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Addressing Child and Youth Loneliness: Family-Based Interventions to Improve Mental Health
*This is a composite case example. The names have been changed to protect the identities of the clients. Loneliness is not simply a feeling but a social determinant of one’s overall health. Loneliness is a state of emotional distress that develops when one experiences a disconnect between...
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Understanding the Link Between Trauma and Substance Use in Adolescents
Adolescence is a critical period of development, and exposure to trauma during this stage can impact mental health and behavior. Research consistently shows a strong connection between trauma and substance use among adolescents, with trauma often acting as a risk factor for developing substance use...
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Young Adult Access Centers: A Massachusetts Model for Supporting Young Adults with Behavioral Health Challenges
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Young Adult Access Centers are unique community spaces that serve young adults with mental health and co-occurring behavioral health concerns and support them with their transition to adulthood. These 10 Access Centers are tailored to young people...
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Creating a Continuum of Care: Addressing Mental Health Challenges Facing Youth & Young Adults in New York and Beyond
The mental health landscape for youth and young adults in the United States is at a critical inflection point. According to the World Economic Forum, the world’s 1.2 billion young people, representing 16% of the global population, are facing a generational mental health crisis of unprecedented...
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Breaking the Cycle: How Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health Can Improve Early Intervention for Black and Brown Youth
Cultural competence in behavioral health refers to the ability of health care providers to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with individuals across cultures. It includes being aware of the cultural factors that influence an individual's experiences and worldview, including...
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Helping Teens with Eating Disorders: Balancing Treatment and Academic Success
For adolescents struggling with eating disorders, the pursuit of recovery often comes at a difficult cost: disruption to their education. The rigid structure of traditional schooling rarely accommodates the complex needs of students undergoing treatment, forcing many families to make an impossible...
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Digital Well-Being: Managing Screen Time and Promoting Healthy Tech Habits in Families
From setting morning alarms to random late-night scrolling, screens have become our irreplaceable companions in daily life. For work, education, or entertainment, devices take over our routines. Recent Average Screen Time statistics by Exploding Topics show that the average person spends...
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Addressing Mental Health Disparities Among LGBTQ+ Youth
Mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ youth have been an ongoing concern for human services organizations. This group faces higher rates of bullying, discrimination, and mistreatment than many other populations. As a result, they are more vulnerable to conditions such as anxiety and...
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How Gen Z Can Lead the Fight Against the Youth Mental Health Crisis
1 in 5 U.S. children experiences a mental health condition, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people. In New York City, we are facing an unprecedented youth mental health crisis, and the systems in place to address these needs are failing—especially for those from...
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Enhancing Equity in Adolescent Mental Health: Expanding Access to Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Treatment
Over the last decade, the US has experienced a significant increase in mental health symptomology and suicidality among children and adolescents, with the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to an even greater increase. In 2021, the surgeon general deemed mental health concerns in children and...
