Friday, October 29, 2010: Recent Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse News

Binge Drinking, Pot May Harm Teen Brains “Even teenagers know that downing 12 beers in a single night isn’t good for their bodies and can be dangerous. But a new study suggests that routine binge drinking like this may cause mental problems — including a reduced ability to think — that can last long after […]

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Overbooked, Under Stress

Most doctors agree that stress contributes to nearly every known disease or condition.   Today’s lifestyles and work habits, including long hours, increased commitments and less down time, make managing stress a trying task. Our teenagers are overbooked, overwhelmed and yet driven to succeed.  Primary sources of tension include academic pressure, relationship difficulties with peers, conflicts […]

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Monday, October 4, 2010: Recent Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse News

Better Screening Urged for Self-Injury in Teens “Not all kids who intentionally cut or burn themselves meet ‘classic profile,’ expert says.” Click here to read the rest of this article from HealthDay News. Community Works to Address Mental Health Issues “Caltrain officials have joined with local organizations and support groups to address the five young […]

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Friday, September 17: Recent Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse News

Substance Abuse News – Spinning Back into Control Click here to read this fascinating Chicago Tribune article about how former U.S. National Figure Skating Champion  and Olympian Nicole Bobek is recovering from addiction. Survey of Police and Teachers: Alcohol and Marijuna Most Serious Substance Abuse Facing Teens “The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest […]

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Palo Alto Weekly Addresses Teen Stress and Academic Pressure

Palo Alto Weekly. September 3, 2010: What Teens Need, Part 1 of 2: A veteran Palo Alto educator reflects on the challenges of high school – and how teachers, students and parents can help “Things have changed and – again, with variations for individual temperament – things have gotten worse, tougher to handle. The summit […]

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Why Teens Need Their Sleep

The following presentation by Teen Mental Health explains just how important of a role sleep plays in the well-being of adolescents. As teens head back to school, it becomes even more difficult to ensure that they are getting the 8.5 to 9 hour of sleep per night that is recommended by doctors. However, this slideshow […]

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New Suicide Support Booklet and Other News

Youth Suicide Support Booklet The mother of a teen who committed suicide in Nova Scotia recently developed a booklet which “provides helpful resources to support families that have lost a young adult to suicide.” You can read a story on how this mother’s struggle inspired her to create the resource by clicking here. The article […]

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Eating Disorders (Part 2)

Symptoms of Anorexia • Severe dieting • Intense fear of being fat • Rigid exercise • Dressing in layers • Complaints of being cold • Mood shifts, restlessness, insomnia Symptoms of Bulimia • Binging • Secretive eating/missing food • Frequent dieting • Avoidance of food related events • Bathroom visits after meals • Tooth decay […]

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