Articles and Blog Posts

One thing we know to be true is that life constantly presents challenges, some far more emotionally painful and complex than others. All of us who call Boston home have had to confront that reality repeatedly over the last year. As we approach the first anniversary of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon Finishing Line last year, I believe it is important to look back and understand how we have come together as a community to navigate the horror to find strength and room for the possibility of embracing another day.

A recent survey of more than 1,000 teens, released by the American Psychological Association, reports that teens describe experiencing stress similar to patterns that adults indicate. In fact, the teens surveyed described levels of stress during the school year to be higher than those that adults report.

Massachusetts is embarking on a new frontier with the legalization of medical marijuana. It has been voted in and will be a “landscape changer” for the Commonwealth. There is work being done to insure that the regulations for dispensing are clear. It is important to distinguish between the medical use of marijuana and recreational use however.

Thanksgiving is now behind us and we are rapidly approaching the Christmas season. The “air” is abuzz with so much stimulation and activity. Many comment on how much there is to do, how little time there is to accomplish tasks, and generally seem to lament rather than enjoy. I personally find this time of year to be incredibly special and lovely.

As we celebrate the recent Red Sox World Series Victory and warmly embrace what it teaches us about resilience, collaboration and belief the calendar has turned over to November. With that we begin the rapid track to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. YHC is marking our 20th Anniversary year with a focus on “Healthy Lifestyles: Focus on Family”.

As the academic year draws to a close, it is important to take a moment to reflect, review, evaluate. We encourage children and teens to see report cards as feedback that illustrates what they have gained over the year in order to be open to continued learning and development. I think it is important that as adults, we do the same. YHC has focused this year on the topic of Grief, Trauma and Loss.

We have all been witness to unspeakable senseless tragedy and horror in the bombings at the Boston Marathon. The event has triggered for most of us an emotional avalanche with feelings of disbelief, anger, fear, sorrow and sadness. As adults, many find it incomprehensible and therefore struggle to know how to correctly respond to our children and their questions, and how as communities we can regain our footing and focus.

With a quick turn of the old fashioned paper calendar we have moved into February. Suddenly everything appears to be festooned with red hearts. I like to think of February and hearts as much more than a singular Hallmark moment. While we are all encouraged to wear red throughout the month, having good heart health means combining emotional well being with physical well being.

Friday morning December 14th our nation’s belief of children’s safety was shattered by a single gunman who entered the sanctuary of an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut and then proceeded to massacre 20 children age 6 to 7 years old and 6 adults including the school principal, school psychologist and 4 teachers. The enormity of the tragedy has triggered a profound collective grief and unending questions of why, how and what could have been done to prevent it.

As the month of December begins, I find myself reflecting on a number of things that I think are important to everyone. The airwaves, television, internet and newspapers are full of ads for Christmas sales and gifts promising us the best value and opportunity to buy something that will bring joy. Each December as I sit in my office and work with people clinically, I am struck by how much pressure and stress people feel to create the perfect or fantasy holiday. I can hear my own words over and over to them, encouraging them to stop, breathe, deliberately decide on what you can do and what you want to do during the holiday season.

As I watch the winds furiously blow and listen to them howl, I am reminded of how important it is to have safe harbors and the fundamental role they play in helping us feel secure, attached and anchored.

As I sit at my desk writing this column I am reminded how September arrives with fresh cool air that hints at fall and the months that follow. I hope you enjoyed a summer that offered time to relax, refuel, and restore you so you return with new vigor and energy. We have a year planned with a focus on Helping Youth Cope with Grief, Trauma and Loss. Our goal is to provide adults insights and practical information for addressing the critical and challenging issues that accompany loss and trauma.

Wednesday, May 9th marks the 7th Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA.)

We know it is unrealistic to envision a life lived free of stress and pressure. The reality of life today mandates that adults take an active role in helping children and adolescents develop the tools and strategies necessary for coping with the different...

The tragic development of the past week with the school shooting in Ohio once again highlights how critical it is to really know our students and to “Notice, Talk and Act.” The goal of the seminar, “Typical or Troubled,” is to ensure that all adults who have roles...

The year-end holidays are behind us and we have once again turned the calendar to January. In the spirit of a new year, January is traditionally the time when many of us set resolutions for change, improvement and new behaviors. But alas, in spite of our best intentions and sincerity, as the weeks and months go on, we often lose our focus on following through on those newly defined behaviors. This can be extremely demoralizing and defeating, but does not have to happen.

YHC is focused this year on stress, and how to teach our youth to deal with it positively and proactively. I recently had the opportunity to hear author Shawn Achor speak at a National Multiple Sclerosis Society meeting in Dallas.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I heard New York Times bestselling author William Powers discuss his book, “Hamlet’s Blackberry”. While we both share a strong interest in technology and how it is affecting lives today, we approach it from very different vantage points.

Approximately 90 teens from 8 South Shore schools participated in a full day training designed to give them a solid knowledge base regarding the development of the adolescent brain, the impact on the brain of alcohol and drugs and how to use Creative Problem Solving for delivering the message back to their peers.

On Tuesday, September 27th Youth Health Connection, in conjunction with both the Plymouth County District Attorney and the Norfolk County District Attorney, hosted a full day conference addressing Underage Substance Use and launched South Shore FACTS: Families, Adolescents and Communities Together Against Substances. FACTS will serve as a one year pilot project targeting the communities of Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell.

Welcome to September! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and that you feel rejuvenated and are ready for all that comes with return to school, schedules, homework, etc. Year after year I hear from parents, youth and professionals that September is the most challenging month of the year due to transitions, new challenges and pressures with too much to do with too little time to do it.

Summer time and the living is easy, or so the song goes.  It rings so true.  It does seem easier to be active, to get exercise, to play, to eat a nutritious diet with abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, to have less stress, to sleep well, and to enjoy time with...

It is indisputable that technology in the 21st century is shaping lives, relationships, communication, culture, political revolutions, business, education, delivery of medical care and research, essentially every aspect of life today. The pace with which technological advances are being made is rapid and will not be slowed.