Over the past five years, “mindfulness” programs have exploded in popularity. In Grand Blanc, Mich., first-graders are breathing to the sound of Tibetan music before class. In Albuquerque, second-graders sniff and speak about raisins before eating them. In Yellow Springs, Ohio, students can choose yoga as an alternative to detention.
What does climate change have to do with mental health? Climate change, driven by our reliance on fossil fuels, is leading to more frequent and intense natural disasters, which may increase a child’s risk of having depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Read more ›
Half of transgender youth said they tell healthcare providers nothing about their gender identities, survey findings indicated.
Among 204 transgender youth ages 12 to 26 who participated, 46% agreed that they “intentionally avoided disclosure” of their gender identity to healthcare providers outside of a gender clinic, Gina Sequeira, MD, MS, of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Read more ›
Social emotional learning (SEL) addresses children’s ability to learn about and manage their emotions and interactions with others – the skills all kids need to succeed in school, form healthy relationships, and eventually excel in the workplace. Read more ›
A few years ago, Mitchell Robins wasn’t able to tell anyone precisely what he was thinking. He lost the ability to speak when he was 4 and relied primarily on a system of pictures and limited sign language to tell his parents and caregivers what he wanted to eat or when he felt sick or how he wanted to spend his time. Then his parents realized he could spell.
Now Mitchell, 17, communicates deliberately, pointing letter by letter to a board that displays the alphabet. Read more ›
Dozens of districts across California have invested in counseling in recent years, hiring more staff to guide students through the college and career process and help with their mental health needs. Read more ›
Death by suicide in children has reached a 30-year high in the United States. During middle and high school, 10% to 15% of kids have thoughts of suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more ›
It’s daunting enough to realize that you’re ready for therapy. Actually figuring out how to go therapy shouldn’t be emotionally taxing, too. In an effort to help that process become a bit more digestible, here’s a guide for how to start your search for a therapist — and how to know what you’re looking for. Read more ›
Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it’s probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, but it soon becomes clear that Raina’s tummy trouble coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships.
Dedicated to “anyone who feels afraid, Raina Telgemeier’s funny true story, written for children ages 8-12, is about how she gathered the courage to face — and conquer — her fears. Read more ›
One in eight students in California receives special education services, but the state’s schools are often “ill-equipped” to serve them, and funding for students with disabilities has not “kept pace with district costs,” according to a collection of research papers released Tuesday by Policy Analysis for California Education. Read more ›
