Tag: young adult

Protective Factors: Ways to Build Wellness & Resilience in Youth

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

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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HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

aneal Drugs, Healthy Behaviors, Substance Use, Uncategorized

Teenage years can be an exciting time for growth and learning, but it can also be one of the most difficult. As they try to find their place in the world, they face pressures of changing times, changing norms, and never ending peer pressure. It is often at this time where they may start to experiment with drugs and alcohol. The average age of first use for marijuana is 14 and alcohol can start as early as 122. Teens start using for a variety of reasons such as boredom, depression, curiosity, stress, and/or peer pressure2.

Adolescents are very talented at hiding what they are doing and there are many products available at home, in stores, and online that help with this process. These items usually look like ordinary household items that are often undetected by parents. Below are a few examples of items that are most used to conceal illegal drug or alcohol use:

  • Dryer Sheets: These can be used to mask the smell of marijuana on clothing, when smoking or storing3.  These can be placed in the air vents of a bedroom or bathroom.
  • Custom Cans: There are numerous containers on the market with false bottoms or middles that can be used to store drugs. These can easily be purchased online and tend to look like everyday products like shaving cream and soda bottles3.
  • Sports Drinks and other colored and flavored drinks: Clear alcohol can easily be mixed with these and brought undetected to events3.
  • Sploof: A sploof is a homemade filter used to mask the smell of marijuana. These are usually made out of an empty toilet paper roll and dryer sheets. There are many YouTube videos that show how these are made3.
  • Homemade Smoking Pipes: These can be made out of many objects, including an apple or a soda can3.  
  • Drinking Game Paraphernalia: Items such as ping-pong balls or solo cups can be an indicator of alcohol use3. 
  • Flasks: These are available in many different shapes and sizes, including hairbrushes, lotions bottles, and tampon cases3.   
  • Purple Drank or Lean: This is a slang term for a mixture of cold medicine,  soda, ice and hard candy. The cold medicine usually contains promethazine and codeine and the effects of the drink last anywhere from 3-6 hours3.

Unfortunately, this is not a complete list of all the items that can be hidden in plain sight in any teenage room; there are many, many more. Parents, please be aware and make yourself familiar with these items. As always talk to your children about the dangers of substance abuse.

References:

  1. AACAP (2018) Teens: Alcohol and Other Drugs. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. March 2018 . https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Teens-Alcohol-And-Other-Drugs-003.aspx
  2. Drug Abuse. Teenagers and Drugs: 11 Real Reasons Why Teenagers Experiment. Drug Abuse. https://drugabuse.com/11-real-reasons-teenagers-experiment-drugs/
  3. Power to the Parent. Hidden in Plain Sight. Power to the Parent.org. http://powertotheparent.org/be-aware/hidden-in-plain-sight/

Emerging Adults – Supporting the Transition into Adulthood

aneal Change, Healthy Behaviors, Life, Mental Health Leave a comment

There’s a newish term for the period between ages 18-29: emerging adulthood. During these years, emerging adults travel a path during which they want to pull away from the struggles of their teenage years and feel more responsible for themselves, but are also still closely tied to their parents and family.   According to the American Psychological Association, emerging adulthood is defined as an:

  • Age of identity exploration.Young people are deciding who they are and what they want out of work, school and love.
  • Age of instability.The post-high school years are marked by repeated residence changes, as young people either go to college or live with friends or a romantic partner.
  • Age of self-focus.Free of the parent- and society-directed routine of school, young people try to decide what they want to do, where they want to go and who they want to be with – before those choices get limited by the constraints of marriage, children and a career.
  • Age of feeling in between.Many emerging adults say they are taking responsibility for themselves but still do not completely feel like an adult.
  • Age of possibilities.Hopefulness is unlimited. Most emerging adults believe they have good chances of living “better than their parents did,” and even if their parents divorced, they believe they’ll find a lifelong soul mate.

Many emerging adults have more choices than ever before. They may find themselves continually searching for the absolute “perfect fit” when it comes to career, marriage, or parenthood. Parents, though, may feel frustrated or impatient with the slow progress of their emerging adult’s development. Peers may want to help but might not know how, as they are trying to figure out their own path. This leads us to the important question:

How can parents and peers best support emerging adults?

  •  Try not to offer advice about higher education, career directions or love interests. Let your emerging adult come to you when he or she is ready for advice. Allowing time and space for young adults to sort out their choices will be best for everyone involved.
  • Be curious about your emerging adult, but avoid interfering. When they share details about their upcoming choices and plans, help them to discover their wants and needs, not yours. It helps to ask open-ended questions (which can’t be answered with “Yes” or “No”). The goal is to open up space for them to explore their ideas and become more confident in their decisions.
  • Support them in finding organizational systems that work for them. This age brings bills, budgeting, increased responsibilities, a busier social calendar and additional belongings to keep straight. Good organizational systems will help your emerging adult feel more in control and capable of meeting the demands of this new life.  Remember, what works for you may not work for them.
  • Help them learn how to talk to those in authority. Navigating the world as an adult can be difficult and anxiety-causing for emerging adults if they don’t know how speak to adults as peers/colleagues or respectfully advocate for themselves. Brainstorm and role play situations when this skill might be necessary.
  • Don’t rescue your emerging adult. Watching your emerging adult make mistakes is tough. He or she will make decisions you don’t agree with, but they legally have the right to do so and must be allowed to have the responsibility of accepting the consequences of their actions. Experience is often the best teacher.
  • Don’t belittle them when they make mistakes. No one responds well to criticism. Look for what your emerging adult loves, what they do well and what they aspire to do, and focus on that. Remind them that you believe in them and that they have the ability to accomplish their goals.

It is important to trust your emerging adult to create their own life.  After all your hard work of building a solid foundation for them, it’s time to sit back and watch them fly.  It won’t be easy, but it’s worth it. It’s not giving up, it’s giving them control.

Parents, be there for your emerging adults.  They still need you!