By Kelly Kander, LCPC Spring is in the air, the sun is shining, the days are getting longer, and the thoughts of young brains everywhere seem to have drifted out the window, far away from any classroom. Spring fever has set in leaving parents and teachers pulling out their hair to figure out how to …
Teens face challenges that can feel overwhelming. Emotional struggles, pressure to fit in, and unresolved pain can take a toll. When mental health problems go unaddressed, they can lead to dangerous consequences. Many teens look for ways to cope, and some turn to drugs or alcohol. Ignoring mental health in teens doesn’t just affect their …
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By Natural High Staff Most kids grow up and never see drug use personally. Sure, they hear references on TV and movies, they might even hear about relatives or neighbors who’ve abused drugs, but mostly it’s something that happens ‘out there.’ Alcohol consumption is quite different. Most kids grow up seeing adult role models who …
Deborah McNelis M.Ed In most communities today, far too many children are struggling. Whether it’s with mental health challenges, school performance, emotional regulation, social skills, physical health, or feelings of worth, the reality is clear: many children are not doing well. The good news? We have the science and knowledge to change this. Entire communities …
Erin Montgomery, Beaverhead Be The Change Coalition Some amazing youth coalition members traveled to Helena to support a bill that would add e-cigarettes to the Clean Indoor Air Act. They did an outstanding job, showing professionalism and dedication as they shared their voices on such an important issue. A few of them also testified in …
Gina Lamb, Phillips/Valley Counties The MSU Extension Office of Phillips County hosted the annual Ag Day celebration. There was a free will offering lunch, pie contest and several display booths from community businesses and organizations were available. Prevention promoted the upcoming State of Mind performance and the Hidden in Plain Sight room presentations that are …
Logan Nugent, Missoula County In 2021 31.5% of Montana high school students reported that their mental health was most of the time or always not good. (Poor mental health includes stress, anxiety, and depression, during the 30 days before the survey) In 2021 41.4% of Montana high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless (almost every …
Shared from the CADCA blog post. Two alarming studies were released recently that highlight the association between cannabis use and serious health concerns. One study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, analyzed the information from over 4.6 million individual health records and found that cannabis users were six times more likely …
Substance use among teens often increases during school breaks. Research shows that substance abuse spikes during school vacations, especially in the summer and winter. This trend stands out compared to school months, where structure and daily routines create natural barriers. In contrast, vacation periods remove those boundaries, leaving more time for risky choices. Many young …
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