Encouraging Emotional Expression in Teenage Boys By: Tyler Shoens, MSW Candidate Today, there is a growing awareness of the importance of emotional well-being for everyone. Despite progress in discussing mental health openly, a persistent stigma remains, especially for teenage boys, who often face pressure to suppress or restrict their emotions. These social norms and expectations

Understanding Neuroplasticity in the Underage Brain By: Jack J. For many adolescents, the early signs of substance abuse involve inattention, disinterest, poor academic performance, and risk/attention-seeking behavior (Mayo Clinic, 2022). The reinforcement of these behaviors through social approval or substance use can snowball into a chronic disorder. What can we do as role models

Seeking help when needed By: Teresa Bairos, LMFT, Program Director Primary Prevention is about delaying the onset of first use. For some students, this is early middle school; for others, high school, and others may not try their first substance until college. Regardless of age, armed with information, students can make their health decisions based on credible information. The Monit

Let's explore the impact sports can have on the holistic development of young children. In this blog, we’ll talk about the benefits of sports beyond the realm of physical fitness, shedding light on how participation in organized sports fosters emotional well-being, social connection, and resilience in our youth. From cultivating lifelong friendships to providing a healthy outlet fo

The big question looms: why do children find it so difficult to ask for help when they're struggling? Reflecting on my own journey, the answer became clear—I didn’t even realize I needed help. As parents, the crucial first step is to convey to our kids that it's perfectly okay to reach out when they're feeling different or down. They need to know that when their emotions shift, see

Protecting youth from addiction requires a comprehensive developmental and family-based approach. Teaching students the dangers and realities of drug use is highly valuable and impactful for many students, but it is insufficient as a stand-alone approach. Preventing and mitigating risk factors for drug use and addiction in the maturing lives of students are at the heart of the prob

The Normalization of Weed: What We Don’t Want To See In light of our present scientific knowledge, the notion of cigarettes being viewed as a benign cultural norm appears absurd. It is puzzling to consider that our parents' generation had ashtrays in doctors' offices and designated smoking sections on airplanes. We are appalled by the marketing industry's deliberate efforts to conc

Our early education efforts regarding substance abuse and mental health are largely predicated on understanding the futility of attempting to shield children from exposure. One thing has become quite clear to us, if you don’t teach them, somebody else will. Their informal teacher certainly won’t take steps to carefully think the impact of their words through. This outlook isn’t mea

This blog features an in-depth interview with my mother about the course of addiction and the effect it had on her and her child. The goal of the interview questions was to learn from her experience. We offer the perspective of the parent who loved so much, the person whose life was warped by drugs, who believed it could never be her son, who was caught in the debris of the tornado

The traditional perception of a teacher's role as a trained educator, paper grader, curriculum designer, and role model falls drastically short. The true nature of this position is nothing short of astonishing. If job descriptions on platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn included the difficult truths of being a teacher, it's hard to imagine anyone except the most resilient individuals