they are online "almost constantly," according to a 2018 Pew poll. And during the same period of time that internet and smartphone use has increased for a generation of young people, the suicide rate in the US has also steadily increased (across all ages overall), with a disproportionate increase in the rate of tween girls aged 10 to 14 in particular.

But the rise of teenagers' use of social media at the same time that depression rates have been going up shows correlation, not causation. Meaning, there's no evidence to prove that teenagers' use of social media is whywe're seeing this increase in depression instead of any number of other confounding factors - like their family life, economic conditions, or anything else. To know if that's the case or not, we need a lot more comprehensive research that isolates these other factors.

Considering how high the stakes are, answering this question is important - and pressing.

A new report from the nonprofit Common Sense Media, a national advocacy group focused on digital access and safety for children and families, reflects the urgency and state of the conversation. The report, written by UC Irvine child psychology professor Candice Odgers and Common Sense research director Michael Robb, attempted to review the existing research about the effects of tech use on teens, draw conclusions about the overall risks and benefits, and suggest recommendations for parents, educators, and the public. But one of the biggest conclusions from Common Sense's report is that the existing research doesn't tell us enough, and we need more refined scientific evidence to know anything conclusive about the effects of social media on teenagers' mental health.

In the meantime, it's important to understand what the concerns around the impact of social media on teenage mental health are - and what to consider when it comes to figuring out how to help teens have a balanced relationship with technology, especially while living through a pandemic.

The concern: "Our kids are walking around with slot machines in their pockets"

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, first partner to California's Governor Gavin Newsom, who contributed an essay to the report, wrote that she understands digital devices like tablets and laptops are necessary tools for getting an education during Covid-19 school shutdowns. But she says she's also worried about the effects of these devices on children and teens' mental health.

"[A]s a mom, I can't ignore the reality in my home. Distance learning for my four kids this spring opened the floodgates to media and its adverse effects. What started with using Zoom and Gmail for homework assignments became internet searches bringing up age-inappropriate information - and misinformation," wrote Siebel Newsom. "All of a sudden my eldest were sneaking off to their rooms, or hiding devices under their beds at night."

Both Siebel Newsom and others who contributed to the report, like former Democratic presidential candidate and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, want to see technology and media companies accept more responsibility for their impact on children, even if we don't yet have research showing exactly what that impact is. Yang, in particular, called for the government to drastically fund more research and step in, if needed, to incentivize tech companies to educate children, rather than entertain them, to collect ad dollars. (The children's digital advertising market is expected to be worth $1.7 billion by 2021, according to a report from PwC.)

"Right now, the interests of parents are directly at odds with the interests of the technology companies," wrote Yang. "They're monetizing our attention and profiting off of our time. As they say, the addictive nature of smartphones is a feature, not a bug. We parents are outgunned and at a total loss."

Newsom's and Yang's comments draw on much larger anxieties in the American public about what kids are doing with their time online and how this will impact their development.

The evidence is inconclusive and more research is needed

So, while there's no shortage of concern about how much time adolescents are spending on their phones, what does the research actually say?

Unfortunately, not enough for us to draw any quantitative, evidence-based conclusions - and that's why we should start doing more research in earnest now. The report's meta-analysis of the most up-to-date research on social media and depression revealed a mix of "small positive, negative, and mostly neutral" links between adolescents' use of technology like social media and their mental health.

Authors of the report looked at two large-scale reviews of existing research on the topic published earlier this year and found results associating adolescents' mental health and use of digital technology "inconsistent" - even when an association was present, it accounted for less than 1 percent of the variation.

This failure to find a stronger link between teen depression and technology use "is not surprising," Odgers and Robb write, "given that mental health disorders emerge from a complex set of social, genetic, and experiential factors, which have varying influence across development and situations." Still, "small effects can be meaningful," the report states, "but with existing evidence we have no way to separate cause from effect in social media research with adolescents."

If researchers wanted to actually separate cause from effect, we would need research that asks more specific questions and is backed by harder data, as my Vox colleague Brian Resnick has previously explained. Self-reported surveys on teens' well-being can be biased - so another option would be for scientists to use brain scans showing neurological development over time to track the tangible effects of social media on children's well-being.

While there is at least one large study like this underway, funded by the National Institutes of Health, it will be several years before we see its results. Until then, researchers are asking for more granular data from companies like Apple and Google to help them understand exactly how kids are using their devices. Are they bingeing on Fortnite or watching educational YouTube videos? So far, tech companies like Apple largely haven't given researchers the option to see people's screen-time data that shows how much they use different apps on their phones - even with their consent.

With all this in mind, the report calls for the government and other groups to fund more research on this topic.

Recommendations: Quality over quantity

While the jury's still out on exactly how social media impacts teens, the report does offer some child psychologist-backed recommendations for teen tech use.

An important one: It's not how much teens use apps that matters but howthey're using those apps. In essence, it's quality over quantity. Examples of quality use include a teen using multiplayer video games to socialize with their peers and build stronger friendships, the report argues. Another example of positive tech use is when first-year college students use their smartphones to maintain close contact with their parents. One study cited in the report showed these students were better at bouncing back from outside stress than their peers who stayed in touch with their families less often.

The report stressed that while many families have instituted rules about how much their kids use technology, the fights parents are having with their children over this are actually making things worse. In fact, "conflict over screens is likely to be more harmful to adolescents' mental health than screen time itself," Common Sense's report states.

While there's a lot we still don't know about technology and its impact on teens' mental health, it's an important issue that's only become more serious during the pandemic. That's why we need better research before jumping to any conclusions.

You can read the report in full here.

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The pandemic is raising concerns about how teens use technology. But there's still a lot we don't know.

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As the US continues to struggle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing recommendations remain in place, millions of US children and adolescents aren't expected to attend school in-person in the fall - meaning they'll often be stuck inside their homes and using the internet as a primary means of human connection.

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Most kids are plugged into devices like TVs, game consoles, tablets, and smartphones well before they can even ride a bike.

Technology is part of life. And parents can make technology a healthy part of childhood by teaching smart media use. Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on public television, gradeschoolers can play educational apps and games, and teens can do research online.

But media use can also have some downsides:

The Obesity Link

Kids who spend too much time using media are more likely to be overweight. Health experts have long linked too much screen time to excess weight. When they're staring at screens, kids are inactive and tend to snack. They're also see lots of ads that encourage them to eat unhealthy foods like potato chips and drink empty-calorie soft drinks that often become favorite snack foods.

Studies show that decreasing the amount of TV kids watched led to less weight gain and lower body mass index (BMI). Replacing video game time with outdoor game time is another good way to help kids maintain a healthy weight.

Watching Risky Behaviors

Characters on TV and in video games often show risky behaviors - like drinking alcohol, using drugs, and smoking cigarettes - as cool, fun, and exciting. When these things seem acceptable, kids and teens might be tempted to try them. That might lead to substance abuse problems. Media can also expose kids to high-risk sexual practices, and studies show that teens who watch lots of sexual content are more likely to start sexual activity at a young age.

Seeing Violence

The average American child will see 200,000 violent acts on TV by age 18. Many of these are done by the "good guys," whom kids are taught to admire. In fact, often the hero wins by fighting with or killing the "bad guys." This can confuse kids as they try to understand the difference between right and wrong.

Kids who view violence onscreen are more likely to show aggressive behavior, and to fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.

Young kids are easily frightened by violent images. Because they don't yet understand what is real and what is make believe, simply telling them that violence isn't real won't help. Behavior problems, nightmares, and trouble sleeping may happen after kids watch violence on screen.

Older kids can be scared by violent images too. Talking with kids this age will help them, so it's important to comfort them and explain what they see to help ease fears. But it's even better to not let your kids view shows or play games that could scare them.

Sleep, Mental Health, and Other Problems

Kids who use media in their bedrooms often don't get enough sleep at night. Media use also can expose kids to cyberbullying, which has been linked to depression and suicide.

And media use can distract kids from important tasks, interfere with homework time, and hurt school performance. It can limit quality family time and make kids feel lonely or isolated.

Too Many Commercials

Young kids don't understand that commercials are for selling a product, and sometimes can't tell the difference between the show and the ad. Even older kids may need to be reminded of the purpose of advertising. Video games are especially full of pop-up ads with pressure to buy.

Explain that ads are designed to make people want things they probably don't need and believe the products will somehow make them happier. Teach kids to be smart consumers. Ask them questions like: "What do you like about that?" or "Do you think it's really as good as it looks in that ad?"

Try to limit kids' exposure to ads. You can:

Have them watch public TV stations, which rarely show ads featuring products.

Record shows so you can fast forward through the commercials.

Mute the TV during ads to ask your child questions about the show.

Stream their favorite programs, or buy or rent DVDs.

What Else Should I Know?

Parents can and should keep tabs on their kids' media use:

Set limits to ensure that kids don't spend too much time in front of a screen.

Monitor how and what kids see on their screens, and encourage positive, meaningful, and educational media use.

These online resources also can help:

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Technology can be part of a healthy childhood, but it's important for parents to track their kids' screen time and set limits.

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It's a scene seen regularly in movie theaters, but it's not one witnessed on the silver screen.

A mother, father or family sit in the theater of an R-rated movie with their younger children. Whether it received the rating due to language and some violence, like "Lincoln," or what's called a "hard R" because of explicit sex or violence, they have made the decision to allow their children to view it.

While the issue can't be policed by anyone but the parent, it's a concern for counselors and others worried that the child is not ready to filter the adult content.

Lafayette High School social worker Jean West said it's a problem she has encountered on several occasions.

"I talk to a lot of kids who deal with trauma, and it's interesting that they will mention something like a violent movie as a traumatizing event," she says. "It obviously left a big impression on them and lingers with them."

Agreeing with the sentiment, Joyce Estes, director of the Northwest Missouri Children's Advocacy Center, says she often sees parents let their children watch violent or adult material with the thought that their children aren't affected by the violence or profanity or are too young to understand. Unlike an adult, she says, kids have no filter to process it and are still malleable to what the movie is teaching.

"It does affect them. They see that and they take that in and that becomes part of who they are because that's what they're learning," she says.

Past studies, including one in 2010 in Prevention Science, a scientific journal of the Society for Prevention Research, have shown R-rated and violent movies may cause children to try alcohol at an early age because of its glorification, as well as becoming desensitized and violent.

In cases of abused children, the violence seen on the screen reinforces and perpetuates a life that they see every day.

"There are kids that are physically abused ... who are hit at home and beat at home and then see it and that's the way they react - they hit, they kick, they fight. That's their way of dealing, that's what they know," Ms. Estes says.

While ultimately the choice is up to the parent to deem what they approve of for their children, others have expressed in concern.

In September, it was reported Stephen Simon, a Hollywood producer behind such films as the Robin Williams drama "What Dreams May Come" and the comedy "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," confronted a woman for bringing her child to the movies to see the gritty, violent cop film "End Of Watch." Viewing taking the child to the film as borderline child abuse, the incident ended with him calling child services and speaking with the theater manager. Both stated it was not their call to decide what children see with an approving adult.

"I do not believe in censorship. I've produced 'R' rated movies myself. I just don't think that little children should be forced by their parents to experience the kind of violence and/or profanity and/or explicit sexuality in 'R' rated films," he stated in a blog entry.

If box office receipts prove anything, it's that R-rated movies are more popular than ever. In past years, more explicit films would rarely crack the top 10 for the year in box office grosses. This year, the profanity-laced and sexually charged "Ted" sits at number 6 with $218 million. In 2011, "The Hangover 2" accomplished a similar feat, much like its predecessor, with more than $250 million in total sales.

Ms. West said she believes not all of those ticket sales were to people 18-years-old and older.

"I think parents are more likely to take their kids to R-rated movies. Maybe in years past we would have taken more caution," Ms. West says. "I think the line has dropped on what we think that kids are able to view."

While a parent may find it harder to stop kids from watching sex and violence on TV or the Internet, psychologists see them taking their children to explicit movies at the theater as figurative thumbs-up for the content they're watching.

If a parent deems the content as appropriate for the child, they need to take steps in helping them filter the violence and adult content in the movie. Sites such as Common Sense Media will give parents a detailed list of the content the movie contains and an age recommendation for viewing.

After watching the film, the approving adult needs to discuss with the child what they saw, how to properly react to it and why the characters did what they did.

"Sometimes, I will tell their parents that they want to monitor what they're watching and discuss the content, so that the child will be able to process it," Ms. West says.

Completely blocking out all violent material will be a useless task, Ms. Estes says.

"Some of my children tried blocking that from their kids. I didn't agree with that and I still don't agree with that because that just made them want to see it more. Then they go somewhere else to see it and you can't monitor them," she says.

A happy medium can be reached, with the understanding that discussion of the material will follow.

"You watch the movies with them. You get good movies, you get good shows, you watch shows that are good for them (and) you talk about it with them," Ms. Estes says. "You do it as a family. That's probably the best that you can do."

Andrew Gaug can be reached at andrew.gaug@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPGaug.

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northwest missouri children's advocacy center

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Effects of R-rated movies on kids can't be ignored

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It's a scene seen regularly in movie theaters, but it's not one witnessed on the silver screen. A mother, father or family sit in the theater of an R-rated movie with their younger children.

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By Common Sense Media | June 4, 2020

The short answer is, no one really knows. But research shows that viewing (or playing) violent content could increase the chance that a child will act aggressively -- especially if other risk factors are present, such as growing up in a violent home.

Heavy exposure to violent media can lead to desensitization too. And parents' choices about their own media intake can affect kids. A study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found that parents who watched a lot of movies were more likely to say it was OK for younger kids to watch movies that had R-rated violence and sexual content.

You won't be able to avoid all exposure to violent media. The entertainment industry is always going to try to capture audiences with extreme imagery that tops whatever came before. But in your own home, you have a lot of control over what your kids watch, see, and play -- and research shows that kids whose parents actively manage their media consume less and make quality choices on their own.

It's really easy to find media that's free of violence and that your kids will enjoy. There may be a time when your kid is ready to handle more violent media -- and you can introduce it age-appropriately and discuss it as a family. In the meantime, choose movies that aren't too scary, find alternatives to violent video games, and seek out media that helps kids develop empathy.

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What's the impact of media violence on kids?

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By Common Sense Media | June 4, 2020 The short answer is, no one really knows. But research shows that viewing (or playing) violent content could increase the chance that a child will act aggressively -- especially if other risk factors are present, such as growing up in a violent home.

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Young people experimenting with drugs and alcohol is nothing new; however, social networking sites are offering new and dangerous opportunities for adolescents to be exposed to drugs. Teens are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of what they see on social media, as this age group is highly susceptible to peer influences and pressure. Sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat provide an environment where kids are exposed to famous and normal people alike engaging in risky behaviors involving drugs and alcohol.

Celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Drake, and Cardi B consistently post pictures of themselves drinking and getting high on a variety of platforms, and that's starting to influence the young people that are viewing it. Additionally, adolescents are not only exposed to celebrities and "influencers" engaging in this behavior, but also their friends and families. This kind of content normalizes and glamorizes behavior such as illicit and prescription drug use as well as binge drinking, making teens wrongly believe it's appropriate to do the same.

A study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that teenagers who regularly use popular social media outlets were more likely to drink, use drugs, and buy tobacco than adolescents who either did not use social media or used it less frequently. The survey asked 2,000 adolescents about their drug use and social media habits and 70% said that they use social media on any given day. Researchers found that, compared to nonusers or infrequent users of social media, this group was:

5 times more likely to buy cigarettes

3 times more likely to drink

2 times as likely to use marijuana

In addition to drug exposure through marketing and advertising, social media is the catalyst for many mental health problems that can lead to substance abuse. Social media perpetuates social comparison in a world where everything is curated, which is particularly problematic for teens who are more prone to depressive cognitions in the face of social comparison. Social media use is associated with mental health issues including depression, sleep disturbance, and disordered eating among young people.

Social media use amongst teens is nearly universal today. About 92% of adolescent users report checking social networking sites more than once a day. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are the top social media platforms for young adults.

For young, impressionable people, seeing their friends and family in Facebook posts or Instagram pictures having fun while partying can tempt them to make risky choices in an effort to fit in. For others, it can depress them to the point that they turn to drugs or alcohol for solace.

Recent studies show that 75% of teenagers seeing photos on social networking sites of other young people smoking weed or drinking alcohol encourages them to experiment in the same way.

Although drinking and smoking amongst teens has been an age-old issue, social media has begun to desensitize children to these activities at a younger age - 90% of the kids surveyed saw these types of photos of their peers online before they were even 16 years old. Nearly half of all teens who have seen such pictures perceived that the kids in the photos "are having a good time." Teens who have come across these kinds of photos are 4 times more likely to have used marijuana and 3 times more likely to have consumed alcohol compared to kids who had not viewed this type of picture.

In addition to being exposed to these acts by their peers, the ads found on social media can also encourage underage drinking and drug use. Tobacco, electronic cigarettes (especially those marketed by Juul), and alcohol manufacturers have widely integrated social media platforms into marketing strategies that are fully accessible to teens. Through the use of social media advertising, these industries are able to market to youth, despite the fact that direct marketing to minors is against the law.

A study performed by Michigan State University found that people who were shown Facebook ads promoting beer were more likely to indulge in an alcoholic beverage than those who viewed bottled water ads. After seeing the Facebook ads, the 121 test subjects were given a choice between receiving a gift card for a coffee shop or a bar as compensation for their participation in the study. While 73% of those who saw the beer ads chose the bar gift certificate, only 55% of those who viewed water ads selected the bar as well. Exposure to substance use imagery is associated with subsequent onset in use, which is why there are limitations on advertising such products in the media to minors; however, social media is proving harder to regulate.

Celebrities also promote drug and alcohol use on social media sites, which young people see and are often encouraged by. Celebrity advertising makes smoking and drinking seem like fun, cool activities, which can subtly pressure teens to experiment with the same products. Many digital ads use celebrities, music industry personnel, and attractive young models to promote their products - all of which have been shown to be effective marketing strategies among children and teenagers. In fact, research has revealed that advertising may be responsible for up to 30% of adolescent tobacco and alcohol use.

Research has shown that there is an undeniable link between social media use, negative mental health, and low self-esteem - all of which can drive underage substance use. When teens are struggling with emotional problems, they will often turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism to help manage their difficult feelings. Frequently checking social media platforms and comparing oneself to others can make young people feel increasingly unhappy and isolated.

Social media not only can cause unhappiness and a general dissatisfaction with life in users, but also increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. In fact, an estimated 27% of children who spend 3 or more hours a day on social media exhibit symptoms of poor mental health. Kids who are depressed or suffer from anxiety (both of which are often exacerbated by social media use) may then attempt to use alcohol or other drugs to cheer themselves up.

Children with adolescent depression know there's something wrong with them. They're not taking pleasure in things; they're not feeling happy. So if their peers are offering a drug that makes them happy, that's often the first thing they turn to.

- Dr. Sarper Taskiran, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

In addition to feelings of social isolation and depression, social media has also been found to be associated with negative body image in young adults. The ongoing exposure to unrealistic beauty standards through visual sites like Instagram can affect how teenagers perceive themselves and cause them to develop low self-esteem or eating disorders. Much like adolescent depression, individuals with low self-esteem may have trouble overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Subsequently, in an effort to forget or change those feelings, they turn to drugs or alcohol as means of escape. Substance use can seemingly help to quiet the negative thoughts in young users with poor mental health. However, self-medicating with drugs and alcohol only temporarily alleviates those symptoms, and chronic use actually makes them worse.

Social media is providing increased opportunities for both the marketing and display of risky behaviors regarding drugs and alcohol for young people. With social media increasingly integrated into the lives of today's teens, what they view on these sites is more important than ever.

The best way to protect your children from these influences is by having open communication and educating them on the risks of substance abuse. However, if your child is struggling with excessive alcohol or drug use, simply talking to them might not be enough and may require professional help. If you're worried about the path that your teen is headed down, contact a dedicated treatment provider and learn about your treatment options today.

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The Influence of Social Media on Teen Drug Use - Addiction Center

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Young people experimenting with drugs and alcohol is nothing new; however, social networking sites are offering new and dangerous opportunities for adolescents to be exposed to drugs. Teens are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of what they see on social media, as this age group is highly susceptible to peer influences and pressure.

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As a parent, you do everything you can to protect your children. From making them eat their veggies to monitoring their online activity, you want to help them to grow up healthy and safe. One thing that could affect the safety of a child is human trafficking. You may have heard about human trafficking on social media or the news but you may not know that children of all ages, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds can become victims of human traffickers. It's important to know more information to protect your children and the children in your community.

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. While the sex trafficking of youth often makes headlines, minors are also vulnerable to labor trafficking. It is important to remember that while human trafficking is frequently highlighted as a risk in the media, it is just one part of a larger spectrum of abuse and endangerment that occurs in our society and often those most at risk of trafficking are individuals whose previous abuse, neglect, or exclusion has made them vulnerable to traffickers.

Who Do Traffickers Target?

While children from a variety of backgrounds have been victims, traffickers have been known to actively seek out children with one or more of the following risk factors:

Behavioral problems or mental illness

Low self-esteem

Sexual minority status (LGBTQ)

History of abuse or neglect

Exposure to intimate partner violence

Caregiver substance abuse or criminality

Poverty

Gang affiliation

Substance abuse

Vulnerable immigration status

Identifying Victims of Trafficking

Victims of trafficking don't always look, act or think as you would expect. Not all victims of trafficking are kidnapped and locked away - many attend school but may have frequent absences. In fact, some victims don't view themselves as victims at all. Many victims come from situations that they believe to be worse than being used or sold for sex or exploited for labor. They have been taught, either through experience or by the trafficker, to distrust authority. This is especially a concern for those who belong to communities who have been historically pushed to the edge of society. And finally, they may feel shame, which is very powerful in keeping them quiet and preventing them from asking for help.

Victims of sex trafficking may be conditioned and controlled through some combination of the following methods: starvation, isolation, beatings, torture, threats of violence to victim and victim's family, forced drug use, cultural belief and denial of medical care/medications. They may fear or "love" their trafficker or feel a connection with them.

Red Flags of Human Sex Trafficking:

Tattoos, burns, or scars as a form of branding

Having the resources (beyond what is provided by their family or a part time job) for frequent hair, nails, and/or tanning appointments

Hotel room keys

Fake ID

Numerous school absences

Dating much older, abusive or controlling men

Large amounts of cash, jewelry or new clothes

Signs of physical assault or unexplained injuries (branding or tattooing, fractures, bruising, black eyes)

Runaway or homeless

How to Protect Your Children

By helping your child develop and maintain good self-esteem and healthy relationships, you reduce the risk that they will be targeted by traffickers.

Know what your kids are doing online. Often, apps and games that seem innocent have chat features that can be misused by adults looking to make contact with children.

Know who your kids are with and where they are hanging out. There are obvious situations, like being on the street late at night, but adults can target kids in public places, like the mall, a park or concerts.

Teach your children skills for resiliency.

Help your child build self-esteem from an early age.

Maintain open communication with your child. Be someone the teens in your life can talk with.

Get Involved by Staying Educated

Beyond protecting your children and striving to be a trusted adult for the children in your life, several local and national organizations offer opportunities to educate yourself and others and raise awareness and support for victims of trafficking. Locally, Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition works to coordinate a community response to human trafficking through education, services, advocacy and prosecution. Nationally, help and more information is available through the Polaris Project.

If you suspect that a child is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to report a tip or get help.

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Human Trafficking: Understanding the Red Flags

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As a parent, you do everything you can to protect your children. From making them eat their veggies to monitoring their online activity, you want to help them to grow up healthy and safe. One thing that could affect the safety of a child is human trafficking.

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Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a minor to commit a commercial sex act.
Traffickers are using the Internet as a way to target unsuspecting and vulnerable youth for their own personal financial gain as targets are seen as none other than a dollar sign. Sex trafficking is a form of modern slavery that exists throughout the United States and globally. According to the F.B.I., sex trafficking is the 2nd fastest growing criminal industry -- just behind drug trafficking. It is an easy, low risk (many traffickers still believe the high profit margin to be worth the risk of detection), and profitable industry because of huge consumer demand.

Much like the grooming tactics employed by sexual predators, sex traffickers lure their target into an online relationship, with the ultimate goal of meeting in person. Traffickers use a deliberate process to identify and recruit their victims. It happens in three main phases: scouting, manipulating and trapping. Victims are often showered with love, romance and promises of a better life. Others are lured in with false promises of a job, or given expensive gifts. The end game of the trafficker (or pimp) however, is to force or manipulate their target into prostitution.

Left unchecked, human trafficking will continue to flourish in environments where traffickers can reap substantial monetary gains with relatively low risk of getting caught or losing profits. Despite growing awareness about this crime, it continues to go underreported due to its covert nature, misconceptions about its definition, and a lack of awareness about its indicators.
What is Teen Sex Trafficking?

Sex trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. (Note: It is not necessary to demonstrate force, fraud, or coercion in sex trafficking cases involving children under the age of 18.)
What Does a Trafficker "Look Like?"

A trafficker can be anyone -- a classmate, employer, family friend, acquaintance, a boyfriend/girlfriend, or someone you met online.

Traffickers often pretend to be someone they are not by setting up fake accounts online to "friend" a teen, and then groom them using a variety of techniques to gain their trust.

Who Do Traffickers Target?

Teens (both boys and girls) between the ages of 12-19 are victims, but some have been as young as 9.

Teens from all different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds are targets

Traffickers often seek out children online who appear vulnerable, depressed, seem emotionally isolated from family and friends, have low-esteem or appear to have a lot of unsupervised time.

Runaway and homeless youth, as well as victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, war or conflict, or social discrimination are frequently targeted by traffickers.

Red Flags of Potential Sex Trafficking in Children:

Unexplained absences from school

Changes in usual attire, behavior or relationships

Suddenly has more expensive material possessions

Chronically runs away from home

Fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous and paranoid

Defers to another person to speak for him or her, especially during interactions with school authority figures

Show signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement or other serious pain or suffering

Seems to be deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care or other life necessities

Has new branding/tattoos

Has a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" who is noticeably older

Makes references to sexual situations or terminology that are beyond age-specific norms or engaging in uncharacteristically promiscuous behavior

Pornography and Sex Trafficking - Are they Related?

Some types of pornography actually are sex trafficking, specifically as the production of pornography often involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to prompt the performance of those shown in the pornography.

Traffickers often exploit their victims by recording the acts they perform. These videos are often used as training.

Supply and Demand: The supply is the victim. The distribution is the trafficker or the online material . The demand is the "John", the purchaser of the sex act.

Related articles:
The Connection Between Sex Trafficking and Pornography (Human Trafficking Search)
The Connections Between Pornography and Sex Trafficking? (Covenant Eyes)

How Can I Protect My Teen?

Look for at-risk warning signs (staying out later than usual, change in friends, withdrawing from activities, spending time with suspicious individuals, unexplained possessions/access to money)

Implement the guidelines contained in Enough Is Enough®'s "Rules 'N Tools" to protect Internet-enabled devices.

To report a tip or get help, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. In the event of an emergency, call 911.

How to Talk About Human Trafficking with Children and Adolescents (Click here to view information from Baylor University)

Radlee app for parents uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help protect your children from online predators.

Trafficking Resources

Child Sex Trafficking: 10 Facts You Need To Know (infographic courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers)

Click Here to see additional sex trafficking resources.

Porn and Sex Trafficking: 10 Facts from the Experts (Posted on Covenant Eyes)
2018 Federal Human Trafficking Report Global Research: The Essence of Evil: Sex with Children Has Become Big Business in America

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Sex trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a minor to commit a commercial sex act. Traffickers are using the Internet as a way to target unsuspecting and vulnerable youth for their own personal financial gain as targets are seen as none other than a dollar sign.

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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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Cyberbullying and teenagers - ReachOut Parents

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Learn about what you can do if online behavior gets nasty, and how you can help your teenager.

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Movies, Media, and Children

No. 90; updated March 2017

Watching movies and streaming video (such as YouTube, Amazon, or Netflix) can be a fun activity in which children and adolescents can use their imagination and fantasy. Parents should, however, consider the following issues when planning to watch movies or videos at a theater or at home:

Although going to a movie theater can be exciting, movies can create anxiety for children with loud noises and frightening and upsetting scenes.

Some children cannot tolerate the darkness of a movie theater, even with their parents present.

Younger children may have trouble telling the difference between make-believe and reality. They can be upset when a parent figure dies in a movie or frightening things happen to children.

Viewing movies with sex, violence, drug abuse, adult themes, and offensive language can have a negative effect on children and adolescents. Many movies are not appropriate for children.

Older children and adolescents may copy risky and possibly dangerous things they see in movies.

Having a TV, DVD, or streaming devices (e.g. computers, laptops, smart phones, etc.) in children and adolescents' bedrooms encourages movie watching without adult supervision.

Movies should not replace child-care or be left on as background noise.

If parents are unsure whether a movie or video is appropriate, they should view the movie in private before allowing the child to watch it.

Tips and Recommendations for Parents:

Check a movie's Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating and read reviews before it is viewed. Movie reviews which discuss appropriateness for young viewers by age can be found online. Videos found on video-sharing sites such as YouTube are typically unrated and should be previewed by parents. Discuss upsetting or frightening events seen in a movie with your child and adolescent.

Parents should limit the amount of time children and adolescents are exposed to electronic screens each day as part of a family plan, and allow children to watch movies if total screen time is not excessive and does not interfere with homework, physical activity, connecting with family and friends, and sleep.

Turn the movie off or leave the theater if your child becomes upset or frightened.

Use the same care and attention to a movie's content when choosing a movie to watch at home for a child or adolescent as you would a movie in the theater.

Deciding when a teenager can go to a movie without parental supervision depends on the teenager's maturity and the friends going with your teenager.

All ages of children should have their movie-watching supervised by their parents or adult caretakers.

Parents can and should be active participants in their children and adolescents' movie watching experiences by watching together and by discussing content, experience, and impact during or after the movie.

Watching movies together can be a rewarding experience. It can be an opportunity for your child to have fun with family and friends. It can also be a springboard to discuss situations in films which may relate to your own child's life, and promote discussion of family values. If your child or adolescent, however, develops strong and persistent emotional reactions or behavior from seeing a movie, then consider having your child evaluated by a qualified mental health professional.

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Movies, Media, and Children No. 90; updated March 2017 Watching movies and streaming video (such as YouTube, Amazon, or Netflix) can be a fun activity in which children and adolescents can use their imagination and fantasy.

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok

Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

Email

Online gaming communities

Special Concerns

With the prevalence of social media and digital forums, comments, photos, posts, and content shared by individuals can often be viewed by strangers as well as acquaintances. The content an individual shares online - both their personal content as well as any negative, mean, or hurtful content - creates a kind of permanent public record of their views, activities, and behavior. This public record can be thought of as an online reputation, which may be accessible to schools, employers, colleges, clubs, and others who may be researching an individual now or in the future. Cyberbullying can harm the online reputations of everyone involved - not just the person being bullied, but those doing the bullying or participating in it. Cyberbullying has unique concerns in that it can be:

Persistent - Digital devices offer an ability to immediately and continuously communicate 24 hours a day, so it can be difficult for children experiencing cyberbullying to find relief.

Permanent - Most information communicated electronically is permanent and public, if not reported and removed. A negative online reputation, including for those who bully, can impact college admissions, employment, and other areas of life.

Hard to Notice - Because teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognize.

Laws and Sanctions

All states have laws requiring schools to respond to bullying. As cyberbullying has become more prevalent with the use of technology, many states now include cyberbullying, or mention cyberbullying offenses, under these laws. Schools may take action either as required by law, or with local or school policies that allow them to discipline or take other action. Some states also have provisions to address bullying if it affects school performance. You can learn about the laws and policies in each state, including if they cover cyberbullying.

Frequency of Cyberbullying

There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:

The 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, nationwide, about 16 percent of students in grades 9-12 experienced cyberbullying.

The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that an estimated 15.9% of high school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey.

See also " Frequency of Bullying."

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets.

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As parents we have been taught (understandably) to fear video games and their effects on our teenagers. But can these games make our teenagers better people? In a word: Yes.

A few weeks ago, I got a chance to interview three gaming experts for a new PBS show called iQ:smartparent. It's airing here in Pittsburgh. I asked these experts to offer guidance about what games I should let my kids play, how often, and how video games affect children and teens. Here's what I learned:

Our first expert was Dr. Brian Primack, an associate professor of medicine at University of Pittsburgh. He's been researching the impact of media on children for years and got us started with some of the dangers games can pose. These include aggression, desensitization, isolation, and fear. Certain games increase the rates of all of these in teenagers and adults. So what should we keep in mind?

Some Of The Dangers Of Video Games

1. First person shooter games are the most dangerous.

These are games in which the player is creating at least some of the violence. Playing this role too often or for too long increases the chances that a person will react to conflict with aggression.

2. Witnessing a lot of violence desensitizes us to pain and suffering.

So even if our character in the game is trying to avoid the fires or bombs or mobs, just watching it happen on the screen (in games or movies or cartoons) changes the way we think about violence, makes it seem like "not a big deal," even when we see it in real life. And when the violence is accompanied by humor, that desensitization gets a lot worse, making animation a major offender.

3. Playing too much screen can lead to isolation.

However, this is much less of a problem if the game requires collaboration with other players (even ones we've never met).

4. Stressful situations in the virtual world can increase anxiety in the real world.

This is not true for everyone, so you have to know your child.

Luckily, games that meet these "negative criteria" are a small percentage of the games available.

Now onto the upsides.

Benefits Of Video Games

Jesse Schell of Schell Games (and formerly Disney Imagineering) and Nikki Navta of Zulama.com told the audience that the skills teenagers build while gaming can go far beyond excelling at the game.

Specifically, games give parents an opportunity to look critically at their teens: You might address a skill or characteristic that your teenager needs to improve. Search for games that offer challenges that he is ready to embrace in order to build that new skill.

Do you wish your teen had more resilience? Games can help kids think of themselves as problem-solvers because certain games force kids to find solutions. Any game with levels, where it is possible to "lose," encourages tweens and teens to persevere - to hit "play again." Your teenager will see that he can keep improving, even if he hasn't yet mastered a skill. This is the definition of resilience!

Do you want to raise someone who is a great team player? Consider joining a community that works collaboratively, like Minecraft, and include your teen!

Are you interested in a teen who can handle complex ethical dilemmas? For this, Schell suggested World of Warcraft together or an historical conflict game.

What I learned from this program is that it's possible to have a positive outlook when it comes to teens and video games. When we recognize that our teens will use gaming as a social or entertainment focus for years to come, we can compare video games to the way we think about food. Food and media are not always bad - or good - but amount and content matters tremendously.

If you are not sure of the content or appropriateness of a game for your family, check out Common Sense Media and see what they have to say; it's a great resource.

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Effects Of Video Games On Teens: The Good, the Bad and the Useful

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As parents we have been taught (understandably) to fear video games and their effects on our teenagers. But can these games make our teenagers better people? In a word: Yes. A few weeks ago, I got a chance to interview three gaming experts for a new PBS show called iQ:smartparent.

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Healthier Video Game Habits: 5 Tips for Parents of Teens

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Setting boundaries is a huge part of parenting. When it comes to forming healthier video gaming habits for teens, these five tips can help.

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Positive and Negative Effects

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When you find your teen often sitting with their video games or multitasking when playing, you may be wondering about the possible effects of video games on teenagers. We may hardly know a teen who dislikes playing video games and electronic sports (esports). Consequently, a study found out that 97% of teens and children indulge in playing video games and mobile gaming for at least an hour a day in the US ( 1). Read on as we present a detail of the negative and positive effects of video games on your teen, some signs of video game addiction, and useful tips for managing the same.

Positive Effects Of Video Games On Teenagers

Yes, video games can be good for your child. Don't be shocked, we'll tell you why. Here are the reasons why virtual gaming can be good ( 1) ( 2).

1. Improves cognitive functions:

A cross-sectional study conducted on 2217 children by the Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, relieved that a small level of increased cognitive function was observed in the children who played video games compared to those who did not.

Contrary to popular belief, video gaming can enhance multiple cognitive skills such as better allocation of attention, visual processing, memory, reasoning, and perception, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Researchers have studied a meta-analysis of video games and concluded that the positive effects of violence in games included improvement in a player's capability of thinking in different dimensions, just the way some academic courses do.

2. Hand and eye coordination:

Research has shown that teens can learn spatial, visual and hand-eye coordination skills from video games, especially from shooter games. Some games require a great deal of these skills to be successful. For example, players need to keep track of positions, speed, aim, directions and more. The brain processes all this data and coordinates with the hands since all the actions are performed with the keyboard or game controller.

Lead author of the research Isabela Granic from the Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands, says, "This has critical implications for education and career development, as previous research has established the power of spatial skills for achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics."

3. Quick thinking and accuracy:

The action in video games prepares gamers to make smart decisions in split seconds. Also, they need acute attention to cope with unexpected changes in the game.

4. Work on dexterity:

Online gaming improves the movement of hands with the mouse and keyboard. They learn to use the shortcut functions on the keyboard and give quick responses.

5. Problem-solving abilities

Researchers suggest that video games can aid teens in developing problem-solving skills because while playing strategic video games like role-plays, young adolescents get better at solving problems.

6. Some games can improve moods and ward off anxiety

Games such as Angry Birds and Bejewelled II are straightforward and bring instant happiness or relaxation and improve moods. Researcher Granic calls it a "fundamental emotional benefit" kids can derive from video games. The games can also teach young people how to cope with failures.

7. Promote the theory of incremental intelligence

Teens, who are encouraged and praised for working on a puzzle or game, develop an idea of progressive knowledge, which is essentially believing that intelligence is not fixed and can be improved; it can be grown with effort and time. This way, video games provide an ideal ground for children to acquire such traits of thoughts.

8. Other benefits

Educational video games can teach school subjects more interactively, and pro-social games can increase empathy in teens.

The positive effects depend on the games your teen chooses to play. Violent and sexually explicit games are more negative than positive.

The graph here illustrates the percentage of time US teenagers spend playing video games, according to the data collected in 2018 by the Pew research center. When compared to boys, girls are shown to spend less time playing video games.

Time spent by US teen boys on video games

Source: Pew Research Center

Negative Effects Of Video Games

The bad effects of video games are mostly related to the amount of play and the contents of gaming platforms, including gaming genres and gender representation in games.

1. Aggression in teens:

One of the most detrimental effects of playing violent video games is increased aggression in children. A comprehensive meta-analysis involving more than 100 research papers has shown that exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive behavior ( 4).

Some researchers have claimed that violent video games can desensitize children to violence, and lower the likelihood of a pro-social behavior.

2. Addiction to gaming:

The term 'pathological gaming' or video game addiction is being widely discussed in the medical circles though it is not yet classified as any formal disorder in the US Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Tom Kersting, a New York-based school counselor and therapist, says, "Video games are designed to be addictive. They target the pleasure-seeking part of the brain that produces dopamine. Gamers are swimming in dopamine, which is not a good thing because too much dopamine is tied to every addiction whether drugs, gambling, or gaming."

Pathological gamers are likely to develop anxiety, insomnia, social isolation, and depression due to a lack of social interaction.

Moreover, these factors are co-morbid in the sense that they can influence each other. Therefore, pathological gaming can result in depression, anxiety, or social phobia and the latter three can make the child more inclined and attracted to gaming.

3. Poor academic performance:

This is one of the side effects of video games on teens. Playing or streaming video games for long hours can affect your teen's performance in school. Studies have shown that a higher amount of time spent in playing onscreen games can be associated with lower academic performance.

A survey has shown that 47% of heavy online players got poor grades, while 23% of light users performed better than them ( 5).

4. Adverse effects on health:

Excessive gaming can have an adverse impact on the teen's health as they spend more time playing virtual games rather than having some physical exercise. This practice increases the risk of childhood obesity. Sometimes, children also skip meals and sleep to play games they are addicted to. The constant glare from the screen can also harm the child's eyesight in the long run.

You can avoid these negative effects on your children if you keep monitoring their activities.

Tips For Managing Teen Media Consumption

As a parent, you can do certain things to mitigate the negative effects of video games on kids' behavior and achievements.

1. Research and know the content and rating of the video games your teen is playing.

2. Do not install any video game equipment in your kid's bedroom.

3. Set limits on how long and how often your teen can play the games.

4. Set parental control in devices and monitor your child's media consumption from television, internet, and video games.

5. Discuss with your child about their feelings and observations about the games they play. What is it that drives so much interest in them?

6. Discuss with other parents to know more about certain video games and share ideas to help each other understand the facet of kids.

7. Be a good role model for your child and limit your own screen time.

8. Talk to the young adults about the various aspects of media, the positives and negatives of too much exposure to screens, and the balanced use of screen time.

9. Have family time and take up activities that do not involve screens. Or take the initiative to go out with your family every week or weekend to take a complete break from digital media. Even one screen-free day in a week can make children realize that the digital world is not everything.

Kersting observes, "Once the stimuli (video games) is removed it leads to withdrawal, irritability, and even assaultive behavior. The good news is that if the stimuli is removed (games), it will take the brain about 30 days to rebalance itself and restore homeostasis."

If your teen is spending excessive time on gaming, then you should look out for the symptoms of addiction.

Symptoms Of Video Game Addiction

Do you feel your child is spending too much time playing on screen? Then look out for these signs and symptoms:

1. Excessively preoccupied:

If your teen is suffering from video game addiction, they are preoccupied with the game even when they are away from playing.Video games are harmful if a teen is excessively occupied with it.

2. Lacks control:

A video game addict cannot control the amount of time they spend on the computer. They might start playing with the intention of spending just 20 minutes, but prolong it for hours. This impacts their studies and other hobbies.

3. Neglects other things in life:

Your teen prefers staying home and playing games to going out or spending quality time with friends. They may also perform poorly in studies.

4. Becomes a spendthrift:

The money you give them or they earn through part-time jobs all goes into buying gaming items. They continuously upgrade software and hardware packages and accessories and don't mind the costs involved.

5. Gets defensive

They do not want to discuss their gaming addiction with you. They snap at you when you ask them about their time spent on gaming. It is an indication that something is wrong, especially if they look unconcerned that their friends and family are feeling left out from their life.

Teenage behavior may change drastically if he or she becomes an addict. You must intervene even if your teen exhibits two or three of the above behavioral patterns.

Measures To Address Video Game Addiction In Children

Pathological gaming must be treated the same way as any other addiction. So, how do you begin to fight the addiction? Here are some ways to address video gaming addiction among teens.

1. Talk to your teen:

Help your teen recognize their compulsive behavior. They might be adamant and deny that there is anything wrong with them, but do not lose hope or patience. Tell them how you are worried to see them spend such long hours gaming. Try not to be judgmental. They may feel embarrassed.

2. Limit the time:

Do not take away their gaming console or computer to bring them out of the problem. They might become adamant and continue playing outside your home, which could be even more troublesome. Instead, discuss with your child, and set time limits. Allocate some time every day when they can play the game. You may reduce the playtime gradually from three hours a day to two, one and so on.
Encourage your child to stick to the schedule, and set an example by keeping your laptop and smartphones away.

3. Consult a therapist:

If your efforts at home are not working, take them to a therapist or enroll them in a de-addiction program. Counseling will lead to the path of recovery.

4. Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT:

The therapist may also recommend cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on changing the child's thoughts and feelings. It is the most popular approach to video gaming addiction. It involves replacing unhealthy thoughts about games with something constructive and reducing the time spent on playing games. You have to work on it by giving rewards for following new rules, making constant reminders to stop playing and involving the teen in other activities ( 5).

The effects of video games on teenagers may not be that bad if they play within limits. Gaming continuously for hours together can make them detached from outside life. And if you have introduced your teen to gaming, it is your responsibility to keep a check on the kind of games they are playing and the duration. You may strictly monitor to avoid waste of time. You don't have to go against your child or restrict them from doing what they enjoy. Instead, try incorporating other activities into their lives strategically and constructively for their overall development.

Key Pointers

Playing video games is one of the most common pastime activities among teenagers.

Video games can help improve hand-eye coordination, cognitive functions, and thinking abilities.

Long-term video game play can have negative effects on teens, leading to gaming addiction and poor academic performance.

Spending time outside with your teens and effective communication about their interest in video games can help encourage them to spend less time on screens.

Playing video games can affect your brain in both positive and negative ways. Learn how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.

References:

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
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Positive And Negative Effects Of Video Games On Teenagers

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Many children spend a lot of time playing video games. This post discusses good and bad effects of video games on teenagers and ways to manage their addiction.

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There's no doubt that we live in a digital world and as our children become more and more tech savvy in this digital age, it's important that parents maintain a vigilant sense of security when it comes to our children's online presence.

While having the ability to be instantaneously connected to the world around you and to share your experiences at your fingertips has several benefits, it also opens up a whole new world of risks. From predators to cyberbullies, a child's misuse of a social network can have serious consequences.

If your child is asking to use, or is already using social media, check out these 10 tips for keeping them safe on social media.
1. Educate yourself about social media
Do you remember when the only big social media sites were Facebook and Myspace? That's not the case anymore. As a parent, it's important to familiarize yourself with what sites are out there and which are appropriate for your child. Here are some of the most popular social apps and sites for kids and teens:

2. Establish an age limit for your child to start using social media
While you're familiarizing yourself with what social media sites are out there, you should take a look at what the required minimum age is for each site. Most social media sites require users to be 13 or older to create an account without their parents' permission, according to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ( COPPA).

The password scene from the 1987 comedy Spaceballs was funny back then and it's still funny today because the implications are the same. Would you really use a password as simple as 1,2,3,4,5 to safeguard something important? No, of course you wouldn't and you should get your kids into the habit as well.

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10 Tips To Keep Your Kids Safe On Social Media - Pine Grove Day Camp

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By Emagination Computer Camps There's no doubt that we live in a digital world and as our children become more and more tech savvy in this digital age, it's important that parents maintain a vigilant sense of security when it comes to our children's online presence.

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Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media

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Before kids or teens hit "enter," make sure they know the rules when it comes to oversharing, teasing, posting personal info, and other online don'ts.

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Technology is always changing and it is hard, as a parent, to keep up with the various kinds of platforms and social media apps that are being used daily. We encourage you to talk to your teens about social media, but we realize that it can be difficult. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Don't Be Too Controlling

We all want our kids to be safe and make smart decisions on the internet, but teens are more likely to fight you when it comes to their social media. Have a conversation about your expectations when it comes to social media use. Talk through things like privacy settings, sharing your age online and how you can never really delete things from the internet. This conversation is meant to build trust and empower them to make their own decisions but be upfront about what kinds of things you, as a parent, will be checking in on.

It is likely that if you are following your teen on social media that they are following you right back. Be conscious of the types of posts and content you share. Simply lead by example. If you don't want your kids to post their age on social, don't post yours. If you don't want your kids bullying people on social, don't engage in bad behavior on social. If you set tech-free zones or times for your kids then abide by them yourself.

Keep the Conversation Going

The talk about social media is not one-and-done. Since things change so often, the conversation must keep going. The best tactic here is to put the conversation in your teen's court. Ask questions like, "What is SnapChat? Could you show me how to use it?" When teens feel like experts, they will let their guard down much easier. Keeping the lines of communication open with your teens will help foster a trusting relationship and make conversations easier down the line.

For more information and tips on talking to your teens about internet safety, click .

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How to Talk to Teens About Social Media | The Youth Clinic

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We want our teens to be safe on social media, so how do we talk to them about appropriate behavior on social media? Here are a few of our best suggestions.

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What's the average age when kids get a social media account? | CNN

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About 56% of US youth have their own social media accounts, according to Common Sense Media. The average age when signing up for an account was 12.6 years.

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About social media for pre-teens and teenagers

Popular social media apps among pre-teens and teenagers include Instagram, Messenger or Messenger Kids, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids.

Online chat in multiplayer video games, like Fortnite, League of Legends, Clash of Clans and The Sims is also a popular social media option for pre-teens and teenagers.

Using social media often involves uploading and sharing content. This includes:

creating online profiles

posting comments or chatting

uploading photos and videos

reacting to or 'liking' other people's posts

sharing links

tagging photos and content

creating and sharing game modifications

remixing or changing existing content and sharing it.

Social media: benefits

Social media is a big part of social and creative life for pre-teens and teenagers.

Pre-teens and teenagers use social media to have fun, make and maintain friendships, share and learn interests, explore identities and develop relationships with family. It's an extension of their offline and face-to-face interactions. For older teenagers especially, it's often a key part of how they connect with friends.

Social media can connect pre-teens and teenagers to online global groups based on shared interests. These might be support networks - for example, for young people with disability or medical conditions, LGBTIQ+ teenagers, or children from particular cultural backgrounds. Or they might be sites for commenting on and sharing content about particular interests like games, TV series, music or hobbies.

Your child can get many other benefits from using social media:

Learning: your child can use social media to better understand, extend or share what they're learning at school, either informally or in formal school settings.

Hobbies and interests: your child can use social media to follow their interests and learn new ones.

Creativity: your child can be creative with profile pages, images, video and game modifications.

Mental health and wellbeing: connecting with extended family and friends and taking part in local and global online groups can give your child a sense of belonging.

Social media: risks

Social media can also pose risks. For your child, these risks include:

being exposed to inappropriate or upsetting content, like mean aggressive, violent or sexual comments or images

uploading inappropriate content, like embarrassing or provocative photos or videos of themselves or others

sharing personal information with strangers - for example, images, date of birth, location or address

cyberbullying

being exposed to too much targeted advertising and marketing

being exposed to data breaches, like having their data sold on to other organisations.

Managing social media risks for pre-teens and teenagers

Talking about social media use
Talking with your child is the best way to protect them from social media risks and ensure their internet safety. Talking gives you the opportunity to help your child:

work out how they want to treat other people and be treated online - for example, you can encourage your child to make only positive comments

understand the risks involved in using social media - for example, your child might be tagged in an embarrassing photo taken at a party

learn how to navigate the risks - for example, if your child posts an identifiable selfie, they can reduce risk by not including any other personal information

learn what to do if people ask for personal details, are mean or abusive online, post embarrassing photos of them, or share information that links back to them.

Finding out more about social media
Social media apps and functionality are always changing, so it's a good idea to keep up to date with the social media your child uses. You could ask your child which platforms are popular and which ones they like. You could also get your child to show you how they work.

Thinking about age recommendations
Most social media apps require people to be at least 13 years old to sign up. But these age restrictions aren't always enforced, so pre-teens can often still use the apps. It can be tricky if your child's friends are using social media apps before they're old enough and your child wants to do the same.

If you want your child to wait, here are some options you could think about:

Could you compromise? What if your child uses a family social media account until they're old enough for their own? This could give your child a way to connect with friends with your help to navigate social media.

Could your child use a child-friendly social media app, like YouTube Kids or Messenger Kids? These have stronger safety settings and age-appropriate content.

What about banning social media?
It can be hard to ban social media, even for younger children. This is because social media is increasingly a part of children's apps, games, websites and learning environments. Instead, it's better to teach your child how to navigate social media risks and behave respectfully on social media.

Internet safety for children aged 9-11 years and internet safety for teenagers is about identifying and managing risks and also protecting your data and privacy.

Setting up social media guidelines

Some written guidelines about social media can help your child get the benefits of social media while using it responsibly, respectfully and safely. This agreement could be part of a family media plan. If these guidelines include your social media use as well as your child's, you can be a positive role model.

Here are things your guidelines could include.

Using social media
This might cover basics like:

when it's OK to use social media and how long your child can spend on social media

whether it's OK to use social media during homework time, family meals and so on

where it's OK to use social media - for example, only in family areas of the house, not bedrooms.

Posting content and comments
It's important for your child to agree to:

think about why they want to post something and what reactions they might get before they post

not upload or share inappropriate messages, images and video

show respect in posts and when sharing content - for example, if it's not OK to say or do something face to face, it's not OK online

seek consent before posting images of others.

Protecting privacy
It's a good idea to go through social media privacy guidelines and settings with your child.

Your child can protect their privacy by agreeing to:

not share personal information like location and date of birth - for example, by giving this information to strangers online, doing online quizzes or tests and so on

not add personal details like phone numbers or date of birth to private profiles

regularly check privacy and location settings on apps and devices

keep passwords and log-in details private and not share these with friends

not use social media or other online accounts on public wi-fi

log out of all accounts after using public computers.

Staying safe on social media
Safety essentials for your child include:

blocking and reporting people they don't know or people who post upsetting comments or content

not clicking on pop-ups - some pop-ups that seem safe can lead to pornography sites or are scams

accepting friend requests only from people whose identity they know

taking screenshots of concerning things they see online, and talking to a trusted adult about them.

One way you can teach your child how to be safe and respectful on social media is by making a joint social media account that you can use together. This can give your child the chance to get familiar with social media before they're old enough to have an account of their own.

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Social media benefits and risks: pre-teens and teenagers

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Social media is a vital part of life for many pre-teens and teens. Social media guidelines can help your child get social media benefits and avoid risks.

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How to Set Boundaries on Your Child’s Screen Time

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While unlimited time with electronics may keep your child busy, you don't want them to have too much screentime. That said, setting limits on TV and video games for kids isn't always easy in today's screen-filled world. Here are 10 tips parents can use to decide how much screentime is reasonable for their kids.

Model Healthy Electronic Use

Parents need to be role models of screen use for their kids.﻿﻿ Before you binge-watch your favorite Netflix series, remember that you are setting an example for your kids with your own time spent in front of a screen.

Keeping the TV on for background noise all the time or scrolling through your phone any time you have a spare minute may not be modeling the screen-related behavior you hope to see in your kids.

Educate Yourself on Electronics

Today's kids are tech-savvy. Most of them know more about electronics than adults do. Parents need to stay up-to-date on the latest apps, games, and social media platforms, and trends.

For example, you can't teach your child about the risks of social media unless you understand the dangers yourself. Likewise, you wouldn't be able to prevent them from consuming certain types of media (such as violent video games) if you don't understand how these forms of media are rated.﻿﻿

Create "Technology-Free Zones"

Establish zones in your house where electronics simply are not allowed-whether it's cell phones, handheld video games, or laptops. ﻿﻿ One example is your home's dining room or kitchen, which you could keep reserved for having meals and family conversations.

Set Aside Times to Unplug

Set aside times for your whole family to unplug from their technological devices.﻿﻿ Dinnertime or an hour before bedtime are two examples. When you all agree to set aside your devices, it gives your family the opportunity to spend thoughtful, quality time together.

Use Parental Controls

There are tools you can use to protect your kids from accessing explicit content on the Internet and on TV. Most routers, web browsers, and TVs have parental controls that you can set up to filter or block unwanted content.

If your kids have smartphones, there are also built-in settings or apps you can download that allow you to create content filters. Many also allow you to block specific websites, web searches, or even keywords.

Explain Why You're Limiting Screen Time

If your kids understand that you're limiting your family's screen time because too much time spent on screens has downsides, they're much more likely to follow the rules you set. If your kids just think you're "being mean," they might be more likely to resist or break the rules you are trying to enforce.

Based on what's appropriate for your child's age, explain why violent videogames, TV shows, and movies can be harmful.﻿﻿ If your kids use the Internet, make sure you have a conversation with them about the dangers of online predators.

Make sure that every member of your family is included in the discussion about screen time and are part of creating a set of boundaries that everyone can follow.

Ask for Your Child's Passwords

You might want to consider asking your kids for the passwords to their online and social media accounts. Kids don't always have the maturity necessary to handle online interactions and can be vulnerable to cyberbullying.﻿﻿

You'll need to discuss the option as a family, but it will be up to you as the parent to figure out the best way to help protect your child while still allowing them to have some privacy and autonomy.

Encourage Other Activities

With a wealth of apps, games, devices, and content, it's easy for kids to become reliant on electronics for entertainment. Encourage your child to seek out and get involved in activities that don't need a screen.﻿﻿ Playing outside, reading a book, or even digging out an old boardgame are just a few ideas.

It can also help to establish (and enforce) a schedule that everyone in your home follows. Making it clear to your kids when they are allowed on screens and when they are not will help to clarify your expectations and can prevent arguments.

Make Screen Time a Privilege

You might decide to make screen time a privilege rather than a right. If you use a form of discipline that involves taking away privileges ( negative consequence s), a child's phone, laptop, or video game might be one such privilege.﻿﻿

However, once you've set a limit on how much screen time is allowed, don't allow kids to earn extra time as a reward. Instead, stick to the daily limit and offer other free or low-cost rewards to reinforce positive behavior.

Keep Your Child's Bedroom Screen-Free

You won't be able to monitor your child's screen use if they are able to use devices out of your sight.﻿﻿ For this reason, you might want to make it a rule that TVs, video game systems, and computers are not allowed in your child's bedroom. This also includes handheld devices that your kids might be tempted to use late at night, which could interfere with their sleep.

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10 Tips for Limiting Your Child's Screen Time

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Get practical tips for limiting how much screen time your child spends using electronics, from television to smartphones.

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Teach your children to use technology in a healthy, responsible way. Learn what to watch for, how to set limits and stick to them, and when it’s O.K. to embrace screen time.

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Internet Safety 101: Helpful Parents Guides

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Editor's Note: Kids are growing up on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter -- spending hours every day creating, communicating, and connecting in digital spaces. Whether you're a tech-savvy parent or a technophobic one, you're probably looking for tools to help your family navigate the many issues that come along with our media- and technology-saturated society. This digital world, which can bring young people incredible resources and learning opportunities, also opens up the very real parenting challenges of managing non-stop screen time, preventing cyberbullying, finding age-appropriate content, and more. Common Sense Media is an organization that provides essential resources for families to manage the impact of challenges like this. We've asked their editors to compile a list of their most popular articles and tip sheets to guide parents as they raise responsible and thoughtful digital citizens.
Family Media Management

From movies to TV to games, kids are spending more time with electronic devices than ever before. Common Sense Media encourages parents to take control of the media and technology in their family's life in order to maintain a balance of rich learning experiences with entertainment.

Tip: Use media together. Whenever you can, watch, play, and listen with your kids. Talk about the content. When you can't be there, ask them about the media they've used. Help kids question and analyze media messages. Share your own values. Let them know how you feel about solving problems with violence, stereotyping others, selling products using sex or cartoon characters, or advertising to kids in schools or movie theaters. Help kids connect what they learn in the media to real-life events and other activities -- like playing sports and creating art -- in order to broaden their understanding of the world. (From "Tips for a Healthy Media Diet.")

More Resources from Common Sense:

Internet Safety and Online Privacy

In today's world, where sharing is becoming the norm, there's a lot of talk about privacy and online reputation. Everything kids say or do online can affect how others view their character. These articles offer parents insight into how companies can collect and use their kids' data and personal information -- and what they can do about it.

Tip: Explain that nothing is really private online. It's crucial for kids to guard their own online privacy by not posting and sharing things they don't want to become public. A few more tips: Ask permission before you go online. Never share passwords. Keep personal details -- name, address, phone number, how much money your parents make -- to yourself. Think before you post -- is this really something you want to share? Only communicate with people you know -- never chat with or send photos to strangers. (From "Parents' Guide to Protecting Kids' Privacy Online.")

More Resources from Common Sense:

Social Networking and Virtual Worlds

Now more than ever, kids are chatting, sharing, and connecting on social networking sites. The latest research from Common Sense reveals that teens are avid, daily users of social media, and 75% of them currently have a profile on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Formspring. While they can use social tools to get the best of what the Web has to offer, tragic stories of cyberbullying seem to be a daily news staple. These tips and resources will help parents keep kids' online lives responsible, respectful, safe, and private.

Tip: Help kids understand the line between funny and cruel. Kids' online communication is often purposely ambiguous or accidentally cruel -- both of which can lead to misunderstandings. If drama starts brewing, ask your kid to call or speak face-to-face with their friend to clear it up. (From "Five Things You Need to Know About Cyberbullying.")

More Resources from Common Sense:

Role Models and Stereotypes

Kids look up to celebrities -- and take their cues from people they admire. Too much sexy material and violent imagery can affect their behavior and the choices they make. Body image, self-esteem, and weight issues are all affected by the media that young people watch, play, and interact with. These articles help explain the influence of celebrity culture and media stereotypes. They'll help parents make healthy, age-appropriate choices for their family.

Tip: Grab the headlines, and make them teachable moments. If you see teen drinking on a TV show -- or you see pictures on the Internet of celebs smoking pot or getting arrested for drunk driving -- check in with your kids. For young kids, see how much they understand. Grade-schoolers get a lot of confusing information from their peers, so set the facts straight. For preteens, turn celebrity misbehavior into teachable moments by letting them know what you think about the behavior. And for teens, ask questions. For example, if a celebrity they like is in trouble with alcohol, ask whether their peers are using alcohol or whether they have any anxieties or questions about drinking. Take time to share your opinions -- and expectations -- about the issues. (From "When Good Role Models Go Bad.")

More Resources from Common Sense:

Educational Issues

We all want our kids to succeed in school. We want to reinforce classroom learning and values at home and be well-equipped to address some of the issues that come up while our kids are navigating technology and digital media to support their schoolwork. These articles will help families guide their kids to make smart, ethical decisions in their digital lives.

Tip: Don't assume that your children automatically know what's right and wrong. The digital world operates with different rules -- that is, wherever rules even exist. Establish rules about use right from the start. Make sure kids have cited their material, clearly indicating where they found that statistic, that insight, that map. Be explicit about what is and isn't acceptable behavior. Don't assume they know. And make sure you have real consequences for breaking the rules. (From "Cheating Goes High-Tech.")

More Resources from Common Sense:

It's our hope that these curated parent tips and resources will help guide you through both the challenges and opportunities that come along with raising kids in a digital world. For more information, media reviews, and advice, visit the Common Sense Media website.

Additional Resources on the Web

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Media and Digital Literacy: Resources for Parents

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Young people are immersed in technology in ways previous generations could not have imagined. Common Sense Media has compiled this list of resources for parents seeking advice and information about how to help their children explore smartly and stay safe.

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https://fosterfirst.org/

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"Foster First essentially gave us our family. We've adopted three kids after fostering, with the help of their dedicated staff. We're so thankful for the community and resources they provide"

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Foster First - Foster Care Agency in Yakima & Wenatchee, WA

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"Foster First essentially gave us our family. We've adopted three kids after fostering, with the help of their dedicated staff. We're so thankful for the community and resources they provide"

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Foster Parent Alliance of Washington State (Local)

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Foster Parent Alliance of Washington State (Local)

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Local Foster Care Support

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Our journey began in 1988, when a group of social workers started raising funds through book sales to purchase everyday needs to help children in foster care feel loved and capable. We have learned a lot about what it takes to be in their corner, and we are more committed than ever to centering their voice, choice and experience to shape their own journeys and ours.
Follow Our Journey >

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Treehouse - Nonprofit Serving Youth in Foster Care

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Treehouse provides youth in foster care in Washington with academic & other essential support they need to graduate from high school & pursue their dreams.

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Local Foster Support

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Voices for Children Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of abused and neglected children in the foster care system throughout the Yakima Valley.

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Voices for Children Foundation - Yakima, WA

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Voices for Children Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of abused and neglected children in the foster care system throughout the Yakima Valley.

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The National Foster Parent Association - Home

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Birthday Parties for Children in Foster Care

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Team Celebrate provides an opportunity for youth philanthropists to change the world, one foster kid's birthday at a time.

There are 400,000 foster kids in the US. Most of them have never celebrated a birthday.

There are 74.2 million kids in the US. All of them have the potential to be leaders and philanthropists.

We connect both groups through the magic of birthday parties.

Help us empower kids to change a foster child's life.

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Foster Kids | Team Celebrate | Youth Empowerment

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Team Celebrate provides an opportunity for youth philanthropists to change the world, one foster kid's birthday at a time. There are 400,000 foster kids in the US. Most of them have never celebrated a birthday. There are 74.2 million kids in the US. All of them have the potential to be leaders and philanthropists.

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Foster Families Rights and Responsibilities

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Foster Families Rights and Responsibilities

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FosterClub | The National Network for Youth in Foster Care

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We are the national network for young people in foster care.

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Social Emotional Support for Youth in Foster Care

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Social Emotional Support for Youth in Foster Care

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CHERISH focuses on relationships. By establishing relationships with key people involved in a child's life, CHERISH therapists aim to minimize trauma, stabilize placements, and facilitate healthy transitions when necessary for children in the child welfare system. We advocate for best practice around caregiver/parent connections, visitation, effective placement transitions, and ongoing support. By being in communication with many of the important people in a child's life, we help lessen the stress that children and families can experience within systems. While CHERISH staff do not advocate for a particular permanent plan, we do support reunification whenever possible and encourage relationships between caregivers and parents.

CHERISH provides specialized Infant Mental Health services with skilled providers to address the unique social and emotional health needs of children living in out-of-home placements and their families. Visits with a CHERISH provider occur in a child's natural environment (home or community setting) whenever possible.

CHERISH 0-3 is an Early Intervention program for children ages 0-3 who are living in out-of-home placements. A CHERISH provider meets with a child and their caregiver &/or parent from 1-4 times/month, depending on need, until a child turns 3 years old. Interventions for each child and family are individualized, but a CHERISH therapist's approach is always dyadic so a parent or caregiver is always present during sessions.

CHERISH 3-5 is a program using an intervention based on Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), a relationship-based trauma-informed treatment model, for children ages 3-5 living in out-of-home placements in King County. CPP is designed to support and strengthen the caregiver-child relationship as a vehicle for improving the mental health of the child. It addresses relationship struggles and promotes therapeutic parenting strategies. It is intended to minimize behavioral challenges as well as build capacity to regulate emotions. CPP is designed to take place weekly, for hour-long sessions, over a period of 9-12 months.

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About Us CHERISH™ (CHildren Encouraged by Relationships in Secure Homes) is a program that offers a variety of services to promote the social/emotional well-being of children involved in the child welfare system who are living in out-of-home placements (or "dependency"). Theory of Change

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Foster Care Mental Health Support for Youth

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Foster Care Mental Health Support for Youth

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Coordinated Care - WA - www.coordinatedcarehealth.com

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Coordinated Care exists to improve the health of its beneficiaries through focused, compassionate care. Get insured or become a provider today.

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WA State Department of Social and Health Services

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WA State Department of Social and Health Services

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Find parenting tips and links to resources specifically for parents. Resources include State and local examples.

InfoAboutKids.org
Promotes healthy child and family development by providing parents with science-based information on parenting topics relating to children's minds, bodies, emotions, relationships, and more.

Parent Resources - Tip Sheets
Circle of Parents (2017)
Effective parenting information for dealing with discipline, rules, schoolwork, and other family situations. Also available in Spanish.

Parenting
Military OneSource
Materials and information on programs for military parents.

Parenting Tips
Prevent Child Abuse America
Advice for new moms and dads and information on discipline, safety, education, recognizing child abuse, and leaving children home alone.

State and local examples

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Find parenting tips and links to resources specifically for parents. Resources include State and local examples. InfoAboutKids.org Promotes healthy child and family development by providing parents with science-based information on parenting topics relating to children's minds, bodies, emotions, relationships, and more.

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Skip to main content

Sign up now for a COVID-19 vaccination at your nearest clinic.

Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers lets you learn helpful tips from other parents who have already faced some of the issues you're dealing with.

Guidance from other parents.

More understanding about your child's development

Parenting support from peers who've already been through similar issues

Help in seeing developmental delays or health issues in your kids

Help in preventing child abuse and neglect

Help in getting your kids ready to go to school

Find a Location

Finding reliable information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout can be challenging. Get this biweekly newsletter delivered to your email by signing up for our COVID-19 newsletter.

Are you interested in joining our team?

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Parents as Teachers | Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic | Washington

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Skip to main content Sign up now for a COVID-19 vaccination at your nearest clinic. Parents as Teachers Parents as Teachers lets you learn helpful tips from other parents who have already faced some of the issues you're dealing with.

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Yakima- Comprehensive Children, Youth and Families 

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Yakima- Comprehensive Children, Youth and Families 

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Skip to content

At Comprehensive Healthcare, we believe that within each of us, there is an ability to recover from any challenge or trial. Our child, youth, and family services focus is on helping children and families use their strengths to build resiliency and develop the skills needed for the recovery process.

We understand that parents or guardians want what is best for their child, and that the family is often the best support for children and youth. We not only want to teach children and youth helpful tools to help them recover, but we want to empower each member of the family to help them realize their important, supportive role in the recovery process.

If you are interested in enrolling into services for your child or family, please give us a call to get started.

Our commitment to you and your child:

We will demonstrate a caring attitude that instills hope, courage and confidence in recovery.

We will provide a comprehensive assessment that discovers your child's needs and strengths.

You will receive services from a highly trained therapist who will work with your family and child or teen in a team-based approach.

We will develop a collaborative service plan with you that will focus on goals and outcomes.

We will provide evidence-based treatments or services

We will honor your cultural and family values, and provide age-appropriate services.

Our Child, Youth, and Family Services include:

Family Therapy
Comprehensive Healthcare offers both family and individual therapy for children and families The brain of a child does not fully develop until well into the 20s, so we really need and value the parents or caregivers participation with their child or teen throughout the services we will provide. We think of it services as working with the parent or caregiver who really are the main support throughout their child's life.

Individual Therapy
Individual therapy for children really means we will work with the child or teen to learn skills to cope with the challenges or trials they are facing. During this process, we still connect and collaborate with their parent or caregiver.

Wrap Around with Intensive Services (WISe)
The Washington State Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) Program is designed to provide comprehensive behavioral health services and supports for Medicaid eligible children, adolescents, and transition-aged youth with complex behavioral health needs, and their families. WISe is a program that involves natural supports (such as family, friends, and religious leaders) and the professionals who work with you and your family in treatment so that youth can continue to live and thrive in their homes and communities.

To make a referral to our WISe services, simply fill out the instructions on the link below, or give us a call. The contact information for each of our locations is listed on the right side of this page. To learn more about WISe, click here to visit the Washington State Healthcare Authority website.

How to Submit a WISe Referral

1. Fill out the referral form with as much information as possible.

2. Email the completed form to WISereferrals@comphc.org.

3. If youth is already active with Comprehensive Healthcare, a WISe staff from county of youth will make contact within 48 business hours to schedule CANS (child, adolescent needs strengths assessment) screen.

4. If youth is not active with Comprehensive Healthcare, a screener will make contact to gather additional information that is needed to begin the intake process. An intake will be scheduled at the soonest possible opening.

5. If you prefer an earlier opening, take the soonest one offered you and call 575-4084 to look for cancellations, even on a daily basis.

6. A WISe staff will complete the CANS screen at the same time as intake so that you don't have to share the information twice and so that we have a better view of treatment options available to youth and family at that time.

7. Once an intake and/or CANS is completed you will be notified of the outcome by a WISe staff within 48 business hours.

8. If the information gathered results in a meeting of the state's algorithm, the WISe staff will schedule an orientation with youth and family to discuss participation in the WISe program.

9. If the information gathered results in not meeting of the state's algorithm, the WISe staff will share treatment options that better fit youth and family's needs, such as outpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment.

10. CANS results are good for 30 days and screens can be requested again, if youth and family continue to struggle in current level of services.

Psychiatric & Medication Monitoring
Psychiatric services are provided at all Comprehensive Healthcare offices by board certified or board eligible psychiatrists, advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Our medical providers are highly-trained specialists who work with children and families.

During follow-up visits, practitioners evaluate treatment progress, and monitor symptoms and prescribed medications. Comprehensive Healthcare psychiatrists maintain privileges at several local hospitals and can?provide inpatient care or consultation if needed.

New Journeys (First Episode Psychosis)
If you or a loved one are hearing or seeing things that others don't, it can be a very scary experience. These symptoms are part of a condition known as psychosis, and it affects many people in several different walks of life. Psychosis is both manageable and treatable, New Journeys is a program is for transition age youth (15 - 25) experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis, and can help you through this challenging time. New Journeys will help identify a diagnosis as well as provide support, skills, resources and hope to those who live with this challenge.

Inpatient Services for Youth
At our adolescent inpatient facility in Yakima, our integrated team of behavioral health and medical professionals provides individualized care and a comprehensive discharge plan that emphasizes community resources and family support. Youth admitted generally meet certain criteria, such as in need of crisis stabilization or potential danger to self or others.

Services are provided in the following locations:

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CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY SERVICES - Comprehensive Healthcare

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Skip to content We will demonstrate a caring attitude that instills hope, courage and confidence in recovery. We will provide a comprehensive assessment that discovers your child's needs and strengths. You will receive services from a highly trained therapist who will work with your family and child or teen in a team-based approach.

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Yakima Resource

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Yakima

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Neighborhood Health offers lots of good guidance for you during and following your pregnancy.

Prenatal Support. We provide referrals to WIC, health insurance and other community resources to help you learn about:

How pregnancy will affect you

Fetal growth and development

Childbirth and parenting

You will probably have lots of questions about becoming a new parent. Your maternity-support team will help you learn about:

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Moms and Babies Care - Yakima Neighborhood Health Services

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Neighborhood Health offers lots of good guidance for you during and following your pregnancy. Prenatal Support. We provide referrals to WIC, health insurance and other community resources to help you learn about: How pregnancy will affect you Fetal growth and development Childbirth and parenting You will probably have lots of questions about becoming a new ...

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Sometimes an outside perspective from a trained mental health professional can help an individual better understand and manage his/her actions and reactions. The skilled and compassionate counseling staff at Catholic Charities offers counseling services to people of all ages.

Whether it's individual counseling, couple counseling, family counseling, or group therapy, our mental health professionals can help individuals build upon their strengths to overcome the struggles they encounter in life. We accept Medicaid managed care, insurance, and a sliding fee for clients who do not have managed care or insurance coverage.

WISe (Yakima only)
WISe is a voluntary service that takes a team approach to meeting your child's needs. It provides intensive wraparound mental health services to support your child and family.

To develop an individualized care plan based on strengths and needs that respect your child and family on a weekly basis.

To offer services and supports in locations and at times that work best for your child and family.

To identify or provide resources and supports to your child and family.

To assist in coordinating services across multiple systems of care.

To provide help during a time of crisis any time of the day, 365 days a year.

Referrals for WISe:
Children do not need a diagnosis to obtain a referral. Referrals can come from another agency or can be a self-referral. Catholic Charities WISe services are available to Medicaid eligible children from birth to age 5 who are:

Experiencing challenging behaviors.

In need of more intensive, flexible, and individualized treatment for the child and family.

Involved with multiple systems (i.e., mental health, developmental disabilities, Child
Protective Services or foster care, Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers, Early Childhood Intervention and Prevention Services (ECLIPSE), or other educational services and supports).

Contact Catholic Charities, 509.965.7100 and ask for Counseling Records and Registration.

PACT (offered in Wenatchee only)

P erson-centered and directedchieving recovery throughonnection and communityransformation

The PACT Model utilizes a transdisciplinary team of professionals who work across disciplines and blend their knowledge and skills in order to
deliver comprehensive integrated care. The model is person-centered and strengths-based.

The Catholic Charities PACT team is committed to an active, person-centered approach to recovery from mental illness through engaging strengths, nurturing hope, supporting positive choices, and creating community connections. Together we share the journey toward recovery while honoring each individual's unique path
toward a meaningful life.

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Child, Adult, Family Counseling | Catholic Charities

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Sometimes an outside perspective from a trained mental health professional can help an individual better understand and manage his/her actions and reactions. The skilled and compassionate counseling staff at Catholic Charities offers counseling services to people of all ages.

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Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)

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Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States. It happens when someone shakes an infant.

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You work hard in a high-stress job. You fight traffic to pick your kids up from daycare, school or sports. Then you go from chauffeur to chef at home.

It's no wonder toddler tantrums or teenage rebellion can push a parent over the edge.

Learning to manage stress can give you the patience, energy and perspective to be the parent you want to be. And it will pay dividends for your health and ability to function well.

Here, our pediatric experts share some tips on managing stress for parents:

Try not to bring stress home

It isn't easy, but separating work life from home life is important, says pediatrician J. Michael Wertman, MD.

Try talking briefly to a friend, spouse or coworker to help defuse stress before you leave work.

Imagine putting your problems in a box to compartmentalize them. This can help redirect your energy to your home life and children.

"On the drive home, be aware of how you're feeling," he suggests. "Is traffic increasing your stress? If so, try to 'chill.' Take a deep breath, play music."

There's nothing better than coming home to a warm welcome from your kids and family. "If not, find your child and get a hug," he says.

Seek opportunities for fun

Choose activities to do with your kids that make you happy. "You'll feel better about yourself and will deal better with your kids," says Dr. Wertman.

Love sports? Coach or cheer for your child's team (but avoid making everything a win-lose situation).

Are you a bookworm? Read to your kids, then discuss the book. "It's an opportunity to be positive, to encourage and to enjoy a unique closeness," he notes.

"My biggest joy was always looking for the laughter and finding the smile. If that happened, I considered my day a success."

Remember to relax and recharge

Take time for yourself every day.

"Even if it's just an hour in the evening after the kids go to bed, it's really important to have time to 'reset' as a parent," says pediatric nurse practitioner Crista Zufan, CNP. "I find reading in the evening a great way to decompress and relieve stress."

You probably know what works for you. "Whether it's yoga, meditation, reading a book, playing cards, watching TV or playing sports, try to incorporate it into your day," says Dr. Wertman.

At day's end, "get a good night's sleep," advises pediatrician Svetlana Pomeranets, MD. Equally important is keeping kids on a routine schedule, especially for bedtime.

Ask for backup when you need it

Feel overwhelmed at times? Don't be afraid to ask your family or your spouse for help. Trying to be "supermom" or "superdad" is a recipe for stress, and your kids will benefit from your reaching out.

"You'll make better decisions, you'll be a better listener, and you'll enjoy interacting more with your children," says Dr. Pomeranets. "You'll be less tempted to yell and more likely to model proper behavior for them."

Find yourself feeling excessively and continuously worried? Talk to your healthcare provider, she says.

Connect with fellow parents

"Form connections with families whose kids are similar in age to relate to others in the same boat," suggests Dr. Pomeranets. "You'll find you're not alone."

This helps to normalize any feelings of stress, explains Ms. Zufan. "Talking with other parents lets me know that everyone goes through similar stressors," she says.

Take a break from it all

When did you last truly connect with your partner? Plan to get away from your everyday routine.

"Make time to do things on your own, as a couple," says Ms. Zufan. "A 'date night' once a month can help to keep your marriage strong and alleviate stress."

Plan a getaway or vacation for your family, too. "I schedule time off when my kids have school breaks, so we can enjoy our time together," says Dr. Pomeranets.

Keep your life well-balanced

Avoid overscheduling yourself every day and on weekends, says Dr. Pomeranets. Signing kids up for too many extracurriculars can stress them out - and the extra time, coordination and driving required kicks up the pressure on parents.

Also, every balanced life should include physical activity. The fact that working out and playing sports are great stress-relievers is icing on the cake.

"You can exercise in your own basement - you don't need a gym," says Dr. Pomeranets. "I try to do a little every day."

The best reason of all to manage your stress is a simple one: "It allows you to feel the joy of parenting," she says.

The more you experience good times and happy interactions with your kids, the easier it will be to handle bed-wetting, sibling rivalry and other parenting challenges with grace.

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Ready to Snap? 7 Tips for Stressed-Out Parents

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You work hard in a high-stress job. You fight traffic to pick your kids up from daycare, school or sports. Then you go from chauffeur to chef at home. It's no wonder toddler tantrums or teenage rebellion can push a parent over the edge.

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One of every four American children today lives in a single-parent home. And though the circumstances may vary (some parents are divorced, others are widowed, and others are single parents by choice), the reality is that solo parenting is often stressful, demanding, and hectic. If you are a single mom or dad, there are 10 things you can do to help minimize the stress in your life -- and bring back the joy of parenting.

Get a handle on finances: Raising a family on one income, or relying on an ex-spouse for child support, can be one of the hardest aspects of parenting alone. That's why it's important to take steps to budget your money, learn about long-term investments, plan for college and retirement, and, if possible, enhance your earning power by going back to school or getting additional job training.

Set up a support system: All single parents need help -- whether it's someone to watch the kids while you run out to do errands or simply someone to talk to when you feel overwhelmed. While it's tempting to try to handle everything alone, ask friends and family members for help. You could join a single-parent support group, or, if finances allow, hire a trusted sitter to help out with the kids or someone to assist with housework.

Maintain a daily routine: Try to schedule meals, chores, bedtimes, and other family functions at regular hours so that your child knows exactly what to expect each day. A consistent routine will help your child feel more secure and help you feel more organized.

Be consistent with discipline: Children thrive when they know which behaviors are expected of them and which rules they need to follow. If you are divorced or separated, work with your spouse to create and observe consistent rules and methods of discipline (there's nothing more stressful than having one parent undermine the other). If your child has other caregivers, talk to them about how you expect your child to be disciplined.

Answer questions honestly: Inevitably, questions will come up about the changes in your family, or about the absence of one parent. Answer your child's questions in an open, honest, and age-appropriate way. Make sure that your child gets the help and support he needs to deal with difficult emotions.

Treat kids like kids: With the absence of a partner, it's sometimes tempting to rely too heavily on children for comfort, companionship, or sympathy. But children have neither the emotional capacity nor the life experience to act as substitute adult partners. If you find yourself depending on your kids too much, or expressing your frustrations to them too often, seek out adult friends and family members to talk to. Or seek counseling if necessary.

Abolish "guilt" from your vocabulary: It's always easy for single parents to feel guilty about the time they don't have or the things they can't do or provide for their children. But for your own sense of well-being, it's better to focus on all the things you do accomplish on a daily basis and on all the things you do provide -- and don't forget about all the love, attention, and comfort you're responsible for! (If you ever question your day-to-day achievements, just make a list.) If you're feeling guilty about a divorce or other disruption in your home life, think about joining a support group for other divorced parents. Focus on helping your child (and yourself) get the help you need.

Take time for your children: Even though the piles of laundry and dirty dishes may beckon, set aside time each day to enjoy your kids. (After all, isn't that what parenting is all about?) Spend quiet time playing, reading, going for a walk, or simply listening to music together. And most important, focus on the love between you and on your relationship as a family.

Take time for yourself: Likewise, it's important to schedule time for yourself. Even if it's something as simple as reading a book, taking a warm bath, or having a chat with a friend, setting aside a little personal time will give you a chance to refuel.

Stay positive: It's easy to become overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and demands of single parenthood. On top of that, you may be experiencing the pain of divorce or the death of a spouse. Despite all of your own feelings, though, it's important to maintain a positive attitude, since your children are affected by your moods. The best way to deal with stress is to exercise regularly, maintain a proper diet, get enough rest, and seek balance in your life. If you're feeling sad, it's okay to share some of your sentiments with your children, but let them know that they are not the cause of the problems -- and that good times lie ahead for all of you. t
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; CompleteMom.com; Parents Without Partners; Single Mothers by Choice; the Women's Institute for Financial Education All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

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One of every four American children today lives in a single-parent home. And though the circumstances may vary (some parents are divorced, others are widowed, and others are single parents by choice), the reality is that solo parenting is often stressful, demanding, and hectic.

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Coronavirus Parenting: Managing Anger and Frustration - Child Mind Institute

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Overwhelmed by everything they’ve been asked to do during the coronavirus crisis, parents are finding themselves losing their temper at their kids. Tips for maintaining your cool under stress.

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Washington

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Child Care Subsidy Programs

The Child Care Subsidy Programs (CCSP) help families to pay for quality child care through either:

1. Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), or

2. Seasonal Child Care (SCC)

1-844-626-8687 - CCSP contact line for families

Child Care Subsidy Program - You May Qualify
Read the printable flyer (available in English, Spanish, and Somali)
ECEAP and Head Start Preschool Programs

Children in low-income households may qualify for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) or Head Start preschools.

Reporting possible child care subsidy fraud

If you suspect that a parent or a child care provider is misusing child care subsidy benefits, contact the Department of Social & Health Services' Office of Fraud and Accountability (OFA):

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Department of Children, Youth & Families

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The Child Care Subsidy Programs (CCSP) help families to pay for quality child care through either: Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), or Seasonal Child Care (SCC) 1-844-626-8687 - CCSP contact line for families Child Care Subsidy Program - You May Qualify Read the printable flyer (available in English, Spanish, and Somali) Children in low-income households may qualify for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) or Head Start preschools.

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Explore Different Types of Child Care

Finding high-quality child care is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child and your family. Studies show that children who get high-quality child care do better in school and, as adults, earn more. There are many different kinds of child care available.

Licensed child care providers who join Early Achievers work with expert coaches to improve their skills in working with children and to improve their programs to make them the best they can be.
En español EE Soomaaliya

Child care providers licensed by the state receive early learning training, important safety instruction, first aid training and they must pass criminal background checks. Their child care environments must also pass state inspection. Licensed child care can be provided in a family home setting or in a child care center.

Family, friends and neighbor (FFN) caregivers include grandparents, aunts and uncles, elders, older siblings, friends, neighbors and others who help families by providing child care. FFN caregivers are typically unlicensed and not regulated by the state.
Resources for FFN caregivers

During your search, call and visit several child care programs and get answers to important questions like these:

1. How many children does each adult supervise?

2. What is the typical daily schedule?

3. How does the child care provider set limits and discipline?

4. How will the provider help prepare my child for kindergarten?

5. What are meals like?

6. How will the provider honor our family's culture?

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Finding high-quality child care is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child and your family. Studies show that children who get high-quality child care do better in school and, as adults, earn more. There are many different kinds of child care available.