My 15-year-old is struggling to make friends. Well, she’s not struggling. My husband and I are struggling with the fact that my daughter has no friends. We don’t care that she’s not popular; we just don’t want her to be socially isolated. She says she has friends at school (to eat lunch with, walk to class with, etc.). But she rarely hangs out with friends outside of school. Thoughts? Read more ›
Loneliness among adolescents around the globe has skyrocketed since a decade ago — and it may be tied to smartphone use, a new study finds.
In 36 out of 37 countries, feelings of loneliness among teenagers rose sharply between 2012 and 2018, with higher increases among girls, according to a report released July 20, 2021, in the Journal of Adolescence. Read more ›
NetSmartz is an interactive, educational program developed by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC). NetSmartz provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children, tweens, and teens how to be safer on- and offline. Read more ›
Focusing on depression and suicide prevention, Newton resident Sarah Mausner has coordinated the release of Promise Me, one of three comic books to educate teenagers about mental health issues through artwork and illustrations.
The comic is a collaborative effort from artists, writers, mental health experts, and young people in the region who have some experiences with depression and suicide, Mausner said. Read more ›
If your child or teen is struggling with communication, behavior or relationships, or no longer wants to participate in things that they used to enjoy, it may be time to seek help. How do you convince them that it’s time to take that step? And what can you expect when you get there?
In this Voices of Compassion podcast, sat down with Dr. Vidya Krishnan, Head of Adolescent Mental Health Services at CHC to find out. Read more ›
Parenting a teen can be challenging, especially in a pandemic. Our teens are struggling right now for many reasons, and parents are grappling with how to support them in a meaningful way. How can you be a sounding board for your teen and really connect with them without trying to fix the problem or seem dismissive?
In this Voices of Compassion podcast, Jennifer Leydecker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Clinical Manager at CHC, shares her experience and expertise from years of working with teens. Read more ›
Being a parent is hard. Being a parent to a teenager is even harder. A young adult shares how parents can connect better with their teenagers who seek a balance between disciplinarian and friend. Read more ›
Teenagers are going through a period of intense adjustment, and with the uncertainly brought on by all these changes comes enhanced sensitivity. Teens have a deep need to feel truly “heard”, valued, and understood, and too often parents talk “over” them without pausing to practice what is known as “active listening.” Read more ›
Having a healthy and trusting parent-child relationship during the teenage years is more important than ever. Staying close isn’t easy, though. Here are some tips for navigating the new terrain. Read more ›
Who are you going to be with? Where are you going? When will you be home? The who, what, where, when, and whys we asked were the hallmarks of caring, active, involved parents. But the strategy didn’t work as well as hoped.
We need to build the kind of relationship where being honest makes sense. The way we listen, tells teens they are free to talk. Controlling our reactions, tells them they can talk without fear of being judged. Read more ›
