The 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 […]
We Are Changing Teen Lives Every Day
We are all painfully aware of the epidemic of stress and depression in the lives of our teens. Recent surveys suggest that as high as 50% of all teens have experienced overwhelming stress and/or depression at some point. Left unchecked, depression can lead to the most awful of outcomes: suicide. You can find these disturbing […]
Counseling vs. Therapy: Is There A Difference?
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
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. […]
Understanding Teen Self-Harm: Causes, Signs, and Solutions
*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? […]
Don’t Rely on Luck: Protect Your Teen’s Mental Health
Every day, whether through face-to-face interactions or podcast conversations, I have the privilege of speaking to hundreds, even thousands, of adults about the reason A Brighter Day Charity exists and the positive impact we are having on families. Our resources on stress and depression for teens and their families, with the ultimate goal of preventing […]
Kindness and Teen Mental Health: A Vital Connection
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 […]
Valentine’s Day Blues: How Is Your Teen Coping?
February and Valentine’s Day usually represent a time of love and everything associated with love. Romance, flowers, jewelry, fine food, and chocolates – these are all good! For your teen, however, this could be a time of feeling isolated, unloved, alone, and just not wanted. Think about it. Your spouse and you are planning something […]
Finding the Perfect Mentor For Your Teen
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 […]
Attention Parents: January & February Are the Worst Months for Teen Suicide
First off, Happy New Year. We all wish for a healthy and happy 2023 for our teens. Most people think that the Christmas Season is the worst season for suicide. Actually, it is the beginning of the year. The isolation and sadness created by exacerbated teen depression, unfortunately, begin to move into the most negative of actions […]
