Youth are more connected than ever, and those connections have changed how our youth connect. With a full 35% of teens preferring digital communications with their peers instead of in-person connections, there has been a real decline in face-to-face social interactions. At the same time, there has been a sharp rise in mental health issues

Adolescence is a time of great growth, change and development. It's a time when young adults can shape their brain’s development. It is also the time when the brain is more vulnerable to use and abuse than the adult brain. This workshop will explore the short and long-term impact of substance use on the developing

This workshop addresses sexting, sexual bullying and sextortion in digital speech and the resulting mental health issues and legal consequences. Participants will review the current research and trends focusing on youth’s involvement with technology, sexting and sextortion. Digital speech affords our youth the ability to send images via texting and a wide variety of apps

Is developing empathy an effective strategy in reducing bullying and helping youth create sustaining connections with others? Recent studies indicate the development of empathy can reduce bullying and harassment and create connections among peers. While it is ideal to teach empathy at an early age, there is a lot that can be done to develop

Current research into the substance use and abuse of youth indicates there is both good news and bad news. In one nationwide study, illicit drug use, other than marijuana, had reached the lowest levels in the past two decades. That’s the good news. The not so good news revealed an increase in usage of marijuana

This workshop explores the effects of technology on parenting, education and child development, discussing both the benefits and challenges. Participants will learn about the positive roles that digital tools can play in enhancing learning and communication, as well as the myriads of risks, such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, impact on mental health and

Youth spend a significant amount of time in the digital world, and at increasingly younger ages. The digital world has opened doors to everything from educational opportunities, to meeting and getting to know others, to creating vlogs, blogs and other creative outlets. There has also been a decline in in-person interactions with peers, alongside a

The pursuit of perfection via Instagram has profoundly impacted our online and real world lives, particularly for our youth. Its visual nature places a premium on appearance – often a highly curated, perfectly filtered one. Teens compare themselves to those filtered images of their peers and celebrities, seeking an unattainable level of perfection. The cost

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory addressing social media and youth mental health in May 2023. With the near universal use of social media among youth ages 13 – 17, the Advisory looks at the impact of social media on the mental health of our young people, both positive and negative. Adolescents report social

Social media and youth are often seen as synonymous, but that media use can negatively impact many aspects of their lives. Some of the side effects are decreased or poor academic performance, deterioration in peer and family relationships, behavioral problems, physical health issues, developmental delays and difficulty with psychosocial adjustments. In a nationally representative survey

Adults spend an average of three to four hours per day on their screens, while youth spend an average of seven. Children are getting smartphones earlier than ever – 53% of kids have their one by age 11, and by age 12,71% do. While devices themselves are not addictive, the social connections they give us

In the last few years, our youth have reported increased mental health concerns and challenges, along with experiences of violence and suicidal ideation and behavior. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey drew attention to the record high levels of sadness, violence and suicide risk of our girls. LGBTQ+ teens in particular reported experiencing extremely high