As we approach the end of the year and the start of the holiday season, we often reflect on what we are grateful for. Practicing gratitude is an essential skill for adults and young people alike. By showing and feeling appreciation for others, we can build and strengthen our relationships, develop empathy, and even increase…
Collective grief occurs when a community or society experiences extreme change or loss. We often experience collective grief after mass tragedies, crises, and violence. Like individual grief, we may feel a lack of control or powerless to prevent the loss or change. During an ongoing crisis, we might also experience anticipatory grief – mourning and…
Identity development is a key aspect of adolescence. Young people are particularly conscious of their personal identities and changes to their identities. Dimensions of identity include race, gender, family, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and faith. In the process of developing their identities, young people may begin questioning values, setting personal goals, and experimenting with various…
Summer is in full swing, and with summer comes messaging about appearance and being “beach body” ready. For young people and adults alike, this kind of messaging can be harmful and lead to unhealthy body image. Body image is a person’s “thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes about their physical appearance.”1 Healthy body image is seeing your body…
Summer is a time for many young people to take a break from the stress of school, enjoy their increased freedom, and have some fun. More free time and less adult supervision can make summertime particularly exciting for young people, and it’s important to encourage them to have fun during the school break. Unfortunately, the…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. During this month especially, it’s important to recognize that conversations about mental health are for everyone, not just those diagnosed with mental illness. Everyone experiences mental health challenges, including young people. It may not be easy to tell when a young person in your life has been impacted with…
As technology continues to grow and change, it becomes more critical for caring adults to understand how to keep young people safe in the digital landscape. Talking about texting safety is essential to reducing young people’s exposure to online risks, like cyberbullying, sexting, harassment, and substance use. Young people can access direct messaging and texting…
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and the perfect time to start or continue the conversation about underage drinking with the young people in your life. Rates of underage drinking have been declining in the past decades. Despite this decline, alcohol remains one of the most used substances among youth. In 2019, the Centers for Disease…
March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). The day is dedicated to celebrating the lives, contributions, and accomplishments of transgender and nonbinary people while drawing attention to the discrimination the trans community faces. 1 Transgender and nonbinary youth are at an increased risk for suicide and substance use compared to their cisgender peers….
What are opioids? Opioids are a class of drugs used to relieve pain. This class of drugs includes fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioids. Common prescription opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, and methadone. In addition to relieving pain, opioids can also create a sense of euphoria, which likely contributes to opioid misuse and…
