Depression has become an all-too-common experience for adolescents. Rates of depression are also rising faster among people aged 13-19 than in any other age group: Between 2010-2023, teenage depression increased by 145% in girls and by 161% in boys - nearly 5 times the 33% increase experienced by adults during the same period. As of 2023, nearly 20% of U.S. teens experienced clinical depression, with 18.1% ...
There are multiple reasons why a child may be quieter than his (or her) peers. Due to natural variations in personality, some kids need a bit of extra time to warm up to new people and situations – a trait known as shyness. For others, social settings are a source of chronic and severe anxiety, to the point where the child ...
Like adults, kids often feel overwhelmed by the many commitments, choices, and interpersonal situations they must manage each day. Research suggests that school-aged children also experience significant anxiety resulting from global crises, such as the pandemic and climate change. Unfortunately, kids have far fewer tools for dealing with chronic stress than adults. Likewise, their still-developing brains are highly susceptible to ...
With climate change becoming an increasingly common theme in politics, news, and even entertainment, it’s no wonder more young people than ever seem concerned about the state of our environment. But that concern can become a mental health risk when it is too intense or not managed properly—and kids and teenagers can be particularly susceptible. Below, we’ll ...
For the parents of overweight children, every day is a balancing act; on one hand, there is the natural desire ...
The last two years have been a period of prolonged stress and isolation for many people, leading to an increase ...
The human brain processes all sensory information whether or not you are fully aware of it. Most children are able ...
One of the greatest challenges of parenting lies in trying to understand the sometimes baffling behaviour of children. When a child suddenly refuses to do something simple and routine, for example, or throws a tantrum with no apparent provocation, we’re left searching for answers. If your child’s odd behaviour isn’t being triggered by something obvious, like fatigue ...
With cases of coronavirus continuing to mount around the world, it’s all but impossible to shield kids from news that make them anxious. Though COVID-19 virus generally does not cause serious illness in children, that doesn’t stop kids from worrying about the implications of dealing with a frightening new disease. Kids can be exposed to misinformation about coronavirus, ...
Anxiety is challenging to endure no matter where your child is. At school, however, it can quickly become intolerable. Many otherwise bright, ambitious children fail to achieve their full academic potential because the education system is not set up to meet their needs. If you have an introverted and worry-prone child, you therefore need to be proactive in preparing him (...
As I was driving my four-year-old son to a friend's birthday party, a truck, stopped at the traffic light in front of us, had a four-wheeler in its bed with a newly-shot deer flopped over the seat and roped down to keep its carcass from sliding off. Immediately after taking in the lifeless body of the deer, my son became ...
