Self-injury Awareness Month: Autistic children hospitalized with self-injurious behavior have low IQs, finds study Children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an elevated risk of engaging in self-injurious behavior (SIB). However, limited knowledge exists regarding the risk factors associated with the prevalence of self-injury among children with ASD who need to be […]

A recent survey commissioned by three United Kingdom-based charities – SelfharmUK, YoungMinds and The Mix – investigated the prevalence of self-inflicted injury among 1,009 British teens and young adults aged 16 to 25. The results, released on March 1, 2018, suggested that 36 percent respondents had intentionally harmed themselves at some point in their lifetime. […]

Not all violence stems from mental health problems, yet every macabre incident involving students forces the authorities to be more vigilant and take appropriate action. Broward County Sheriff officials apprehended Zachary Cruz (18), brother of the infamous school shooter Nicholas Cruz, on charges of transgressing the Marjory Stoneman Douglas compound on March 19, 2018. The […]

The transition from high school to college can be an emotional roller-coaster for many teens. Adolescents standing on the cusp of adulthood can experience mixed emotions – on one hand, they will be excited to start a new chapter in their lives, while on the other, they will be worried about issues such as academic […]

Several famous personalities (including royalty, celebrities, investors and high-ranking technology company executives) recently highlighted the ill effects of social media on the mental health of youngsters. On the other hand, there are some who have made it their life’s mission to advocate children’s safety and emotional well-being in a social media- and smartphone-obsessed world. Since […]

Girls reaching puberty at an early ageare more susceptible to depression and behavioral anomalies in their 20s compared to their peers experiencing menstruation at a normal age, according to a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics in December 2017. The researchers analyzed around 7,800 females who had their menarche (first menstrual cycle) when they […]

Depression is increasing at a striking rate among adolescents in the United States. While depression can strike people of all age groups, income levels and education, adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to factors, such as family economics, cyberbullying and problematic social media use. A recent study, led by a Rutgers University-Camden researcher, suggested that black […]

Over the last few years, considerable attention has been given to deliberate, non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents since it is considered a gateway to suicide. Focus has also increased on the detrimental impact of cyber-bullying on youngsters’ emotional health and well-being. However, limited research exists regarding “digital self-harm,” also known as “self-trolling” or “self-cyberbullying.” Digital self-harm […]

Ronnie was 14 years old when he beat his little sister with a golf club for getting a hole-in-one at miniature golf. His sister was all right, but Ronnie’s mother grew very concerned about him. His grades were slipping in school and he had to be reminded to do every little thing. His temper was […]

All people have a characteristic style of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes them unique. The set of distinct traits, behavioral and relational styles, and thought processes that influence who we are, and how we perceive ourselves and the world around us all comprise our personalities, which develop when we are young and persist throughout […]