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The Family Check-In Challenge

family check-in challenge

The “Family Check-In Challenge” is an A Brighter Day initiative designed to encourage open conversations within families as we roll into the new school year. This routine isn’t just a matter of asking how each person’s day was; it’s about setting a time and place where every family member, especially teens, can openly discuss their […]

Walk Your Path: How to Understand and Combat Peer Pressure

combat peer pressure

Peer pressure at school, a universal phenomenon experienced by teenagers across the globe, plays a considerable role during these formative years. As adolescents strive to carve out their unique identities, these external influences can deeply impact their mental health, choices, and overall well-being. The Faces of Peer Pressure Peer pressure can manifest itself in various […]

Living in the Age of Teen Loneliness

teen isolation and loneliness

Our teens live in a world of unparalleled entertainment opportunities, yet they still experience disturbing amounts of teen loneliness. Every cell phone they carry doubles as a computer filled with applications, entertainment, and social media platforms. They can watch movie trailers or go to the movies with their friends. They can indulge in unlimited TV, […]

Counseling vs. Therapy: Is There A Difference?

teen counseling and therapy

While the terms “counseling” and “therapy” are typically used interchangeably when talking about mental health interventions, there are vast differences between the two types of services! While both are treatments for mental health issues that involve interacting with a mental health professional and working through an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, there are key characteristics […]

Spring Forward from Teen Depression: Action Steps for Parents 

Mother and teen daughter

Teens Need Resources More Than Ever The world has temporarily become more complicated, but the level of our teen’s stress and teen suicide overall continues to be at epidemic levels. Your teens, more than ever, need resources to deal with this depression more effectively, while their parents are being bombarded with negative headlines and news.   […]

The Mind-Body Teen Connection

Happy teen girl

The teenage years are a time of significant changes and development, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. As teens navigate the complexities of growing up, it’s crucial to understand the connection between the mind and body. While physical and mental health is typically referred to as two separate entities, we tend to forget […]

Understanding Teen Self-Harm: Causes, Signs, and Solutions

Depressed teen girl

*Content/Trigger Warning: This article discusses self-harm, injury, and violence. Experiencing an overwhelming amount of emotions from mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety leads some people to harm themselves, also known as “self-harm.” While everyone processes their emotions in different ways, some people have developed unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage their feelings. What is self-harm? […]

Kindness and Teen Mental Health: A Vital Connection

Teen girls smiling and hanging out

While kindness is a term most of us have heard and used before, we rarely connect the benefits of being kind to improving our mental health and wellness. Many studies have shown that kindness has been linked to increased well-being and has positive effects on happiness. Although kindness is most commonly thought of as acts […]

Finding the Perfect Mentor For Your Teen

Written notes on mentoring, advice, support, and motivation

What does the word “mentor” mean? If you have attended school, played a sport, or were involved in any type of activities that involved a group of people, you have likely heard of the term “mentor.” What does the word “mentor” mean? A mentor is someone who can support, advise and guide you.  Typically, this person takes the […]

Mental Health vs. Mental Wellness: What Parents Should Know

Mental health and wellness mind flourishing with blossoms and flowers

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-30px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] During the month of January, we at A Brighter Day, along with many others, choose to celebrate Mental Wellness Month. Mental Wellness Month is focused on recognizing the importance of attending to our mental health […]