COVID-19 & Youth Mental Health
Year 3, Week 11 (113 total reports)
COVID-19 & Youth Mental Health
08.06.2022-13.06.2022
This Week’s Top Links
How To Spot Signs Of Emotional Trauma In Kids, According To An Expert
https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/signs-emotional-trauma-children
This article has a lot of expert insights into recognizing trauma in children. Parent(s) and guardians are often the first to recognize that something is going wrong with nonverbal children, tweens and traumatized teens (who often can’t articulate their feelings). The article reminds us that trauma can be stored in the body and may not show up for days, weeks, months, even years after an adverse event. Children may not be able to discuss their discomfort, but they may reveal it through a change in patterns (sleep, eating, studying) and even communicating through repetitive patterns of play. This article will help you be more alert to these signs.
13.06.2022
‘I’m, Like, This Close to Snapping’
https://apple.news/AMnIfc7d1Q7WBC0LzP6vnwA
This interview recalls the feelings of hopelessness and anger experienced by a young person who experienced the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The youth (who uses the pronouns, “They/Them”) recalls how that was supposed to be the LAST mass shooting and yet… the numbers have skyrocketed since then (I won’t list the number of mass shootings this year as there is a new mass shooting everyday in the US). They/Them recall the rage experienced as the mass shooting epidemic has dragged on and the utter uselessness displayed by politicians owned by the NRA and their powerful lobby. This week saw the Republicans in the Senate make some public relations movement towards gun restrictions, but certainly nothing meaningful. It is doubtful that this young person is going to see any change soon and we must keep up the pressure to bring sanity back to the gun debate.
12.06.2022
Why don't some people view the world the same way as others?
https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/why-don-t-some-people-view-the-world-the-same-way-as-others
This is one of those articles that I really love. It looks at the scientific evidence behind the “Gestalt Brain,” that tends to see parts of situations and turn them into a whole narrative. This was an important aspect of our evolutionary survival at one time. But now, it often locks us into cognitive shutdown, closed mindedness, around issues that need more than a cursory glance. Issues like Gun Control, COVID and the overthrow of democracy. Authoritarians love to manipulate the Gestalt Brain and often feed the media bits of false information that will entice a Gestalt response in followers. If you’re not familiar with the term “Gestalt” it is worth looking it up before you read this article.
11.06.2022
Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/big-feelings-okay-things-not-okay-bookbite/34287/
If you’ve kindly followed my previous blogs, then you will know I often post links to the “The Next Big Idea” and the books they promote. This article is well-worth the read. Many people at this time have Big Feelings and—for our children and some teens—much of their day is filled with Big Feelings (feelings they can’t define and often leave them incapacitated). In order to help them, we have to know how to regulate our own Big Feelings and this book will assist. Since so many around us have Big Feelings, we can do them a service by learning the how’s and why’s in this book.
10.06.2022
It’s a terrifying time to have kids in America. It doesn’t have to be this way.
https://apple.news/AVlz7RcdrRQaC6vNuQRmArg
This article is timely and right on the money. The author, Anna North, makes the point that it’s hard enough to even feed a baby these days with the shortage of formula, let alone the sky-rocketing costs of inflation. Ms. North brings out many policies that lead her to state that, “this country hates children.” These “Adult Concerns” cannot help but affect those raising children or providing for them. I agree with the encouraging solution highlighted by Ms. North; an increased need for us to seek and build community.
09.06.2022
Cancer etiquette: How to talk to people with a dreaded disease
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/09/cancer-patient-comforting-words/
There are very few of us whose life has not been affected by cancer. After COVID, there will be very few of us whose life will not be affected by that disease too. This book is a plea (and a watershed) for those who wish to meaningfully be present to those facing cancer or who have lost someone due to the disease. Often, we hear people say, “I can’t imagine…” well, we HAVE to imagine. Let’s dare to venture inward toward those experiences, it is the only way to build the necessary empathy we must have to help each other through this pandemic—and the continuing ravages of cancer.
08.06.2022
Don’t Forget the First Half of the Second Amendment
https://apple.news/A9PzuYggTRjKKSVVrPPvEwg
Our country approaches the Second Amendment through the lens of the NRA, their lens only sees half of the second amendment. They look at the RIGHT to bear arms, but they don’t examine the RESPONSIBILITY of bearing arms. Every right has a responsibility and the second half of the second amendment defines that responsibility for those who wish to purchase and use guns. The second half of the second amendment tells us (according to the author, Thomas P. Crocker), “We can be free, but only if we regulate guns—just as the Second Amendment tells us.”
This Week’s Links
14.06.2022
How To Spot Signs Of Emotional Trauma In Kids, According To An Expert
https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/signs-emotional-trauma-children
Teacher’s Tearful Resignation Goes Viral: ‘Teaching is Like a Bad Marriage'
https://tinybeans.com/teacher-tearful-resignation-live-stream/
The State Finally Letting Teens Sleep In
https://apple.news/AZJCBD_S4SqCoJJ8lh55eNA
Winners of the 2022 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition
13.06.2022
‘I’m, Like, This Close to Snapping’
https://apple.news/AMnIfc7d1Q7WBC0LzP6vnwA
You don’t need to get in someone’s face. Here are 5 other ways to manage conflict and create change
How to Lead with Curiosity, Courage and Compassion
https://www.inc.com/how-to-lead-with-curiosity-courage-and-compassion.html
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: An Animated Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown of the Ancient Chinese Treatise
Don’t be complacent, another Covid wave is coming. Here’s how we can manage it
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/13/rise-covid-cases-what-we-know-so-far
The Covid Pandemic Is Far From Over — Here’s What It Will Take To End It
Did You Test Positive for COVID at Home? Here's What to Do
https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/did-you-test-positive-for-covid-at-home-heres-what-to-do/
Ukrainian Refugees Feature in Powerful Short Film From UN Refugee Agency – Global Bulletin
https://variety.com/2022/film/global/ukraine-refugee-unhcr-short-film-1235292178/
12.06.2022
Why don't some people view the world the same way as others?
https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/why-don-t-some-people-view-the-world-the-same-way-as-others
More states are allowing students to take mental health days off
https://apple.news/AbksFkMM8T5a13j_iyN0FSQ
I talked to 70 parents who raised highly successful kids—here are the 4 hard parenting rules that make them different
Pre-travel testing requirement lifted: What you need to know about the new US travel policy
11.06.2022
Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/big-feelings-okay-things-not-okay-bookbite/34287/
US lifts COVID-19 test requirement for international travel
https://apnews.com/af509c58df1c931caac6ecf957ea1aed
9 Things You Learn Only After Failing
https://www.inc.com/ben-sherry/learning-from-failure-reddit.html
A Negative COVID Test Has Never Been So Meaningless
https://apple.news/A-xl9-1N0SBCW7aGj3qGuVw
Moderna says its vaccine is safe for babies, and travelers won't need COVID tests
Diseases suppressed during Covid are coming back in new and peculiar ways
https://apple.news/A4HO5-PTtRwOzESHO05DSBA
10.06.2022
It’s a terrifying time to have kids in America. It doesn’t have to be this way.
https://apple.news/AVlz7RcdrRQaC6vNuQRmArg
COVID Linked to Dramatic Increase in Children's Risk of Mental Health Problems
8 Fantastic Online Parenting Classes To Try, Including Free Classes
https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/online-parenting-classes
Bill Gates Just Said We Have a 50 Percent Chance of Another Pandemic in the Next 20 Years. Here's How He Thinks We Should Prepare
https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/bill-gates-pandemic-preparation.html
Funniest Jokes from the Last 100 Years
09.06.2022
Cancer etiquette: How to talk to people with a dreaded disease
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/09/cancer-patient-comforting-words/
COVID shuttered schools when I was a freshman. Returning in person as a junior was rockier than I expected.
https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2022/6/8/23153595/back-to-school-after-covid-anxiety
Witnesses to Uvalde Brought the Horror They Saw to Congress
Matthew McConaughey's Message of "Real Leadership" is the Truth All Leaders Need to Hear
Surprising Side Effects From COVID
https://apple.news/AGz8J6WIlQcexFi9knECUpQ
Moderna says new booster for fall could be 'turning point' in COVID fight
https://apple.news/AxIBtydPMQQGzHdkcB4dLxA
US has a "very serious" problem with Covid-19 vaccine uptake
https://apple.news/AcDm9cfn9S5ejJq8m6KZQoA
Listen: New COVID vaccine nears authorization as FDA to review vaccine for kids
Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad)
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/future-tense-anxiety-good-even-though-feels-bad-bookbite/34245/
10 Adolescent Depression Books for Parents
https://bookriot.com/adolescent-depression-books-for-parents/
08.06.2022
Don’t Forget the First Half of the Second Amendment
https://apple.news/A9PzuYggTRjKKSVVrPPvEwg
Editorial cartoon: Drew Sheneman on arming teachers
https://www.startribune.com/editorial-cartoon-drew-sheneman-on-arming-teachers/600180104/
Hospital leaders: 'Mask up' amid new COVID-19 surge in Washington state
Can new COVID vaccine win over the anti-vaxxers?
https://www.mendocinobeacon.com/2022/06/07/can-new-covid-vaccine-win-over-the-anti-vaxxers/
Can I Trust My Rapid Covid-19 Test if It Says I’m Negative?