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Sharing – The impact of Facebook and Instagram on teens isn’t so clear
ByMikeM December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Reading Time: 2 minutes

In the end, here’s the thing. You, and your kids, are not a study. You are all individuals, who may be negatively impacted by social media, or not. You may need to consider not using it, you may need to consider changing up who you’re following to get stuff that is good for your mental health into your feeds, or you may be perfectly fine using it the way you are. It might even be helping you and having a positive impact on your lives.

Only you can truly judge that. If it’s harming you, I hope you’ll consider making changes. Follow the social media accounts for this blog if you want to start getting more information like this, or just stop using it altogether. If it’s helping you feel supported and less alone in the world, then enjoy that and I hope you’ll continue to share that within your social media circles.

As I have said many times – do what works for you.

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Sharing – Texas parents must now sign-off on child abuse, dating violence education
ByMikeM December 20, 2021December 19, 2021 Reading Time: 2 minutes

I’m afraid that I have the same concerns about this change in Texas law. “School districts in Texas are now required to teach students about dating violence, family violence, child abuse and sex trafficking after a new law went into effect in early December. But advocates are concerned that a last-minute change to the law’s…

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Sharing – Looking for support during the holidays? Check out these free resources
ByMikeM December 16, 2021August 28, 2025 Reading Time: 1 minute

Mental Health America put together some resources in one place that might prove helpful for anyone just looking to talk, whether it be through a Warmline, a peer-to-peer chat, or if need be, a crisis line.

As you go through the holidays, whatever that might look like for you, it might not hurt to keep this link handy so that you can easily find a place to help feel a little less alone in what you are dealing with.

Read More Sharing – Looking for support during the holidays? Check out these free resources
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Sharing – Kindness Is Action
ByMikeM December 15, 2021December 15, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

Kindness matters, and kids who see kindness not just directed at them, but acts of kindness that they witness second-hand, have fewer signs of anxiety and other issues.

But, as in most things, some groups are much more likely to see kindness and support directed at them, while others, especially minority and LGBTQ kids generally don’t see kindness around them as often.

Seems to me that is a simple fix for this. Work at being kind to everyone. It clearly matters to kids, and even though this study doesn’t show it, I would bet it matters to adults as well!

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Recommendations

Some Concrete Ways You Can Support Someone Struggling With Their Mental Health
ByMikeM December 11, 2021December 10, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

But, I will ask challenge you to go read the article because whether you give a coupon or not, the ideas are solid examples of the kinds of things you can do for someone you care about who is struggling. Often we avoid someone who we know is struggling because we are uncomfortable, not knowing what to do to help them. Well, here you go. Here are 21 things you can do. If you’re in proximity to the person, you can help them with necessary chores like laundry or grocery shopping, or simply accompany them on a walk. If you are maintaining contact with them at a distance, you can still have coffee together, offer a safe place to vent, or assist them with medicine copays. There are plenty of other ideas in the coupons and maybe just thinking about some of these examples will inspire some ideas of your own that would be appreciated by the folks you know.

What else? What can you do for the folks who need someone to simply be there and offer to help do something? Anything.

Or, what was something that someone did for you when you were struggling? What do you wish someone had done?

Feel free to share your own ideas.

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Sharing – Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warns about youth mental health
ByMikeM December 9, 2021December 9, 2021 Reading Time: 2 minutes

I appreciate the fact that the current Surgeon General seems to understand that dealing with mental health issues in the US is not going to be one simple thing that makes it all better. This quote demonstrates that he understands that the problem is multi-dimensional and that any solution will also have to be:

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