Mental Health Archives - Healthy Lombard

BULLYING AND ADOLESCENT SUICIDE

Adelaide Robb, MD, Chief of the Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, specializing in pediatric mood disorders, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder shared with Rise and Shine that according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics, bullied teens are twice as likely to consider suicide and nearly two-and-a-half times as likely to actually attempt suicide. In addition, the study found that teens who were cyberbullied were more than three times as likely to contemplate suicide as other kids.

The implications of bullying

Bullying makes a child feel hopeless, helpless, and hated, which can lead to low self-esteem, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Dr. Robb.

In response to the study, Dr. Robb said, “It’s not just bullying.” She noted that bullying is just one of many potential contributors that can lead to suicide. Other risk factors include depression, bipolar disorder, psychiatric disorders, physical abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, LBGT, or a prior suicide attempt.

Bullying is no longer just a problem that arises at recess or on the school bus. With advances in technology, kids can bully others through devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication channels like social media sites, apps, text messages, chat, and websites.

Traditional bullying vs. cyberbullying

While previous studies reported that traditional bullying and cyberbullying were equally harmful, this study found that cyberbullying increased the risk of suicide in children.

Cyberbullying can intensify a teen’s vulnerability because it allows peers to post negative messages anonymously and can also quickly reach a wider audience, Dr. Robb explained. While a teen may be able to delete inappropriate messages, texts, or photos, the content is stored online, which could result in a victim reliving these previous demeaning experiences. Read more

Parenting Teens in the Age of Social Media

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago recently polled nearly 3,000 current or recent parents of teenagers to better understand their most pressing concerns and challenges with social media, as well as trends in behavior exhibited by their children. They found that the demands of parenting this generation of teenagers are unique, most notably because of social media. Social media has a dramatic influence on many young people and poses unique challenges for parents. We recently polled 2,000 current or recent parents of teenagers, in order to understand their most pressing concerns and challenges with social media, as well as trends in behavior exhibited by their children.

Like so many tools, social media can be constructive or destructive, depending on how it’s used. We acknowledge the merits of social media and the many ways it can enrich a young person’s life, but we’ve focused this investigation on the concerns it raises for parents, and how it can threaten a young person’s social and psychological well-being. As it turns out, those concerns are widespread. A full 58 percent of parents say they believe social media has a net negative effect on their children.

The consequences of excessive social media use

As we see it, the consequences of social media split into two broad categories: what social media takes children away from (sleep, face-to-face interaction, schoolwork, etc.) and what social media exposes them to (hate speech, sexual content, etc.). While all register as significant consequences, parents tend to be more concerned about what gets sacrificed when by the amount of time spent on social media. The top three concerns are: not getting enough sleep, not getting enough physical activity, and not focusing on schoolwork. Read more

Mental health symptoms in school-aged children in four communities

September 15, 2020/0 Comments/in Children's Health, Mental Health /by Juanita

A CDC study examined mental health symptoms in four different U.S. school districts. Based on the teacher and parent report, about 1 in 6 students have enough behavioral or emotional symptoms and impairment to be diagnosed with a childhood mental disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common, followed by oppositional defiant disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Teachers identified boys, non-Hispanic black students, and students receiving free or reduced-price lunch more often as high risk for mental disorders than their peers in most sites, but there were generally no demographic differences in the percentage of students who met the criteria for a mental disorder based on parent report. The rates varied among the different sites.

Schools, communities, and healthcare providers can use this information to plan for healthcare and school service needs of children and adolescents with mental disorders. Screening, identifying, and referring children and adolescents to effective treatments can help reduce and prevent the negative effects of mental disorders.

Self-care Tips during the Pandemic

September 12, 2020/0 Comments/in Health, Mental Health /by Juanita

Edward-Elmhurst Health shared that we’ve been dealing with coronavirus for months, and the end is not yet in sight. The social, financial, psychological, and physical stressors surrounding the pandemic have been challenging in many ways.

It’s time to take care of yourself. Practicing self-care can help you and your family be better equipped to get through this time together.

Here are seven tips for self-care during the pandemic:

- Eat regularly. It may sound simple, but getting enough nutrition gives us the energy we need to get through the days, think clearly and quickly, and sleep better at night. If regular meals are difficult try to keep a stash of healthy, protein-packed snacks on hand.
- Keep moving. Even if you don’t have time for your usual workout, getting in 15 minutes physical activity can improve your quality of sleep and help reduce stress. Squeeze in an exercise where you can — take the stairs, walk the dog, jog with your kids as they bike.
- Prioritize sleep. Hold your sleep time sacred as an important part of your self-care. It’s tempting to stay up a few extra minutes to watch that show, check social media, or play games on your phone — don’t. Your sleep is a critical part of restoring your mind and body and recharging for the next day.
Read more

8 Science-backed Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

August 3, 2020/0 Comments/in Exercise, Mental Health /by Juanita

Christine Castillo, from siege media, shared with Healthy Lombard that starting the day off right might mean a big glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee. For others, it’s that morning run, yoga session, or full-body workout at the gym. Exercise is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy from a physical standpoint. But not many know about the mental health benefits of exercise. It goes a long way towards helping improve things like mood and can even help combat depression.

The recommended daily workout from the World Health Organization (WHO) is 75-150 per week. If you can work that into your routine within the week you should start feeling the benefits.

Top 15 Best Exercises For Depression And Anxiety

July 29, 2020/0 Comments/in Exercise, Mental Health /by Juanita

Andy Brown from HomeGym101.com shared an article byPetrolene Le Roux who wrote that Anxiety was barely known as an illness before the 19th century. Anxiety is caused by worrying about the future. Depression is a prolonged state of sadness because of past events and experiences.

Most people experience anxiety or depression at some point in their lives. Many physicians prescribe mental and physical exercises to improve a patient’s state of mind.

Here are some of the best exercises for anxiety and depression.

It is not a one size fits all. Find an exercise that resonates with you and your lifestyle.

Mental And Breathing Exercises

Mental and breathing exercises help you relieve stress and tension from your body. It helps the body to release feel-good hormones. It also decreases hormones that cause stress symptoms like increased heart rate and shallow breathing.

1. Relaxation Through Breathing

By changing your breathing, you can stimulate the body’s hormonal system to get you into a relaxed state. You can also reverse the symptoms of a stress response, like increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and tense muscles. Read more

Parents Guide to Internet Safety: Keeping Your Child Safe Online

July 20, 2020/0 Comments/in Children's Health, Mental Health /by Juanita

Alex Horsman, Community Blog Manager at Caller Smart shared with Healthy Lombard that as of 2015, 92% of teens reported going online at least once per day. Of that 92%, there were 24% of teens who said they are online constantly. On average children ages, 8 to 18 are spending 44.5 hours per week in front of screens.

Why Is Internet Safety Important?

With such high exposure to the internet, it’s necessary to teach our kids how to protect themselves online. Whether it be from predators, identity thieves, cyberbullies, or simply inappropriate material, it’s important for parents to show their children how to protect themselves and avoid dangerous situations.

This is no easy task – children today are born in the digital age and there is a myriad of social media and game sites that can be difficult for adults to wrap their heads around. Snapchat, Ask.fm, Kik, Whisper, Minecraft, Tumblr, Instagram, Pokémon GO, the list goes on and on. New apps and social media sites are being launched every day, for a more in-depth look at the type of activities adolescents are involved with online EveryCloud has created this internet safety infographic which breaks down online activity and the different risks.

Due to the ever-changing landscape online and the risks it poses, it’s important to maintain an open dialogue with your children about their internet use and how to stay safe by protecting personal details and not trusting strangers. Read more

STRESSED ????

July 18, 2020/0 Comments/in Mental Health /by Juanita

If you’re feeling stressed during quarantine, you’re not alone.

Being under lockdown throws off your groove, disrupts your daily routine, and adds uncertainty to your life.

That’s why Coupon Chief created an infographic with some relaxing DIY self-care hacks you can use to help you de-stress.

From at-home manicures to luxurious homemade hair masks, these self-care tricks will leave you feeling revitalized and most importantly, relaxed.

Here’s a sample of one of their ideas:

Follow and Join Social Profiles

You can also join freebie groups on Facebook. For example, Free Beauty Samples is a Facebook-specific group that frequently posts freebies and discounts.

Be sure to follow cosmetics brands on social media. Brands are getting bigger on social platforms and often share sales and exclusive deals with their social followers. You could even try DMing a brand to request a sample!

Home Improvements to Help Boost Your Mental Health

July 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Mental Health /by Juanita

Courtney McNally, the Content Creator at MyJobQuote shared with Healthy Lombard that a home is more than just a roof over your head; it plays an essential part in your life and wellbeing. For those suffering from mental health issues, a happy and secure home can make all the difference. We’ve created a few home improvement tips for those wanting to boost their mental health, and they don’t cost a fortune either!

So, let’s look at how to improve mental health, by following useful tips such as installing a home gym, changing your lighting, and creating a happy kitchen.

Installing a Home Gym

In this section, we will explore the benefits associated with installing a home gym. Exercise can enhance a person’s mental health by bringing down anxiety levels, depression and negative moods. It can also improve cognitive function and self-esteem. Home gyms do not need to be particularly expensive, with budget versions possible for £100 or less. All you’ll need is to find an ideal spot in your household to set up a home gym and then acquire the necessary equipment.

Some of the basic elements to a home gym you should consider are an Olympic barbell, squat rack (which comes with a pull-up bar), weight plates (rubber or iron), a flat bench and a jump rope. Other equipment you could obtain on a budget includes resistance loop bands, an exercise mat, an upper body workout bar, and a punching bag or boxing punching ball. Read more

10 Minimalist Lifestyle Tips to De-Stress and Save Money

July 3, 2020/0 Comments/in Mental Health /by Juanita

Kayla Montgomery, Content Marketing Specialist, shared with Healthy Lombard that there are many pros to becoming a minimalist. You could consistently keep things clean without much effort, cut your budget, and manage your stress. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by things that clutter your workspace, life, and just about everything else, you’re able to focus on things and relationships that serve you.

Even though minimalism sounds rather simple, there are roadblocks that may trip you along the way. Keep reading to see Mint’s favorite tips for achieving stress-free minimalism habits.

1. Shop Quality

Rather than investing in fast fashion, find things that’ll serve for your years to come. You could find a bargain deal on a t-shirt, but it may not last you more than a year. Invest in things that’ll last you a lifetime, and that you’ll never get bored of.

2. Digitize Everything

If you’re a big book reader, consider getting a Kindle over purchasing books every week. Not only could you be saving some trees, but you’re also able to have all your favorite reads in one place.