Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities! Each year, on December 3rd, the United Nations and the World Health Organization come together to celebrate and discuss how far we have come in supporting and advocating for individuals with all kinds of disabilities. This topic is a conversation that needs to happen all year round.
It can be SO hard to navigate your relationship after bringing a child into the equation. The transition to parenthood can be both an exciting and scary experience, from choosing your child’s name to creating your birth plan. After bringing a child home, it is easy to become so wrapped up in the excitement and planning that we often forget to have conversations about creating an environment that nurtures the relationship with our partner and keeps the connection strong.
October can mean many things: football, Halloween, fall weather, or a time change. For those of us in the mental health field, we know things get tough when seasons change. Although fall may be my favorite time of year, I know that daylight hours are getting shorter, and others may start to feel a little darker, too. You may not know this, but 1 in 5 U.S. adults and 1 in 6 U.S. youths experience mental illness each year (NAMI). According to SAMHSA, only 47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021.
If you are a parent who spends much time on social media, you’ve likely seen the many posts about supporting teachers through their Amazon wish list. This is where teachers create a registry of items that they would love to have in their classrooms for the coming school year. Many family members, friends, and even strangers go to this list to make a purchase and support the teacher. It gets sent directly to their doorstep and is a very convenient way to show teachers appreciation and encouragement, which is well deserved.
When it comes to working with, and interacting with young people, understanding identity and providing a supportive environment is crucial. According to The Trevor Project, LGBTQ teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. In the same article, The Trevor Project indicates that a youth who is LGBTQ+ who has at least one supporting adult in their life is about 40% less likely to attempt suicide.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has been well researched for over 30 years, and its impact on our children and teens is becoming more and more evident. As a mental health professional serving children and families, I have sat across from many anxious parents seeking support for their child who recently experienced a potentially traumatic event. Abuse or neglect, violence, a loved one dying by suicide, and growing up in a home with substance abuse, mental health issues, or parental separation, otherwise known as ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), come to mind.
Research has shown that children who have a secure attachment with their parent, otherwise known as a good parent-child bond, continually excel in areas such social skills, self-confidence, academics, emotion management, empathy and competency. Playful parenting requires intention and skill, and it ultimately results in the development of secure attachment for your child.