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…
For teens who find it difficult to keep up with their schoolwork, tutoring apps can be a lifesaver. Tutoring apps can provide one-on-one help from qualified teachers, and they can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Best of all, many tutoring apps for teens are free. With tutoring by subject, like math or…
Due to the rise of mental health issues in today’s fast-paced society, taking care of your mental health has never been more important. The first step towards developing good mental health habits is to understand what factors contribute to the onset of depression, anxiety, and other common mental health issues. Then structure your life around…
When a teen goes missing from treatment, it can be a terrifying situation. While undeniably difficult, our team at Ascend believes in ensuring that we help your family handle the problem in the healthiest way possible. We never take missing teens lightly, and going AWOL from treatment always requires parental notification. Unfortunately, teens often use…
What is self-esteem? Self-esteem has to do with a person’s opinion of themselves. It’s connected to their sense of identity, belonging in the world, and self-confidence. Some of the beliefs associated with self-esteem include feelings of competency and worth, as well as various emotional states, like shame, pride, triumph, and despair. For teens, self-esteem is…