With Thanksgiving just one week away, the holiday season is about to launch into full gear. For all parents and caregivers, this joyous time can also be filled with lots of tension and anxiety. Add to that dealing with children or teens with mental health issues, and it all can seem overwhelming. Here are 10 tips on making the holiday season more about giving and celebrating than about consumerism and stress. ...
If your child has a fever of 104, you know it’s time to take him or her to the doctor. But how do you know if it’s time to take your child to a therapist? Most children and teens will experience anger, anxiety and sadness at times. It’s part of growing up. They might have a fight with a friend, or be struggling with a subject at school, or question whether...
Taking care of someone with an illness, whether it’s a mental or physical one, can feel overwhelming at times. At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, we recognize the stress that comes with the role of caregiver, and we run several support groups to help caregivers get the help they need. Sometimes what’s needed most is just a safe place to talk about your feelings with others who can...
Halloween is just days away, and kids of all ages are gearing up for the festivities. Before your children go trick or treating, here are 10 tips on how to make sure they are safe and sound as they celebrate the candy-filled holiday. Children 11 and under should not trick or treat at night without an adult. If they are old enough to go out without a grownup, they...
Bullying is not a new phenomenon. Ever since there were kids and schoolyards—or likely way before that—there have been bullies. In today’s world, bullying has taken on a whole new dimension. Rather than just a school or neighborhood phenomenon, mean messages can be spread widely with the click of a button. We’ve all likely experienced bullying at some point in our lives. Bullying runs the gamut from gossiping, spreading rumors and...
Being a teenager brings with it many challenges, especially in a world where technology can spread a nasty message throughout a school in minutes. But, while all teenagers face the prospect of being bullied, for teens who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning), the statistics are especially alarming: • LGBTQ youth are nearly twice as likely to be called names, verbally harassed or physically assaulted at school compared...
Do you know someone with a mental illness? Odds are that, even if you don’t know it, you have a friend, colleague or a family member who experiences some form of mental illness, whether it’s severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or a host of other conditions. This week has been designated as Mental Illness Awareness Week, and it’s a good time to look at some facts that might surprise you: According...
We’ve all heard the complaint that, because of government and state education policies, teachers are being forced more and more to “teach for the test.” That leaves them little time for engaging children in more creative forms of learning. For their part, parents are often overwhelmed by the responsibilities of balancing work and family time, making it harder to put their energies into encouraging creative pursuits by their offspring. Plus, kids...
In a recent blog, we talked about the importance of teaching mental health as part of school curriculum. In fact, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation last year that requires schools to provide instruction in mental health on or after July 1, 2018. But earlier legislation also required schools to include education on the use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances. All of these areas are extremely important to bring into the...
It’s the ultimate tragedy. When any child, teen or adult commits suicide, the reverberations can devastate friends, destroy families and spread fear and sorrow throughout communities. Suicide knows no race, gender or economic status—and teens or even younger children are at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 14, and the second...