Protective Factors: Ways to Build Wellness & Resilience in Youth

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 aneal Drugs, Healthy Behaviors, Life, Mental Health, Prescription Drugs, Substance Use, Trends

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It is no surprise that youth and young adults have faced new challenges to their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that, in the past year, nearly half of 10th and 12th grade students in the Roanoke Valley felt so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing some usual activities¹. Recent research has identified childhood depression as a key risk factor for opioid use in young adulthood (Shanahan et al., 2021)². This means we all need to be able to recognize warning signs and strengthen factors that protect youth mental health in our community.

If you are concerned about a loved one’s mental health or drug use, it is important to recognize warning signs of a developing problem. More importantly, it is essential to know that help is available and where you can find it! Here are some common signs and symptoms of drug misuse and mental health problems:

- - - Risky behavior (such as driving while intoxicated or having unprotected sex)
    - Sudden changes in appetite, sleep habits, personality, or mood
    - Acting secretive or suspicious
    - Withdrawal from friends, family, and favorite activities
    - Neglecting school or work responsibilities
    - Bloodshot eyes and unusual smells on body or clothes
    - Talking or thinking about suicide – If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call one of these emergency resources:
      - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
        
        Crisis Text Line: Text the word HOME to 741-741
        
        Call 9-1-1
        
        You can also visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov to locate nearby treatment services for substance use, addiction, or mental health problems.

- - - Warning signs in younger children may involve behaviors. Some examples are:
      - Changes in school performance
        
        Frequent nightmares
        
        Frequent disobedience or tantrums
        
        Hyperactive behavior
        
        Fighting to avoid bedtime or school (due to excessive worry)

These are just some of the common signs that someone might be suffering from a mental health or substance misuse problem. Keep in mind that sometimes, warning signs might be hidden, or they may be caused by something other than a mental health or drug use problem. This list is NOT meant to diagnose a disease; it should only be used to help you decide if professional help is needed.

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While it is important to recognize signs of a problem and know when to get help, preventing problems from occurring in the first place is just as important. Many factors can increase or reduce a person’s risk for drug misuse. These are sometimes called risk factors and protective factors. Communities like ours can reduce the prevalence and impact of substance misuse by reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors. And because many of these underlying factors influence multiple parts of society, we can all benefit from building up protective factors in our area.

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Protective factors can be found (and built up!) in any part of a community. They can be found in families, neighborhoods, communities, faith-based groups, schools, sports teams, clubs, friend groups and even an individual’s personal characteristics. There are too many opportunities for strengthening protective factors to list them all here, but some examples are:

- Parents who tell their kids that they do not approve of drug misuse
- School or workplace anti-drug policies
- Neighborhoods and communities that support positive connections
- Parents who are involved in their kids’ lives
- Students who have positive goals and hopes for the future
- Friends who encourage each other to do well at school and in life

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Boosting a teen’s mental health can be as simple as regularly asking them about school and their group of friends. We all need help from others sometimes, so let’s all show that we care about youth by investing in their mental well-being.

References

1. 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey implemented in the counties of Botetourt and Craig and the cities of Roanoke and Salem in grades 10 and 12. 47.3% of respondents said that, during the past 12 months, they felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities.

2. Shanahan, L., Hill, S. N., Bechtiger, L., Steinhoff, A., Godwin, J., Gaydosh, L. M., Harris, K. M., Dodge, K. A., & Copeland, W. E. (2021). Prevalence and Childhood Precursors of Opioid Use in the Early Decades of Life. JAMA pediatrics, 175(3), 276–285. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5205

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Connect with us on social media!

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Social Media on My Mind: Building Positive Connections

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 aneal Bullying, Healthy Behaviors, Life, Mental Health, social media

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Smartphones and social media have revolutionized the ways we interact with technology and with each other. Social media can be a beneficial technology. It allows us to find news and information, share fun content, and connect with old friends or make new ones. For some of us, social media is a vital means of connection when we are unable to interact face-to-face.

But sometimes social media can be harmful as well. With nearly 9 out of every 10 teenagers reporting they use the Internet at least several times a day¹, it is important to know the potential pitfalls of social media and how to avoid them. Here are some key points about social media use, especially among youth and young adults:

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Depression and Anxiety

While social media is a great way to connect with friends, problems can appear if too much importance is placed on likes and comments. If someone posts a picture and does not get as many likes or comments as they expected, they might feel disappointed, anxious, or depressed. These feelings can also appear if someone compares their posts to those of others, who seem to have perfect lives.

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Poor Body Image

It is common for social media celebrities to make posts about dieting and exercising to lose weight or increase athletic performance. But it is also common to filter or edit these images to artificially boost the person’s appearance. When someone compares themself to these unrealistic ideals, they can feel badly about their body image, appearance, or value as a person.

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Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when bullying happens online. Sadly, online bullying can be worse than face-to-face bullying because it is easy to hide from parents and teachers, and it can be posted anonymously and publicly. Bullies might be more cruel online because they are not seeing their victim’s face-to-face. Cyberbullying can lead to sadness, low self-esteem, violence, and thoughts of suicide.

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Like many things, the key to healthy social media use is moderation. There are great benefits to using social media, but you may be surprised at how beneficial it is to take some time off from social media. In fact, one study published in 2020 found that people who deactivated their Facebook account for a month reported lower depression and anxiety, and greater satisfaction with life.² Whether for a month or just for a few hours this evening, try taking a break from social media and focusing on your mental well-being.

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Here are some tips to help you set boundaries and improve your digital wellness:

Limit the amount of time you spend on social media each day.
Try taking one day off from all social media each week.
Remind yourself that people only share their best moments online – everyone has problems, even if you don’t see them!
Make sure to spend time with the people and activities you enjoy in the real world.
Get familiar with your privacy settings on social media sites. If someone is bullying or harassing you online, you can block them from contacting you or report them to the site’s administrators. Some sites also allow you to hide content that you don’t want to see, without alerting the post’s creator.

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Most smartphones now have settings you can use to help track and limit your time on social media apps. For Apple devices, click here to learn more about Screen Time. For Android devices, click here to learn more about Digital Wellness.

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References:

1. Pew Research Center. (May 2018). “Teens, Social Media, & Technology 2018”. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/

2. Allcott, H., Braghieri, L., Eichmeyer, S., & Gentzkow, M. (2020). “The welfare effects of social media.” American Economic Review, 110(3): 629-76. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20190658

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2021 Red Ribbon Week Student and School Contest Award Winners

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 aneal Drugs, Healthy Behaviors, Life, social media, Substance Use, Trends

RAYSAC would like to congratulate all of the 2021 Red Ribbon Week Student and School Award Winners! We had several submissions for the media contest from all over the valley, and some great talent! As always, our valley area schools rose to the occassion, and blew us away with their hard work and dedication to making this week a huge SUCCESS! Everyone should be proud of themselves, and we at RAYSAC wish we could give awards to every entry, because you all deserved it! Below are the student contest winners by grade level, and the school contest winners. Congratulations to all!!!.

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3rd Place- Abby Craft- McCleary Elementary

2nd Place- Cora Crowder- McCleary Elementary

1st Place-Benjamin Williams- Troutville Elementary

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3rd Place- Lilly Swindell-McCleary Elementary

2nd Place- Ryleigh Neff- McCleary Elementary

1rst Place- Ashlynn Hale-Smith- McCleary Elementary

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3rd Place– Emma Lindsey- McCleary Elementary

2nd Place- Makenzley McCormick- McCleary Elementary

1st Place- Isabelle Williams- Troutville Elementary

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3rd place- Kamberleigh Smith- McCleary Elementary

2nd Place- Rylee Mattox- McCleary Elementary

1st Place- Colton Molyneux- Troutville Elementary

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3rd Place- Cameron Vess- Troutville Elementary

2nd Place- Asher Everette- Fort Lewis Elementary

1st Place- Chloe Wilson- Grandin Court Elementary

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3rd Place: Alasdair Hackworth- Grandin Court Elementary

2nd Place: Finley Biddle- Grandin Court Elementary

1st Place- Kaylyn Sutfin- Grandin Court Elementary

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3rd Place- Aahana Magu- Hidden Valley Middle School

2nd Place- Luca Dorlini- Hidden Valley Middle School

1st Place- Ashlynn Shabana- Hidden Valley Middle School

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M.A.D.D. shares Red Ribbon Week Resources for Children and Parents

October 25, 2021October 28, 2021 aneal Alcohol, Substance Use, Trends Leave a comment

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Did you know?

Teens who start drinking at ages 15 or 16 are six times more likely to become alcohol dependent than adults who started drinking after age 21.

1 in 4 car crashes with teenagers involve an underage drunk driver

Teen drinking kills about 4,300 people each year – more than all illegal drugs combined.

One-third of all teen deaths involving alcohol are a result of underage drinking.

Many youth do not believe cannabis impairs driving ability

What can you do?

– Share real stories involving underage drinking/impaired driving.

-Kristin Mallory’s Story of being involved in a drunk driving crash in Chesterfield. Made by Malory’s Movement Against Drunk Driving, YOVASO and the VA State Police ( 9:30 minutes long)

-MADD Volunteer Debbie Sausville tells the story of her 16 yr old daughter Lauren who died in an impaired driving crash. (19:30 minutes long)

– Host a class room discussion where students debate about underage drinking.

– Set up role play scenarios with real life situations that teens can be or have been in.

– Incorporate a link to the teen booklet and/or parent handbook(s) in an email distribution list of parents or students in conjunction with your activities.

Resources

Resources for Parents and Adults

Handbooks, Topical Guides and Videos

Myths and Facts About the 21 minimum drinking age

Resources for Youth

Power of Youth Teen Handbook

Power of Youth Resources free online

Teen Tips for Saying No

Myths vs Facts brochure for teens

MADD’s Power of Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Presentation is available via Zoom- FREE and on demand

Based on the Power of Youth handbook, this 40 min presentation covers why underage drinking and cannabis use is bad for teen brains, consequences, peer pressure and protecting themselves and their friends.

Email cristi.cousins@madd.org or call 804-353-7121 x 5153

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Helping Your Teen Cope with Stress

January 2, 2019June 6, 2019 aneal Uncategorized Leave a comment

Stress is a normal part of life for everyone. It’s the body’s way of responding to any kind of demand and can be healthy or unhealthy depending on how it is managed. Teens have their own sources of stress that adults may not always recognize or understand. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that school is a major source of stress for teenagers.¹ Teens can also become stressed due to family problems and expectations, issues with friends, bullying, dating relationships, peer pressure and poor time management. Signs that your teen may be stressed include difficulty sleeping, headaches, stomach aches, increased irritability, isolating themselves, frequent illness, negative changes in behavior, difficulty concentrating and increased worrying.

According to the APA, teenagers experience extremely high levels of stress but are not able to judge how it affects them and don’t know how to cope with it in healthy ways.¹ Because their brains are not fully developed, teens act without thinking about the consequences of their actions. When teens don’t know how to deal with stress, they are more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol for an immediate escape from their problems. However, using drugs or alcohol to cope with stress does nothing to help with the actual problem, and may increase it.

Here are some ways you can help your teen manage their stress in healthy ways:

Be available. Make one-on-one time a part of your weekly routine so he or she knows they can always come to you for help with a problem.²When they come to you for help, ask questions and listen to what they say. This will help you guide him or her in working through the problem.

Encourage healthy escapes. Teach your teen that it’s okay to take healthy breaks from stressful situations. Physical activity of any kind is great for relieving stress. Listening to music, reading a non-school book, working on a hobby and playing with a pet are other suggestions.

Laugh. Encourage them to watch funny videos and get together with their friends. Teach your teenager to laugh at him/herself when they make normal mistakes.²

Write it down. Buy your teenager a journal or diary and encourage them to write in it. Make sure they understand that you will not read it unless they ask you to. Journaling will allow them to express their feelings without fear of judgment or criticism from others. After the stressful situation has passed, they can look back over what they wrote and think about how they handled it.²

Build confidence. Sometimes it can be easy for parents to overlook the good things teens do. Make a point to notice something positive your teen does every day and tell him or her about it. When a teen has a strong self-esteem, they will be better able to handle stress.²

Teach perspective. Keeping things in perspective is an important part of dealing with stress. Teens need to learn how to look at a situation from different points of view and how it fits in the “big picture” of their life.²

Focus on the positive. Show your teen how to focus on the positive aspects of a situation. Even the worst situations can provide chances for growth and positive outcomes.²

Seek professional help if necessary. If your teen’s stress is interfering with school, family, responsibilities or friends, it may be a sign that your teen needs additional help managing stress. If you have concerns, talk to your teen’s physician.¹

Model healthy stress management. You are your child’s most effective teacher.

¹https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-race-good-health/201402/5-tips-helping-teens-cope-stress

²http://parentingteens.about.com/od/teenwellness/a/deal_stress.htm