Empower Positive Self-Talk

 

Parents are the biggest influence in their child's life to help them develop into healthy adults. Kids model parents' behavior - if they see you bounce back from setbacks, they will learn to do the same. 

Help kids see a way around challenges - if something doesn't go as planned, encourage them to brainstorm other ways to approach the problem or reach their goals.

Let them know negative reactions are normal - we all have them sometimes. Having a positive attitude doesn’t mean burying your feelings – instead, do your best to acknowledge them and move on.

Teach constructive reframing - if your child feels they’re not good at sports or whatever task or activity they are trying, maybe suggest a little more practice. If being good at something is important to them, your child will learn to put in the work to master the necessary skills.

Encourage positive self-talk - words have power, so offer affirmations your children can repeat to themselves until they become second nature, such as:

"I am worthy of good things."
"I can achieve anything I set my mind to."
"There's a way around this challenge."
"Things will work out in the long run."

A positive frame of mind can lead to making better decisions. Positivity also makes it easier to achieve goals - you learn to look ahead and plot a course instead of just reacting to a setback. Of course this doesn't mean children will never feel sad, frustrated, or discouraged, but it can help keep them from feeling hopeless when they encounter the challenges life throws at them.

Tips on how to Foster a Positive Attitude in Children
& Enjoy Fun Weekly Activity Ideas for Family Table Time

https://www.informedfamilies.org/family-table-time

Summer Wellness Tips

 

Summertime has a generally more relaxing vibe, but sometimes changes from the regular routine can create challenges. InnerAct Alliance encourages families to continue to practice self-care and reach out for support from available resources when needed. Here are some tips on how children, parents, and families can thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally during the summer months and enjoy wellness all year-round 🌞:

Physical Wellness – staying physically active and eating well has been shown to improve mental health and wellness. Some suggestions to accomplish this are: exercising regularly with a workout group or buddy💪 – join a swim club or dance class💃 – spend time outdoors daily😎 – walk/run when its cooler in the mornings/evenings🏃 – embrace the abundance of summer fruit🍉 & veggies🥕 for healthy eating habits – get quality sleep & rest😴

Mental Wellness – practicing wellness activities can help overcome stress and anxiety and promote productivity. Take time to try self-soothing exercises, mindfulness/meditation, gratitude exercises, art & music,🎨 reading & journaling📖, establish priorities

Embrace Support – when we feel stressed, tired, overwhelmed or alone, it’s important to identify support available to overcome any challenges. Communicate your needs to a trusted friend🫂 or family member…or seek out a support group, therapy, or counseling 

Stay Connected - summertime offers a different daily routine so do your best to stay connected to those who impact us in positive and healthy ways. Plan to enjoy family time👪, friend hangouts, volunteer, arrange a game🎲 or movie night, send letters/postcards, join a club or team

Coach Your Kids On & Off The Field

 

InnerAct Alliance is happy to share this timely message from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that substances and sports simply do not mix!🚭 Help your teens gear up for a winning summer 🏅on and off the field by talking to them about the effects of underage drinking and other substance use.

Encourage healthy choices to ensure success in every game they play. By discouraging risky behaviors and talking with young people about the dangers of drinking alcohol and using other drugs, you show them that you care!

SAMHSA's national youth substance use prevention campaign "Talk. They Hear You." provides assistance to parents and caregivers, educators, sports coaches, and community members so everyone can be informed and prepared to take action to prevent underage drinking and other substance use.

Informed resources to communicate with kids at all ages

https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you

Virtual Tools for Staying Healthy

 

These days, we use our smart phones to do just about everything. There's texting and social media, of course, but one of the best ideas is to use your phone to foster better health. These days, we use our smart phones to do just about everything. There’s texting and social media, of course, but one of the best ideas is to use your phone to foster better health. 

Free apps can help you start and keep healthy habits like exercising and eating a balanced diet. Other apps can assist with avoiding or quitting unhealthy habits, like smoking, drinking, or use of other substances. 

Our prevention partners at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shared some recommended health-oriented apps and online programs to try – all of which are FREE:

Reduce Stress - the U.S. miliary designed an app called Breathe2Relax which offers breathing exercises that have been shown to reduce stress and help with managing anger and anxiety.

Smoking + Vaping - an app from Smokefree.gov called quitSTART  can help people who smoke people who smoke get ready to quite with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges. Users can monitor progress and find support to get back on track if they slip. For young people ages 13-24 who want to quite vaping, the Truth Initiative offers a free and anonymous text message program based on age called This Is Quitting 

Children of parents who have substance use problems - a free program called Alateen offers support for teens (ages 13-18) in this situation. They can register to participate in regular chats as a safe place for them to share experiences, discuss difficulties, encourage one another, and learn effective ways to cope with problems.

Read more about it!

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/parents-educators/conversation-starters/virtual-tools-staying-healthy

Mental Health in Teen Girls: Loneliness Takes a Toll on Confidence

 

Studies show that kids have struggled coming out of the pandemic – many felt isolated not being in school and having less opportunities to interact with friends on a regular basis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this has been especially concerning for teen girls who report experiencing record high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk. Research shows nearly 3-in-5 or 57% of teenage girls in the U.S. felt persistently sad or hopeless – twice as much as boys.

Nearly 1-in-3 girls have seriously considered suicide and nearly 20% have experienced sexual violence. This concern is further highlighted in a recent Girls Scouts of the USA survey, completed in partnership with National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) and Wakefield Research, showing 70% of girls ages 5-13 experience loneliness. The survey polled 1,000 girls 5-13 in March 2024 with findings revealing as girls grow older, feelings of loneliness increase and confidence decrease. There's also encouraging news - data points to the power of friendship and meaningful connections that can empower girls and build resilience.

Key highlights from the research include:

*Loneliness Increases with Age: Survey results show loneliness escalates as girls get older. 64% of girls ages 5–7, 67% of girls ages 8–10, and 73% of girls ages 11–13 reported feelings of loneliness.

 

*As Loneliness Grows, Confidence Drops: While 86% of girls ages 5–7 expressed belief in their ability to tackle challenges, it dropped to 80% among girls ages 8–10, and 73% among 11–13-year-old girls. 

 

*Friendship Is a Confidence Booster: Companionship helps girls try things they wouldn’t otherwise do alone. More than half of girls surveyed report having a friend by their side encourages them to try new things like talk to a new kid (52%); 50% would join a new group with a friend. 

 

*Girls Prefer Real Interactions to Screen Time: Most girls prefer to be creative (63%), go outside and play (59%), or spend time with their family (59%) rather than spend more time on screens.

Associate Medical Director of NAMI, Dr. Christine Crawford, calls for interventions that foster meaningful connections and self-assurance among young girls saying, “As we navigate the complexities of today’s digital age, it’s imperative to prioritize genuine connections and emotional well-being. These findings serve as a wake-up call, urging us to redouble efforts to foster caring environments where girls feel empowered to express themselves and seek support.”

View the Survey

https://www.girlscouts.org/en/footer/press-room/2024-press-announcements/mental-health-awareness-month-2024.html

Online Sales Suspended for Oral Nicotine Pouch Zyn

 

Oral nicotine product Zyn has skyrocketed in sales in recent years. The popularity of Zyn, packaged in small, nicotine-filled pouches that users place between their top lip and gum, has often created controversy as it is marketed heavily to the youth market. Last week, it was announced that nationwide sales of Zyn nicotine pouches on Zyn.com have been suspended as officials in Washington D.C. investigate the product maker’s compliance with the district’s ban on sale of flavored tobacco products.

On Monday, June 17, tobacco giant Philip Morris International confirmed that online sales on Zyn.com have been suspended after finding that their affiliate Swiss Match North America - makers of the nicotine pouch brand Zyn - may have illegally sold products in the nation’s capital. Philip Morris purchased Swedish Match in 2022 in an effort to reduce its reliance on cigarettes amid stricter regulations and in response to customers’ shift towards alternatives to tobacco and traditional cigarettes.

Swedish Match North America is now under investigation stemming from a 2022 subpoena issued by the District of Columbia's (D.C.) Attorney General banning sale of all flavored tobacco, including flavored synthetic nicotine products. A spokesman from Philip Morris responded in a statement saying, "Swedish Match is conducting a full review of its sales and supply chain arrangements in D.C. and other U.S. localities where flavor bans may apply and is temporarily suspending all sales on ZYN.com until the assessment is complete.”

Zyn products have been a point of public health concern with Congress calling for regulators to investigate nicotine pouches due to their appeal to teens. The Food and Drug Administration is closely monitoring underage use of nicotine products as its studies show roughly 1.5% of middle and high school students reported using nicotine pouches last year and 10% of high school students reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2023. 

Swedish Match International has greatly benefitted from a strong demand for Zyn nicotine pouches – first quarter results in April reported shipments of Zyn nicotine pouches grew nearly 80% compared to a year ago. The company claims Zyn pouches do not contain tobacco and that they differ from other oral nicotine products because they contain nicotine powder rather than shredded tobacco leaf.

This pause on online sales does not mean Zyn products are going away. As with all substance use, the best prevention is to arm yourself with knowledge and research the facts. Just because synthetic nicotine is not made from tobacco does not mean it is not harmful. The pouches contain nicotine, which is harmful to young people in any form. Scientists continue to study this product and it is already known that flavor ingredients can cause negative health effects. Nicotine use during adolescence can change the brain’s chemistry and disrupt the formation of circuits that control attention, learning, and susceptibility to addiction. Long-term effects of products like Zyn remain unknown.

Read about the health effects of oral nicotine pouches

https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/what-zyn-and-what-are-oral-nicotine-pouches

Share The Lifeline Number: 988

 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reminds us to add the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to our phones and share the lifeline number 9-8-8 with others to help save lives!

At Lifeline, anyone can call or text to connect with a trained crisis counselor for support at any time - 🌞 day or 🌛night. Everyone deserves a caring person to talk to when things come up that might seem unmanageable on our own.

This free and confidential service is available in English and Spanish to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Lifeline helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day. There is hope at 988! 💓

Lifeline for Support - Call or text 988 📱

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988

https://988lifeline.org/