Once again, summer break flew by and here we are again getting our teens back to middle and high school and off to college. I find this a challenging time of year, as we go from easy-going beach days, sleeping in, impromptu meals at varying times of day, to a much...
It’s hard to believe that summer is here! I’m sure many of you have teens who are excited to spend the summer hanging out with their friends and relaxing at the beach. This break from the structure and demands of school are a welcome relief to most families....
Mental health exists on a spectrum from mental wellness to mental distress. On any given day we might be anywhere on that spectrum and we might move around the spectrum throughout the day. It is important for all of us to discuss our mental well-being openly and...
By Amy Neville In the last several years, fentanyl has been infiltrating the illicit drug market. For most of us who don’t use drugs recreationally, this seems like a benign fact. For parents with adolescents, the danger may still seem like a very distant...
Family Fest will be held on Saturday, April 23rd from 11AM to 4PM at the Jim Johnson Memorial Park in San Clemente. The fun-filled day will have activities that appeal to all ages. Come early at 10AM with your yoga mat to join us for some free morning yoga! Families...
Parents and guardians have been protecting their child from dangers on and off the road for many years and then they suddenly find themselves handing over the keys to the family car during the teen years. While a teen may look and sound like an adult once they get...
Have you lost a loved one to a drug or illicit substance overdose? You are not alone. Preliminary data released by the CDC show that drug overdose deaths reached a record high of 93,331 in 2020. While these estimates are not final, this number is 20,000 deaths higher...
September is suicide prevention awareness month, yet suicide is a difficult subject to talk about. In recent years, headlines have reported celebrities' deaths by suicide bringing this topic to the forefront. When we hear that someone has died by suicide, whether it...
The Wellness & Prevention Center has been supporting families as they return back to school for five years, and there are some common concerns that we hear from teens, families, and educators each year. I have been in touch with administrators at our middle and...
A recent study published in the Journal of American Public Health reports that 67.7% of youth surveyed reported decreasing or quitting e-cigarette use during the COVID-19 pandemic. This promising trend comes only two years after the US Surgeon General declared youth...