Portrayals of Mental Health, Binge-Drinking, and Addiction in TV & Movies: How Does It Impact Our Kids?
Portrayals of addiction and mental illness are rampant in the movies and on TV with some 83% of Hollywood blockbusters depicting alcohol use.[1] And, because both mental illness and addiction affect millions of Americans, it is a very relatable topic. But do portrayals of alcohol and drug use on film lead kids to abuse these substances? Do teens see accurate representations of mental illness in the media – or is Hollywood creating unrealistic depictions?
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What Drugs Do to Teens: Bodies
Welcome to the second in our series about how drugs affect teens. This time we will focus on the physical effects of drug use on the body. Addiction can develop in anyone, but adolescence is a time of life when individuals are more vulnerable to the impact of substance use and abuse.
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Impact of Bullying and Youth Violence in High Schools
School violence isn’t easy to understand, but it is something we seem to hear about more and more. Bullying, while nothing new, is of growing concern to parents at home and educators in schools because of its impact on children, learning, and the educational environment. So, let’s talk about youth violence and bullying to see how it impacts our kids and what adults can do to help.
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What Drugs Really Do to Teens: Brains
“This is your brain on drugs.” An iconic ad campaign that influenced an entire generation of young people. But what do drugs really do to your brain when you’re a teen? Welcome to the first in our series about how drugs affect teen bodies.
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Parents: How Can You Help Teens Make Smart Choices?
Spring Break is just around the corner and summer isn’t far behind – both times when parental supervision levels may change as kids are away from home more. But even beyond these big events, kids need to be making good decisions about their lives and the things that might impact them every day. So, how […]
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Kids & Smartphones: Just How Bad (or Good) is Screen Time for Teens and Tweens?
How do you know what is the right amount of screen time for kids? It turns out, there are differing opinions. Let’s take a look at whether screen time is good or bad for kids when it comes to self-esteem and overall mood.
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The Impact of Taking Part in School Activities on Drug and Alcohol Use in Teens
Research shows there is a link between teen substance abuse and how well kids do in school. Teens who abuse drugs have lower grades, a higher absentee rate from school and other activities, and an increased potential for dropping out.[1] By participating in extracurricular activities like athletics, taking music lessons, or joining the newspaper staff, teens […]
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How Teachers Can Help Students Who’ve Survived Trauma
For children who have experienced trauma, learning can be a struggle. Trauma can cause physiological symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, and poor sleep habits. The impacts of a traumatic experience can affect a child well after the event into adulthood.[1] A child may feel hopeless, helpless, out of control and experience feelings of anxiety that won’t […]
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Student Mental Health: Teens and Depression
It can be easy to write off moodiness as hormones or teen drama, but could there be something more to it? The results from a Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Study show that depression increased significantly in the U.S. from 2005 to […]
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