#youth mental health

[hugefuckingtitsmassivepair]

You have no idea how bad it is- especially for kids under 8. I’m not going to self-dox my job for a tumblr post but I work in a field dedicated to young children with autism. Before they can access our services, a child must be assessed and diagnosed with high support needs autism. as in: has never preformed verbal or non-verbal communication, extreme aggression and self-harming behavior, cannot perform any tasks required to survive, etc.

I could not count just how many kids have ended up in our center who do not have autism at all. I could not count how many kids I’ve met with incredible aggression and an inability to communicate who would have been on par with neurotypical peers had they not been given an iPad. I could rant about the violence and inappropriate sexual behavior I’ve seen from children addicted to the internet but I think we’re at a point where the average person is aware of just how common that is.

Instead, I’d like to bring up a 5 year old I worked very closely with for a few years. He could not speak, had to have 2 people assigned just to keep an eye on him to prevent viscous self-injury, and had 0 interest in other people. He had been shuffled through many, many support programs and never made any progress. Our first step was to take away the IPad- which previous centers and his parents had insisted were necessary to prevent his violent behaviors. There were many weeks where this made him insanely worse to the point where we doubted the decision. We chose to stick by it anyway. Once we (eventually) convinced the parents to do this at home, he was making word approximations within 6 months. He made eye contact. He hugged his mother for the first time. By the end of a year, he was saying (albeit, simple) 3-word phrases. We learned he had become addicted to the Turkish version of CoCoMelon and very violent animated skits that were encouraging harmful behavior towards himself and others. His speech will forever be stunted by the fact he has the tablet from birth until 5 years old. Despite not having autism, that degree of neglect during the window of language development means he will forever spend his life receiving support services. He will never be able to communicate fluently in any language. He will never have the life he should have had, all because his parents were too tired to monitor him.

You are not just being a lazy parent. You are neglecting your children in ways that are irreversible.

no offense but there is almost nothing in the world more shameful to me than letting your child be an ipad baby. I'm not saying parents don't have it hard, but I personally could not live with myself if I purposefully let my child get addicted to the technological equivalent of black tar heroin just because I'm too fucking tired to parent. literacy rates are at a record low right now -- partially because schools removed phonics from their curricula, yes, but also because fewer and fewer parents read to their children or encourage them to pick up a fucking book. you are allowing your child to emotionally and intellectually stunt themselves, and for what? I'm not saying kids shouldn't have any access to television or computers (they should, although particularly for computers I'd encourage one stationary PC in a computer room like we had in the 90's and 2000's), but no, your child should not have unsupervised, unlimited, unadulterated access to everything the web has to offer at the tender age of 6. or give them some age appropriate video games for god's sake. mario or spyro or SOMETHING. something other than tiktok and youtube. call me crazy for thinking that that's shit parenting. not to mention that by only giving them access to ipads and iphones that they don't know how to work actual computers anymore (go on, ask your 12 year old to open and save a file folder on your desktop, I dare you). a generation of shitty parents who have raised emotionally stunted low-attention-span illiterate incurious apathetic children who will very soon become an entire generation of illiterate incurious apathetic voters and consumers. that's another thing, too -- your children are constantly being advertised to and are being groomed to be relentless and uncritical consumers. your children are being preyed upon on multiple levels and you don't fucking care!! easier to call people giving you warnings "prudes" and "boomers" than actually think critically about your child and their future.

look I know parenting is hard. Unfortunately for you, your child didn't ask to be born, and it is nonetheless YOUR responsibility to raise them well and give them every fucking opportunity you can. and I am watching millions and millions of parents who could not give less of a fuck that they are actually materially disadvantaging their own children. im sick to my stomach for real.

[your-queer-dad]

Hey you. Yes you. You have been through enough, you hear me? You. Have. Been. Through. Enough.

The world has treated you shittily, you go through enough, don't do that do yourself too. Be decent to yourself, kiddo. We've only got one of you and it's the best one we have :]

I love you, I'm proud of you, go make yourself a beverage of your choice and be a little more decent to yourself today <3

- dad x

[thewater]

i am being so serious when i say that Welcome to the Black Parade (the song mostly, but also the Black Parade album) literally saved my life multiple times when i was like,, 17

so all the criticism and teasing i still get for being Hashtag Emo It’s Not A Phase Mom despite no longer being Emo™️ is something i will willingly take because i know that without the Hashtag Cringe Embarrassing Emo Phase that ruled my life for several years i would be dead. so i don’t care if people think it’s lame

[dropintomanga]

Graduating from My Hero Academia

So after 10 years, one of the 2010s' biggest hits is finally over. Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia was a title that Shueisha and the anime/manga community needed to captivate audiences worldwide. The title coincided with the popularity of American comic book superhero movies over the last decade.

I'll say that after all I read, My Hero Academia is a great title for exploring how to nurture youth into becoming the best people they can be.

I still remember when I first got into the manga, I wasn't too initially drawn in. But I got how the interactions between Izuku "Deku" Midoriya and Bakugo Katsuki were a driving point in the story. What really drew into My Hero Academia was when Shoko Todoroki got development in one of the first major arcs. I wrote about this a decade ago when it was happening in the manga. Some youth feel that they don't have a choice in how to live unless you tell them that they do.

Another one of my favorite parts of the manga was when Deku and Bakugo fought after the Hero License arc. You got to see two young men who couldn't truly understand each other and felt weak despite being strong. Both were driven so much by All Might that their relationship almost deteriorated if they didn't address the tension between the two.

I've written quite a bunch about My Hero Academia, but I feel like I should have written about the Todoroki family drama and the Tomura Shigaraki trauma. Adverse childhood experiences are a thing and the circumstances regarding the characters involved reeked of ACEs. Children can potentially become villains when faced with abuse within their own homes. They will resort to unhealthy means/outlets to try to cope.

Ultimately, this manga is about how to lead children down a path where even if they are going through something terrible, there's some sense of hope out there. And at the same time, how do adults become the kind of people to inspire those kids? We don't want them running into All for Ones, who all think that the whole world needs to burn down in order for peace to occur.

While the final arc was a bit of a drag at times, I got the message that Horikoshi is saying. We have to pass down values, not beliefs. Values that promote compassion, humility, and connection. Anyone can become a villain due to how cruel society can be at times and anyone can be a hero when they meet the kind of people that shows them kindness.

Of course we can't save everyone, but we can definitely be heroes to the immediate people in our lives. That's all we can ask for.

In any case, thank you, Horikoshi, for creating a series that became a beacon for many youth looking for some optimism in a world that doesn't always show it. Thank you for creating a work that does a good job of showing the effects of childhood trauma and youth insecurities on its important characters.

May Plus Ultra continue to inspire the best in all of us!

[horseshitcyberbully]

having a little brother with the same types of anger issues that i had as a kid is insane because i'm beginning to realize that i could've turned out way better if i had someone teach me that anger is okay and how to deal with it rather than being told to simply not get angry.

[calmcounselling-blog]

Let's see today as an opportunity to support more children's mental health. Agree? Let's go! #mental #children #support #therapist #counselling

[nicoleodom]

Emerging from the storm, the lessons learned and battles fought have painted a picture of a journey not just about finding myself but rediscovering who I was meant to be in Christ. The path was fraught with challenges, moments of despair, and encounters with the Lord that reshaped my understanding of life, purpose, and identity.

Jesus revealed Himself and, in doing so, revealed to me the true essence of my being. Not defined by my circumstances, my roles, or my achievements, but defined by His grace, His purpose, and His unwavering belief in me. It was a revelation that shifted everything, turning my identity crisis into a story of supernatural discovery and alignment with a greater calling.

If you've ever felt lost, uncertain of your place in this world, or in search of a deeper connection with your true self and your faith, I invite you to explore this journey with me. Discover the revelations and transformations that await when you surrender to the journey He has in store for you https://www.nicoleodom.com/post/how-god-delivered-me-from-an-identity-crisis

[naturallivingz]

The Puzzle of the Youth Mind

Welcome to "The Puzzle and Facts of the Youth Mind" blog, where we delve into the intriguing complexities of the young generation's psyche.

Understanding the Complexity of the Youth Mind

The teenage mind is a complex enigma that often leaves us puzzled. During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant changes, impacting thinking, behavior, and decision-making. Here are some common complexities:-

Heart Over Mind:-

In the realm of youth minds, the heart often takes precedence over the mind. Emotion and passion guide their decision-making, overpowering rationality.

The impulsive nature of adolescents leads them to listen to their heart's desires, sometimes disregarding logic and consequences. While this may result in occasional missteps, it also fuels creativity, ambition, and the pursuit of dreams.

Is Social Media Real?

The youth mind often accepts social media as an always-real representation of reality. The curated posts, filters, and illusions of perfection can blur the line between virtual and actual life, leading to a belief that what is seen online is an accurate depiction of others' lives.

Loss of Patience:

The youth mind often struggles with a heavy loss of patience in today's fast-paced world. Instant gratification and constant stimulation have become the norm, leading to a decreased tolerance for waiting and delayed rewards.

Technology and the digital age have intensified this impatience, as everything is just a click away. This lack of patience can impact perseverance, problem-solving, and the ability to navigate challenges that require time and effort.

Anticipation more than Action:

Anticipation over action has emerged as a major challenge for the youth mind. The constant exposure to instant gratification has fostered a mindset of seeking immediate rewards without putting in the necessary effort.

The youth often become stuck in a cycle of daydreaming and fantasizing about future accomplishments instead of taking concrete steps toward achieving their goals. Click Here to read more...

Also Read:- Exploring the Psychology of Introverts and Extroverts

[mackgray2023]

Let's Set a Standard

Adventure Time dared to do what many cartoons would never do, they tackled a serious topic which, in this case, was the effects of being abandoned by your parents. The show focuses on how having absent parents can be incredibly difficult, but you still have agency over your life. Marceline’s story is an incredible example for anyone going through similar situations to her. Whether they were also abandoned by their parents or are going through other traumas, Marcy showed us that all you need is to take ahold of your life and have agency over yourself. Although Adventure Time is a children’s cartoon, it addresses real-life issues and situations that many members of their audience have dealt with in their own lives. The writers also used an effective combination of rhetorical appeals through on-screen tactics to display their message. It is so important to address these situations, because going through this and feeling alone can only make things worse. Young people need to feel seen in order to seek help and guidance in finding their own agency. I hope that other shows made for kids follow in Adventure Time’s footsteps and address more serious topics, because the first step to getting help is knowing that you aren’t alone.

[powerofnerd]

I am playing dnd for charity, more specifically the mix which is a charity dedicated to helping youths and young people, this charity does wonders for peoples mental health. If you want to donate to the cause you can do so here https://www.justgiving.com/page/cgg-nov23?fbclid=IwAR3t4dPxAPNzxw7PdoTt1xoD2-DN9xE9i4nJqKyOMXb6rRu_GlvxfjroTU0 . Last year we raised a massive sum of £2500, exceeding our goal completely. The goal this year is £1500 and I have no doubt in my mind we will exceed it again. If you would like to donate then please do so (and let them Ethan Brownhill sent you) every penny helps but if you can’t donate then please don’t feel obligated to. Thanks!!

You can find out more about the charity gaming guild (the charity hosting this event) here: https://www.facebook.com/charitydnd . Discord link here https://discord.gg/9vANQHyq

[whataboutcloneclub]

A close friend of mine tragically lost his battle with mental health on the 16th of February and we are currently raising money to pay for his memorial, his parents are unfortunately not in the picture but he lived with my family for the last two years so we've decided to take it upon our selves to plan this celebration for him. We have partnered with a men's mental health group to help raise awareness for those suffering silently. If you can't donate please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible.

JUSTICE FOR JJ

[watercress-words]

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy-Our "Family" Doctor

I appreciate the work of our outgoing Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. He has focused on mental health, smoking risks, health misinformation, health professional burnout, and the risk of cancer from alcohol.

The Surgeon General has released a new report about alcohol use– Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity. Alcohol use has caused nearly 1 million preventable cancer cases over 10 years in the U.S. While most of these deaths per year occur at levels above current U.S. Dietary Guidelines (2 drinks daily for men, 1 drink daily for…

[your-queer-dad]

Hi. You. Yes you reading this. I'm proud of you. You haven't done anything wrong. You can let go of the thing you're worried about. You can breathe and take a break. You can rest. Love you <3

[digitalinteractionspsych]

Breaking Barriers: Supporting Youth Mental Health in Schools

Introduction: Why Mental Health in Schools Matters

Imagine a high school student sitting at their desk, trying to focus as waves of anxiety crash over them. They’re not alone. Recent studies reveal that nearly 1 in 5 students experiences mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression, with these issues worsening in the wake of the pandemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022).

Schools are more than academic institutions—they are environments where students develop socially and emotionally. Yet many educational systems fail to address the pressing issue of mental health. This blog explores systemic barriers, highlights potential solutions, and emphasizes the importance of creating supportive school environments, especially for marginalized populations.

The Impact of Mental Health on Education

Mental health challenges are deeply intertwined with a student’s ability to succeed in school, both academically and socially.

Academic Consequences:

Students with untreated mental health challenges often experience difficulty concentrating, increased absenteeism, and declining grades.

Statistic: Over 50% of students with significant mental health challenges drop out of high school (National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI], 2023).

Social Consequences:

Anxiety and depression strain peer relationships, leading to isolation and low self-esteem.

Marginalized groups, such as Indigenous youth, face compounded struggles due to systemic inequities and cultural disconnection (Sabzalian, 2018).

Sabzalian’s (2018) concept of "survivance" captures the resilience of Indigenous students navigating educational systems that often fail to support their cultural identities. For these students, the mental health crisis exacerbates feelings of exclusion, making targeted interventions crucial.

Barriers to Addressing Mental Health in Schools

Despite the growing awareness of youth mental health, several systemic barriers prevent schools from offering effective support:

1. Resource Limitations:

Many schools lack funding to hire counselors, psychologists, and other professionals.

Statistic: Only 22% of schools meet the recommended student-to-counselor ratio of 250:1 (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2023).

2. Cultural Insensitivity:

Indigenous and marginalized students often encounter mental health programs that fail to address their unique cultural needs, limiting the effectiveness of these initiatives (Sabzalian, 2018).

3. Stigma Surrounding Mental Health:

Cultural stigma, especially in underserved communities, discourages students from seeking help and families from discussing mental health challenges.

4. Insufficient Training for Educators:

Teachers are often unprepared to recognize signs of mental health struggles, leaving many students unsupported.

These barriers demand systemic reform to ensure schools are prepared to address the diverse needs of their students.

Real Stories: The Power of Sharing Experiences

To understand the real-world impact of these barriers, the PBS documentary "Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone" provides a powerful lens. Through the journeys of four teens, this documentary highlights the struggles of youth dealing with anxiety, depression, and systemic challenges in seeking help.

Their stories emphasize the urgent need for schools to provide culturally relevant, accessible, and stigma-free mental health support.

Solutions: What Schools Can Do

There are actionable steps schools can take to better support students’ mental health:

1. Expand Access to Mental Health Professionals:

Schools must hire more counselors, social workers, and psychologists to meet recommended ratios and provide consistent support.

2. Integrate Mental Health Literacy into Curricula:

Embedding mental health education normalizes discussions and empowers students to seek help when needed.

3. Provide Culturally Relevant Support Systems:

Schools should adopt frameworks that respect and reflect the cultural identities of students.

Example: Sabzalian (2018) highlights the need for incorporating Indigenous perspectives into school programs.

4. Foster Creativity and Play:

Drawing from Aronstein & Finke (2018), schools can integrate creative approaches to reduce stress and foster engagement, making classrooms more inclusive and supportive.

5. Train Educators to Recognize Early Signs of Mental Health Struggles:

Professional development programs can equip teachers with the skills to identify and respond to students’ needs effectively.

Call to Action: Together, We Can Make a Difference

Mental health is as essential as academic success. Schools, families, and communities must work together to create environments where every student feels supported.

What You Can Do:

Advocate for policies that fund mental health programs in schools.

Support local organizations that offer culturally relevant resources.

Start conversations to reduce stigma and encourage open discussions about mental health.

By addressing these challenges, we can ensure that schools become places where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

References

Sabzalian, L. (2018). Chapter 2: Indigenous children’s survivance in public school.

Aronstein, S., & Finke, P. (2018). Discipline and pleasure: The pedagogical work of Disneyland.

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023). Mental health facts: Children and teens. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Youth risk behavior survey data summary & trends report. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov

American School Counselor Association. (2023). The role of school counselors in supporting mental health. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org

PBS. (2023). Kids in crisis: You’re not alone. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/show/kids-crisis-youre-not-alone/

Miller, A. L. (2019). Adolescent mental health in the classroom: A case study. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(3), 334-340.

[tofumarinado]

it's so funny to me when i see pearl-clutching articles about how "teenagers are diagnosing themselves with mental disorders via tiktok" because like. this is not happening in a vacuum. teenagers are severely and i mean severely medically neglected. i cannot stress this enough. teenagers do not have free access to medical care. those same news outlets would be clowning on women with housewife psychosis in the 1950's.

i sometimes go pale when listening to some of what my friends have gone through in their childhoods and teenagehoods. they talk about it so nonchalantly, things that would be considered straight up torture if done to an adult, can't fathom the effect this has on children. they are on multiple anti-psychotics and several antidepressants and anxiety meds now that they are adults. medical neglect has legally and effectively disabled them. a timely diagnosis and intervention could have saved them.

of course teenagers are self-diagnosing using tiktok. if your knee-jerk reaction is to scoff at the idea and dismiss it as dumb teenager shit instead of being radicalized because the best shot young people have at attaining the mental health support they need is a fucking dancing videos app, you're categorically a political enemy of the youth.

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Dear Ignorant Parent: Minecraft Isn’t Just a Game — Your Act Was Brutal!

Imagine someone burning down your home and saying, ‘oh, it’s just a house.’ Show your child empathy, offer a heartfelt apology, and help heal their pain with genuine kindness. Gaming and Parenting Reading about a parent deleting their 12-year-old child’s Minecraft world — a cherished creation they had poured their heart into for five long years — absolutely gutted me. I was overwhelmed with…