Positive parenting leads to positive futures for generations to come. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events in a child’s life that can have negative and lasting effects on health and well-being. https://americanspcc.org/get-the-facts-adverse-childhood-experiences
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What is considered child bullying and what behaviors mark it? https://americanspcc.org/bullying
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TAKE FIVE MINUTES to complete five action items developed by the National Council for Suicide Prevention (NCSP) for their Take 5 to Save Lives campaign: (1) learn the signs (2) do your part (3) practice self-care (4) reach out (5) spread the word. https://www.take5tosavelives.org/take-5-steps
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Social isolation is a major risk factor for suicide. The feeling of not belonging or not feeling connected to other people can be detrimentally powerful. Frequently asked questions about suicide
Where can you go to get help for someone struggling with suicidal thoughts? https://www.sprc.org/
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Warning signs that someone may be at immediate risk for attempting suicide include:
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As a parent or caregiver, you want the best for your children or other dependents. You may be concerned or have questions about certain behaviors they exhibit and how to ensure they get help. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/talk/parents-caregivers
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Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% (more than 16 million) of American adults each year. Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide. Depression can occur to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race or ethnic group. Depression is never a "normal" part of life, no matter what your age, gender or health situation. https://mhanational.org/conditions/depression
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Are you having trouble doing the things you like to do or need to do because of how you feel—like going to school, work or hanging out with friends? It's important that you talk to someone about it. Talk to your parents or a trusted adult if you experience any of these things:
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Free Skills TestTo see how your parenting skills rate, visit Dr. Epstein’s free Parenting Skills Test. You will automatically receive your parenting skills summary based on the answers you provide to a series of 100 questions.
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Helpful Article for Back to SchoolSome kids' worries are rooted in a fear of the unknown, especially if they will be in a new building or a new school district. They also may be worried about making friends or have concerns about the workload and whether or not they have the skills needed to be successful. Read More
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What is a Healthy Meal?Provide healthy lunch options for your kids, including breakfast. Students who eat breakfast are more alert during class than those who don’t. Plus, the right foods combined with adequate rest will help fight off infections.
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TEENS AND ALCOHOLISM - RECOGNIZING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER
SUMMER'S EVENTS AND PARTIES HOST MORE DRINKING HELPFUL ARTICLES: Summer is the time to be safe about alcohol! Summer is loaded with parties. Avoid binge drinking (4+ drinks for women, 5+ drinks for men at once) to avoid alcohol-related consequences such as car accidents, fights, sexual assaults, unsafe sex, injuries, etc. Drink a non-alcoholic beverage in-between alcoholic beverages, eat food with alcoholic beverages, have a designated friend to lookout for you and drive you home if intoxicated, and do not leave any drink unattended. How Alcohol Affects Young People Alcohol is the number one drug used by teens. It has an outsized influence and effect on young people. While youth aren’t legally able to buy or consume alcohol, they consume 11 percent of all alcohol in the U.S. They also drink more alcohol per drinking occasion than adults do. Young people are also heavily affected by alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is a factor in an average 4,358 annual deaths of young people under 21. Those deaths come in the form of car crashes, homicides, suicide, alcohol poisoning, falls, burns, and drowning. Additionally, SAMHSA found that 188,000 people under 21 visited the emergency room for alcohol-related injuries in 2011. Young people who drink are also likely to have other problems. They’re more likely to carry out or be the victim of a physical or sexual assault after drinking, may have trouble in school or with the law, and have problems with alcohol later in life. Alcohol is also known to alter brain development and may cause cognitive or learning problems when people drink heavily and at a young age. Emotional Effects of Binge Drinking: Verbal aggression, Physical aggression or violence, Sexual assault, Consensual but risky sexual behaviors, Broken relationships, Family problems, Job loss, Depression, Anxiety, Excessive shame and guilt, Anger, Frustration, Hopelessness. Alcohol use increases your chances of being injured or even killed. Alcohol is a factor, for example, in about 60 percent of fatal burn injuries, drownings, and homicides; 50 percent of severe trauma injuries and sexual assaults; and 40 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes, suicides, and fatal falls. |
MARIJUANA AWARENESS
Check out these resources to find out more about the science and effects of Marijuana use. It is not harmless! A marijuana joint produces 3.5 times more secondhand smoke than a Marlboro Read Professor Glantz’s Blog here. Marijuana Hurts What you need to know about marijuana use in teens Short-term effects of Marijuana Marijuana and School Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana dulls your attention, memory, and learning skills. These effects can last for days and sometimes weeks, depending on how often you use marijuana. Compared with teens who don’t use, students who use marijuana are more likely not to finish high school or get a college degree.5 Marijuana also affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance. 
Did You Know?
About Marijuana
Strong forms of cannabis or marijuana may include sinesemilla, hashish and hash oil. Alternatives to marijuana such as K2/Spice are advertised to be a safe and legal alternative to the drug. According to the NIH, neither is true. The chemicals used in these drugs remain highly unknown and may have much different affects that the user expects. (Source: National Institutes of Health) |
TEENS AND MARIJUANA - You Should Know TEENAGE BRAINS ARE VULNERABLE Nora Volkow, director, Wilson Compton, deputy director, and two other scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted the first-ever study measuring the time between first use of an addictive drug and the onset of a substance use disorder among adolescents and young adults. Their findings are eye-opening. Adolescents (ages 12-17) Within 12 months of starting to use:
Within 12 months of starting to use:
Dr. Volkow said that as states implement new marijuana policies, they should work on measures to protect adolescents. Pediatricians and dentists should screen young patients for drug use and parents should not dismiss adolescent marijuana use as harmless. Marijuana that was available when today’s parents were teenagers is vastly different from today’s marijuana. “The content of THC is much higher, and the higher the THC content, the greater the risk of adverse effects,” she said. Facts For Teens Did you know…
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Our seniors are everyone's responsibility!Be Kind! Seniors are valuable members of the community, and it falls on everyone to make them feel as such. It doesn’t take up too much time and effort to check in! Here are some resources you can use to help.
Malnutrition Is on the Rise in Older Adults – How to Spot the Signs Essential Foods for Seniors with Diabetes 14 Exercises for Seniors to Improve Strength and Balance A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults https://www.ncoa.org/article/6-falls-prevention-steps-to-help-your-older-loved-ones Light Housekeeping: Cleaning Help for Seniors Determine if a Senior Can Continue Living at Home Selling Their Home Could Finance Downsizing 4 Early Warning Signs of Mental Illness to Watch for in Older Adults 10 Ways to Help Seniors Deal with Isolation and Depression How to Reduce Loneliness in Old Age Connecting to Seniors Through Community Outreach |
It's a concerning trend during the pandemic, as experts say there's been a Sharp Rise in Eating Disorders in both teens and adults.
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Number of Smokers Soars
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The Dangers of Marijuana EdiblesDespite their ordinary appearance, a single cannabis cookie or candy bar can contain several times the recommended adult dose of THC. Take extra care to keep these away from children. Read More
Serious Negative Side Effects The symptoms associated with eating highly potent edibles are often much more severe than the symptoms experienced after smoking marijuana. According to Dr. Nora Volkow, the current director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, edibles are now being associated with “medical complications that we never knew were associated with marijuana”.8 Some of the more adverse effects associated with the consumption of edibles include: Drowsiness. Confusion. Vomiting. Anxiety and panic attacks. Agitation. Psychotic episodes. Hallucinations. Paranoia. Impaired motor ability. Respiratory depression. Heart problems (ranging from irregular heartbeat to heart attack). |
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