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Tips that young kids might need support to thrive By Rae Jacobson, Daryaneh Badaly (Clinical Expert), Child Mind Institute, Image: screenshot from article , December 2, 2024 Quick Read It can be hard to tell if a preschool-age child is likely to have a learning disability. When kids are young, they develop skills at different speeds, and kids have different strengths and weaknesses. As they get older their abilities usually even out. But there are some signs in preschool and early school...

Emotional neglect. It’s a quiet relationship killer, slowly dimming the light between two people. Before you know it, you feel alone even when your partner is right there. I’ve been there. I remember that gnawing loneliness, the constant ache for a real emotional connection. It’s debilitating. My goal is to help anyone experiencing emotional neglect feel less alone. Consider this a safe space to find hope, gain clarity, and remember your worth. This comes from a place of empathy — not...

By Marcel Marchetti (Mental Health Europe), Image: AlexLinch/iStock , January 23, 2025 Growing up in precarity is hard, especially when the adults around you face their own mental health challenges. Let’s Talk about Children is a short, evidence-based, and child-centred psychosocial intervention to break the cycle of mental health problems, particularly among children in vulnerable situations. Marcel Marchetti, from Mental Health Europe, shares how it’s working in Europe today Mental health...

Helping kids navigate the fear and uncertainty of wildfires. By Ken Druck, Psychology Today, Image: Unsplash on Crowdstack tool , January 10, 2025 Years ago, many of my friends and neighbors were under siege by 70-mile-per-hour Santa Ana winds and wildfires, decimating their homes and obliterating their sense of safety and security. Terrifying reports and pictures of people running for their lives, burned-out homes, and tearfully devastated families who had lost everything flooded the media...

Research suggests that an increased risk of obesity for those who have early traumatic experiences can be reduced through positive experiences. Photo: 123RF By Ladan Hashemi (The Conversation), Radio New Zealand (RNZ), Photo: from article , January 14, 2025 Children with traumatic experiences in their early lives have a higher risk of obesity. But as our new research shows, this risk can be reduced through positive experiences. Childhood traumatic experiences are alarmingly common. Our...

We invite you to endorse DECADE OF THE CHILD with the National Prevention Science Coalition (NPSC). Please click here, Decade of the Child | NPSC , for the individual and organizational endorsement. Decades of scientific research have shown how to reduce child poverty and maltreatment, improve mental health, and afford children the opportunities they need to thrive. Yet, this knowledge has not been acted upon. As a result, rates of child depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues are...

If perfectionism is the enemy of good, compassionate, flexible striving for excellence may be the wiser approach.

To read more of Dr. Glenn Schiraldi's article, please click here, Breaking the Cycle of Adverse Childhood Experiences | Psychology Today . Image: Source Key points Effective parenting is a learned skill. Those who didn't see effective parenting modeled at home can nevertheless become very effective parents. The consistent application of effective parenting practices promotes healthy adjustment in children. Congratulations! You’ve worked hard to heal the inner wounds from childhood adversity...

To view the December 2024 newsletter, please click here, Take a Look inside TREC's first year! Dear TREC Community, What an extraordinary and exhilarating year 2024 has been for TREC! As we reflect on our journey, we are filled with immense pride and gratitude for all that we've accomplished together. From the launch of our 1.25.24 program to the milestone of December 5, 2024, we've seen remarkable progress: 3,300 TREC courses completed, 470 Trauma-Resilient Professionals Certified, and 22...

By Cleanthis Michael, Arianna M. Gard, Scott Tillem, et al, JAMA Pediatrics, Image: from Unsplash , October 28, 2024 Key Points Question Are there sensitive periods when parenting during childhood is associated with functional brain architecture during adolescence and, in turn, mental health during early adulthood? Findings This longitudinal cohort study of 173 youths demonstrated that associations between harsh parenting and brain architecture were widespread in early childhood, but...

Chloe is the director of The Taste of Mango (Picture: Alice Aedy) By Chloe Abrams, METRO, December 1, 2024 *Content warning* As a teenager, I felt trapped by my mum’s rules. Boyfriends were forbidden. She rarely let me go out alone. And I was never allowed to go for sleepovers. I was 14 when I finally convinced her to let me stay at a friend’s house, but in the middle of the night she had to come and pick me up. I pretended I was homesick to hide my real reason for not being able to sleep –...

By Chris Tompins, LGBTQ Nation, Image: screenshot from site , December 1, 2024 The following is an excerpt from “Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground” by Chris Tompkins We cannot fully address the increase in anti-LGBTQ legislation, queerphobia, bullying, shame, and their effects without exploring trauma. When we think of trauma, most of us think of a rape, murder, death, catastrophic event, or natural disaster. And while these are unequivocally...