Events

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health Youth report that the mental health of U.S. children and teens is in crisis. The crisis is fueled by increasing rates of anxiety, depression and suicidality among adolescents with schools and agencies addressing complex emotional, behavioral and social needs of our youth. The current

The landscape of youth mental health is rapidly evolving in response to social, technological and environmental changes. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of children and adolescents experiencing major depressive episodes and anxiety, mood, attention and behavior disorders. One in five of our youth experience mental illness, while nearly

Our youth are connected to each other via social media, and those relationships are meaningful and important. However, youth spending time with peers, in person, is essential to their healthy development. Just published research indicates that youth are experiencing loneliness at higher levels now, especially with the impact of COVID. The research has shown that

Our children and teens move through a digital landscape that is constantly changing while shaping their emotional, social and behavioral health. The Pew Research Center found that nearly half of U.S. teens report being online “almost constantly.” While most teens say they feel more connected to their friends through social media, that constant connectivity can

Incidents of bullying almost always happen in the presence of peers, allowing bullying to thrive when bystanders stay silent. Empowering youth to stand up, speak out and support their peers can change norms and transform school climate. This workshop will equip school and agency staff to help students understand their role in the cycle of

The complex and ever-changing digital world of our youth demands that adults stay informed and engaged to help youth navigate if safely and confidently. Artificial intelligence is transforming the daily lives of children and teens – from their classrooms to their social worlds to their sense of self. AI provides opportunities as well as significant

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

Extensive evidence confirms that high social media use has a significant impact on the mental health of our youth. Children and teens who spend more than three hours daily on social media platforms face double the risk of experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, often exacerbated by unrealistic beauty or lifestyle standards, sleep disruptions

The social environments youth navigate are sometimes complex, both in person and online — where sexual harassment and sexual bullying can occur in subtle or overtly harmful ways. Data indicates that nearly half of all students in grades 7 through 12 experience sexual harassment in a single year. There is disparity in the number of