Many US states now allow mental health absences for students
Linnea Sorensen is a 17-year-old student from Schaumburg, Illinois northwest of Chicago. She falls into a funk every time her girlfriend of four years leaves for her six-month stints with the Marine Corps. Linnea has trouble focusing on her schoolwork when she gets like this. "I'm somebody who Read More...
Teens should be spending the "Goldilocks amount" of time online
It’s nothing new that mental illnesses - like anxiety and depression - are a growing issue among teenagers in recent years. While toxic happiness, high achievement pressure, and societal changes have all played their role, social media is a key contributing factor to this crisis. To shed light Read More...
Why teen anxiety is on the rise and how to help
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, so here at The Optimist Daily, we want to shine a light on this important subject. We're committed to helping break the stigma around mental illness, educating more people, and showing solidarity with those who are impacted by them. Over the past two years, Read More...
5 tips to get your teen the sleep they need
If you’re the parent of a teen, you probably have more than enough on your hands without worrying about how much sleep your child gets. The issue is that regular sleep deprivation can affect teens even more than it affects adults. Sleep deprivation can increase chances of health issues like Read More...
An effective treatment for gaming and internet addiction in teens
Everyone loves playing games. Whether that be a physical sport, board games, or video games, there is something innately human about wanting to play them. But for some, these hobbies can become addictive. The World Health Organization now recognizes being addicted to video games as a disease. Read More...
Teen drug use significantly decreased during the pandemic
We will see the impacts of the pandemic on kids for years to come, but according to researchers from the University of Michigan, the pandemic did positively impact drug use among teens. According to their survey, the percentage of youth who used an illicit drug other than marijuana decreased by a Read More...
Kids on the Nice List
“If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children.” - Mahatma Gandhi Christmas is just around the corner, and we heard that even Santa Claus is bidding adieu to coal this year. That’s right, Santa is going green, but we have it on good authority that he’s ditching Read More...
7 Reasons to sign your teen up for Model UN
Following the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, your child may be asking some questions about what exactly the UN is and how they can get involved in advocating for a better world through diplomacy. Fortunately, Model UN (MUN) programs in school are a perfect place for young adults to get Read More...
Study: Pandemic lockdowns offered mental health relief for some teens
The isolation of the pandemic took a toll on global mental health, but for many of us, the mandatory break had some mental health benefits as well. It gave us an opportunity to hit ‘pause,’ spend more time focusing on self-care and enjoy some much-needed rest time. Researchers from the Read More...
Help your teen find purpose through activism and volunteering
All parents hope to raise empathetic and altruistic kids, but this can feel more difficult during the teenage years as kids begin to assert their independence. Research has shown that volunteer work and activism is good for our physical and mental health. This work can be particularly impactful for Read More...