Decades of research in the behavioral and social sciences have produced substantial evidence that children who do well despite serious hardship have had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other...
The Masai tribe of West Africa is known for their intelligence, fearsome strength, and praiseworthy nobility. When they meet one another, members say "Kasserina Engeri", which translates to English as, "How are the children"; the invariable reply is,...
NPR's Laura Starecheski, in "Can Family Secrets Make You Sick?," describes the medical science which explains how adverse childhood experiences lead to chronic adult illnesses, including heart disease and cancer. Her excellent report was the...
With a concern about inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications to children, 31 states have implemented prior authorization policies for atypical antipsychotic prescribing, mostly within the past 5 years, and with most states...
Workers with depression had improved mental health and were more productive after completing a phone-based intervention that focused on restoring their ability to work, according to a national study published in Psychiatric Services in Advance,...
“I trust you to curl m y hair,” I said to my twelve-year old as she came at my sizable forehead with a h ot electrical appliance. “And that’s saying something,” I added, “Because those things can hurt. Plus, I can...
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” "The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet." "Even the longest journey must begin where you stand." Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531...
A point I have tried to make since I was told about it in 2010 is that successful people can hurt too. What do I mean by successful? I guess it would be like me, of like the woman in this story aired on NPR . We are people who have tried to do things...
Most colleges require students to go through some sort of alcohol education program. When I was a freshman in college, I was required to play a video game that involved helping Franklin the frog navigate through various college parties without...
There is a cartoon circulating right now of two people holding protest signs — one is black, the other white. The black figure holds a sign that reads "I Can't Breathe;" the white figure holds a sign that reads "I Can't See." Recently, I...
In parts of Berlin, racial segregation in schools is far from official policy, but it is often a reality. In the fast-gentrifying district of Neukölln, young, mainly white professionals usually move away as soon as their kids reach...
New guidelines from the World Health Organization are enough to kill anyone's sugar high. The U.N. health agency says the world is eating too much sugar and people should slash their intake to just six to 12 teaspoons per...
On this wintry March day in the Philadelphia region it is heart warming and inspiring to read about another community, Kalamazoo County in Michigan, that is getting organized and 'join[ing] together in creating a community that is child- affirming." Here are three simple steps they are recommending for their community: First, join us on Facebook at Raising Kalamazoo County. Second, attend one of the community meetings listed there where you will meet others...
Shame is a sense of being totally unlovable… worthless. While guilt is a feeling we have when we feel bad about what we have done, shame is when we feel bad about who we are. Shame can be the result of deep hurt, abandonment, abuse, neglect or...
Crises and self-doubt plague all of us at different times in our lives. A natural response is to want to escape the turmoil and angst, and return to solid ground as quick as possible. Yet when we can remain open to suffering, and not shut...