It’s more clear than ever — mental health care is changing, and not just the field of teen mental health treatment. Thanks to a combination of factors like insurance changes, new legislation, and the effects of social media, there are more options available now than ever before for adults and teenagers alike, including targeted adolescent…
Mental health care has come a long way since its inception. Recognizing and honoring the efforts of the brave individuals who have made their mark on the landscape of mental health is an important part of creating equitable services for all. The work of these pioneers in mental health has been instrumental in the development…
You might not know it, but there are a ton of rules and regulations associated with our work. Even as we help the teens under our care grow and thrive, we need to show the State of California, insurance companies, and other oversight agencies that we’re doing everything by the book. To ensure we’re always…
A sense of dread before speaking in front of a crowd. A feeling of fear before going on a job interview. Unrelenting worry that something bad will happen ahead of an important event. This is anticipatory anxiety — a feeling of fear, worry, or unease in the days, weeks, and hours leading up to a…
Does your teen often ask the same questions over and over, especially about topics like their health and safety or the well-being of loved ones? If so, they may be engaging in compulsive reassurance-seeking behavior. This type of behavior is a pattern where an individual looks for constant and repetitive validation of their anxieties, beliefs,…
The Department of Education has reported that in the 2020-2021 school year, there were 93 school shootings that resulted in deaths or injuries — the most in any year since the 2000-2001 school year. Children around the country have been confronted with gun violence in one of the places where they should feel most safe.…
Mental Health Resources for Teens For teens, opening up about or even just identifying what they’re feeling can be challenging. So many changes are happening in their bodies and minds, and they’re still figuring out who they are and what they believe in. However, one way to advance the conversation about youth mental health is…
People face discrimination for many reasons, but at Ascend, we know that mental health is one of the biggest hurdles teens confront when interacting with those that don’t understand mental illness. Even worse, people with mental illness often suffer from other disorders, or belong to communities that struggle with additional prejudice against them. Today, we’d…
It’s normal to feel anxious or down from time to time. Everyone goes through ups and downs in life. However, when these feelings don’t go away and start to interfere with your daily life, you may be dealing with a disruptive mental illness that requires more in-depth intervention. Mental illness can be hard to come…
The teenage years are often when people start to become more aware of their appearance. For some, this can be a time of great confidence and self-esteem. However, for others, it can be a time of doubt and insecurity. When teens fall prey to insecurity, their negative self-talk can evolve into body dysmorphia. But what…