Mental Health Update February 2019

Young love: six tips for preparing your teens for healthy relationships
February is considered the month of love, but how comfortable are you discussing the topic with your teen? While teen romance is a normal rite of passage, it’s not without its ups and downs. Parents can prepare their kids for healthy relationships by following these six tips from CHOC pediatric psychologist Dr. Christopher Min.

Study: social media use and depression among girls
The connection between social media use and depression appears to be stronger in teen girls than boys, according to a recent study in EClinicalMedicine. Among teens who use social media the most, the study showed a 50 percent increase in symptoms of depression among girls compared to 35 percent of their male peers.

Encourage self-acceptance with these 14 books
The benefits of reading are numerous, but even some of the best stories reinforce body and gender stereotypes. Common Sense Media compiled a list of 14 books that feature characters who are comfortable in their own skins, helping your kids learn the value of self-acceptance.

5 ways your kids can engage in positive self-talk
Positive self-talk, or talking back to yourself, can help kids become more hopeful and optimistic, even during very difficult times. It can also help with feelings of pain, fatigue, anger, sadness and frustration. Teach your children how to engage in self-talk with these five tips.

Community resources for mental health support
CHOC Children’s strives to be a strong and consistent voice for improving pediatric mental health services, and we’re not alone. Check out this list of helpful community resources for your family.

This email is intended to share news and information about the need for pediatric mental health services in Orange County and CHOC’s role in meeting those needs.

This email is not intended to replace the relationship you have with a physician or another healthcare practitioner. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. This email includes links to other websites which provide additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of the CHOC Mental Health newsletter. Linking to a non-CHOC site does not constitute an endorsement by CHOC of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.