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Alcohol – Substance Use

by | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Alcohol and Substance Use

Alcohol and substance use have direct connections to mental health, especially for children and teenagers. Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are the most common substances used by teenagers. Substance use can affect the brain development of children and teenagers, which can have lasting effects into adulthood. Substance use is also associated with risky or unsafe behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the younger someone is when they begin using these substances, the higher the chances are that they will continue to use these substances or become addicted in adulthood.

 

Substance use is more likely among teenagers who have mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression. Additionally, substance use can aggravate the symptoms of these disorders. The Child Mind Institute reports that these substances can temporarily alleviate the symptoms of these disorders since they affect the brain regions involved in the disorders, but it also leads the teenagers to feel even worse without the substances.

 

Drug and alcohol treatment and prevention services are provided for adolescents, young children ages 6-24, and their families at the Guidance Center’s Leeds Place – Serving Young People in Westbury. Substance use services include counseling youths who are alcohol and drug users, children who live in families with a parent who is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction and youths who have co-occurring chemical dependency and mental health problems. Prevention services are also offered to local school districts. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Related programs and services:

Adolescent Outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment

 

Read more in our blog:

How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs

Kratom: A Drug Parents Should Know About

How Kids are Affected by the Drug Epidemic

 

Sources:

Child Mind Institute: Mental Health Disorders and Teen Substance Use

CDC: Teen Substance Use & Risks

Anxiety

by | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders go beyond typical fears and worries that children or teenagers experience while growing up. The five major types of anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder. Though symptoms vary with each type of anxiety disorder, children who suffer from anxiety tend to experience fear, nervousness, shyness and avoidance.

 

According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly one-third of adolescents ages 13 to 18 years old will experience an anxiety disorder. Rates of anxiety in children and teenagers have been on the rise in recent years, but research has shown that they are not receiving the treatment that they need. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. The most common treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and SSRI medications, such as prescribed antidepressants.

 

At all three sites of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, mental health services are offered for children from birth through age 24 and their families. These services include comprehensive evaluation, an individually tailored treatment plan that may include any combination of individual, family and group therapy, and, when indicated, medication management from a psychiatrist. All treatment plans require family consent and participation. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Read more in our blog:

Helping Your Children Manage Stress

The Facts About OCD

Soothing Your Anxious Child

 

Sources:

CDC: Anxiety and Depression in Children

HHS: What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?

ADAA: Children and Teens

NIMH: Anxiety Disorder Statistics

Autism

by | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a developmental disability that contributes to challenges in socializing, communication and behavior. Children and teenagers with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in different ways than is typical of most children and teenagers. ASD is a diagnostic term used for conditions that were previously diagnosed separately: pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 54 children have been identified with ASD in the United States. ASD is four times more common in boys than it is in girls.

 

Research has indicated that the autism population faces a higher mortality risk than the general population, with drowning among the leading causes of death. Additionally, children with ASD face higher rates of bullying from peers, as well as sexual abuse, compared to the general population.

 

There is no single diagnostic test for ASD. Medical professionals can make a diagnosis based upon behavior. A diagnosis of ASD by the age of two is typically reliable, but some children may not receive a final diagnosis until they are older. Though there is no single cure for ASD, many intervention treatments services have been demonstrated as effective in improving the development of a child diagnosed with ASD. Early intervention is crucial.

 

Families with young children with ASD may benefit from early childhood services at the Marks Family Right from the Start 0-3+ Center (RFTS) in Manhasset. RFTS offers parent education as well as therapeutic and support services for young children. North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center also offers the Grandparent Advocates Supporting Autistic Kids (GASAK) program, a monthly meeting of grandparents to support, inform and advocate for families with autistic children.  For more information about our services for both young children and for teens, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Related programs:

Grandparent Advocates Supporting Autistics Kids (GASAK)

 

Read more in our blog:

Autism Awareness

Support for Grandparents

 

Sources:

CDC: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

NAA: Autism & Safety Facts

Bereavement

by | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Bereavement

 

Bereavement refers to the state of loss that follows the death of a loved one. This state can be expressed in a multitude of symptoms, including trouble sleeping, a loss of appetite, anger, guilt, mood swings and lower productivity.

 

Children and teenagers experiencing bereavement often grieve differently than adults. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry lists several signs that a child may be having serious issues after a loss, such as an extended loss of interest in activities, acting younger for an extended period of time, withdrawal from friends, repeated statements of wanting to join the late loved one, decrease in school performance, school refusal or repeated imitation of the late loved one.

 

It is incredibly important that children and teenagers struggling with bereavement seek mental health assistance if necessary. The Lucille and Martin E. Kantor Bereavement and Trauma Center in Roslyn Heights offers assistance to children, youths and their families during times of grief and trauma, including parents of murder victims and other homicide survivors (POMV).  For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Related programs:

The Schnurmacher Bereavement & Trauma Program

Lucille and Martin E. Kantor Bereavement and Trauma Center

 

Sources:

Psychology Today: Bereavement

AACAP: Grief and Children

Bullying

by | Jan 19, 2021 | Problems We Address

Bullying

Bullying is an unfortunately common experience for children and teenagers. According to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, about one in three students have been bullied at school. Bullying can take many different forms, such as verbal threats, physical attacks, spreading rumors, and social exclusion. In the age of social media, cyberbullying is becoming more common as a form of bullying. Cyberbullying might include sending harassing messages or posting embarrassing photos of someone.

 

Middle school students report the highest incidence of bullying. Some children and teenagers may be more vulnerable to bullying than others. This may be due perceived differences from their peers, being seen as “less popular,” or having low self-esteem. Some students may become targets of bullies because of their race, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability as well. LGBTQ+ students are at an especially high risk for bullying.

 

Bullying can have a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of children and teenagers. Research has shown that children and teenagers who are bullied are more likely to experience depression, anxiety and low self-esteem than non-bullied peers. Because of heightened rates of depression and anxiety, bullied children and teenagers may be more susceptible to suicidal thoughts or behavior.

 

Children and teenagers who have experienced bullying and are experiencing mental health issues should take advantage of the mental health services at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. These services include comprehensive evaluation, an individually tailored treatment plan that may include any combination of individual, family, and group therapy, and, when indicated, medication management from a psychiatrist. All treatment plans require family consent and participation. For more information about our services, please call us at 516-626-1971.

 

Read more on our blog:

Stopping Bullies in Their Tracks

Stand Up Against Bullying

Stomp Out Bullying

 

Sources:

StopBullying.gov

CDC: The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide