April 2023

From National Public Radio (NPR), Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images, National Public Radio (NPR), March 1, 2023 In the wake of the pandemic, many people are struggling with their mental health regardless of their age. But recently published data from the CDC is shedding light on how teens are faring. The numbers show that 4 in 10 U.S. high schoolers experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. Nearly a quarter seriously considered attempting suicide. [ Please...

By Minnie Bredouw, Illustration: Adriana Crespo/TIME, TIME, February 15, 2023 At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 19-year-old Steven Yglecias was, like many teens, living at home and feeling directionless. “I felt uninspired,” Steven told me. “Life was an emotional roller coaster each day.” Steven is one of the millions of young people who struggle with mental health challenges. In the decade before the pandemic, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of...

By Alyson Klein, Image: YoGinta/iStock/Getty, Education Week, March 30, 2023 Many teen girls say they spend much more time on social media—especially TikTok —than they intend to, interfering with their sleep, and in some cases their mental health, according to a survey released March 30 by Common Sense Media, a research and advocacy organization that studies the impact of technology on young people. Almost half of teenage girls surveyed said they are addicted to TikTok or spend more time on...

By William Brangham, Image: Screenshot from article, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), January 25, 2023 Oregon ranks among the worst states for youth mental illness and access to care. William Brangham went there and found a system facing heavy burdens, but one searching for solutions. It’s part of our new series, "Early Warnings: America’s Youth Mental Health Crisis." A warning: this story includes discussions of suicide and depression. Amna Nawaz: It's been over a year since the U.S.

April 13, 2023: Today we honored April as Child Abuse Prevention month, discussed upcoming events and opportunities, and celebrated many accomplishments. Click here to access the slides from this month's meeting. See the summary below and required coalition member tasks follow. If you have any questions, please contact Stacie Kinlaw at skinlaw@rcpartnership4children.org or 910-738-6767 2023 COMMITMENTS TO ROAR EVERY stakeholder is encouraged and invited to COMPLETE the 2023 Commitments...

By Yaron Litwin, Image: Getty Images, The Dallas Morning News, April 20, 2023 The rise of technology has brought many benefits, including improved communication, enhanced learning and entertainment. However, as we increasingly rely on screens in our daily lives, there is growing concern about the impact of screen time on mental health, particularly among children and adolescents. Recent studies have shown that excessive screen time is linked to an increase in suicidality, among other...

By Pamela Paul, Photo illustration: Kim Hoeckele/The New York Times, The New York Times, April 20, 2023 She was exposed to toxic substances as a baby. She was too mature for her age. She was too smart for her school. She was not smart enough for her school. Her school was too rigid. Her school was too flexible. She did ballet as a child. She had a hormonal imbalance. She was just unbalanced. She was painfully immature. She wanted attention. She wanted to disappear. She was obsessed with sex.

By Kalyn Belsha, Photo: Steve Rice/Chalkbeat, Chalkbeat, April 19, 2023 Kirstin Smith was worried after her 5-year-old had a traumatic interaction with another student at school this past fall. Her daughter’s behavior had changed — she was hiding under desks at school and waking up scared from her nightmares. Smith wanted to get her some help. A couple months later, the kindergartner was sitting cross-legged on her mother’s bed, chatting with “her lady” on a laptop screen while Smith stirred...

By Tiffany L. Green, Photo: Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo, The Hill, April 14, 2023 April 11-17 marks Black Maternal Health Week, a week-long campaign officially recognized by the Biden administration as a time to address racial inequities in Black maternal health and to “amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences” of Black during pregnancy. It is difficult, however, to celebrate this year’s theme, “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!” when our governments and...

By Laura Gallant, 4/20/2023, https://positiveexperience.org/category/blog/ Earth Day is this Saturday, and the HOPE National Resource Center wants to share ideas of actions that help protect the well-being of our planet, and the future of all children. When we promote practices that heal the Earth, we are celebrating all the amazing things this planet provides for us to create positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and happy, healthy children. This is at the core of the safe, stable, and...

Mass shootings in America marked a new milestone Saturday with seven separate events in six different states leaving 10 people dead. At a Sweet Sixteen birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, four people between the ages of 17 - 32 were killed, and 28 more were injured. The previous one-day high for mass shootings was January 1, 2023, when there were six. As of April 18, 2023, the Gun Violence Archive (GVA) reported there have been at least 164 mass shootings in the United States leaving more...

Alexander Reddy, who's friend's little sister is Hallie Scruggs, pays respects at a makeshift memorial for victims by the Covenant School building at the Covenant Presbyterian Church following a shooting, in Nashville, Tennessee, March 28, 2023. - A heavily armed former student killed three young children and three staff in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack at a private elementary school in Nashville on March 27, before being shot dead by police. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI-AFP By Jeremy...