According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory and the Department of Health and Human Services, up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.” While there is evidence that shows that social media does have benefits, there are also indicators that it can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of our kids.

Friendship is the building block on which our children’s social skills are built and the space where kids begin to understand who they are. As parents and caregivers, we can encourage our kids to choose their friends wisely by having regular conversations around questions like these:

Involving our teens in conversations about internet safety is key to understanding the challenges and opportunities they experience online. TikTok took a positive step by committing to working in partnership with parents and caregivers as they support their kid's digital journey. As part of that effort, TikTok polled teens on what support they valued as it relates to online safety. Here's what the kids said:

Smartphones have become a constant companion in our teens' lives. From connection with family and friends to entertainment and background noise, young people rely on their smartphones for different types of mental health support, relaxation, and distraction—at home and at school, and during the day and night.

90% of addictions start in the high school years. Additionally, 1 in 4 who began using substances before age 18 have an addiction, compared to 1 in 25 who began at age 21 or older.

Here are a few strategies that can be beneficial for improving study habits and decreasing stress

If your child has been asking questions about violent conflicts and things they've seen, or you simply want to get ahead of other information sources they may run into, these tips can help ground them and reduce their anxiety.

On the surface, the fear of missing out (FOMO), promises that we will maximize our lives, our fun, our happiness, our coolness because we won’t miss anything—and therefore won’t miss the best.

If you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, coach, teacher etc., check out this sampling of slang words below,

...brought to you by Tristan Clinton, a former Teen Esteem

Junior Ambassador during his sophomore year at DVC.

All adolescents experience stress and anxiety. It's important to distinguish normal levels of stress with overwhelming stress. Click here to read more.

Parents can be the most influential voice in a child’s life. Here are 6 practical ways that you can be effective as a parent. Click here to get started.

Prescription drugs are more abused than all illegal drugs combined (except marijuana). Prescription drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in the U.S. Many addictions begin with treatment of legitimate health issues.

Learn more about the signs & red flags that may indicate that your child is engaging with drugs, and some practical tips to communicate & love your child through it. Check out this article to get started.

The most commonly used drug among teens, second to alcohol, is marijuana. Our culture often glamorizes the use of marijuana, especially the media and music industry. The misconception is that it’s harmless, which is not the case. Click to learn more.

It is not uncommon for parents to knowingly allow minors to drink alcohol in their homes. The justification for this is often stated as, “I’d rather have my kids and their friends drink at my house where I can keep an eye on what’s going on.” Some parents try to “protect” the drinking teens by holding the car keys until the next morning. This does not always keep them or others safe if they leave while still under the influence.

Learn how to start talking to your child about vaping. Educate yourself on the topic as much as possible. Vaping is being reported even in middle schools and serious health concerns are rapidly increasing.

Prevalence of Drinking: According to the 2018 NSDUH, 29.8 percent of 15-year-olds report that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives. About 7.1 million people ages 12–2015 (18.8 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month (18.2 percent of males and 19.5 percent of females).

Teenagers naturally go through ups and downs; but when the lows become especially low, and are long lasting, it may be much more serious. According to the CDC, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24.

Study when you study, have fun when you have fun you’ll do a much better job at both if you’re not trying to do them at the same time. Give yourself a break even when you are totally swamped take 5 - 15 minutes to get some fresh air, listen to music, call a friend. Exercise take a walk, play tennis, go for a hike, join a yoga class.