• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Monday, October 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide 2023
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • San Juan Football Preview
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • WSL Rip Curl Guide 2023
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide 2023
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • San Juan Football Preview
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • WSL Rip Curl Guide 2023
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Wellness & Prevention: More Than Enough

by Capo Dispatch
May 19, 2023 3:20AM
in LIVING, SJC Living
Wellness and Prevention: Teens Drink Less When They Know the Facts

Susan Parmelee

1
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Susan Parmelee

By Susan Parmelee

You may be seeing a lot of bright green ribbons this month. These ribbons honor Mental Health Awareness Month, with this year’s theme being More Than Enough.

Our team of professionals at the Wellness & Prevention Center (WPC) notes that among the youth we work with, there is a pervasiveness of feelings of not being good enough and young people who share the belief that they are not enough.

This includes:

  • Not getting good enough grades
  • Not being good enough at sports
  • Not being good enough at being a friend
  • Not being good enough at taking care of themselves
  • Not being a good enough child

None of us is born with this type of thinking; it evolves over time from experiences and the associated emotions from these experiences.

This negative self-talk can contribute to symptoms of depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and suicidal thoughts. The teen brain is very busy developing the prefrontal cortex, and these thoughts can become quite overwhelming rather quickly.

So, what can the adults who care for young people do? First and foremost, we can be empathetic listeners. The most important skill in empathetic listening is to place value in what you are hearing, as opposed to denying the young person’s emotion. 

An example would be:

Young person: “I am so stressed out; I will never do as well in school as my older brother.”

Adult: “That sounds like a difficult way to feel”—not “You are just as smart as your brother.”

By holding the emotion of a young person, you allow them to process their feelings. The next step would be to offer support: “Is there anything I could do to make you feel better?”

Teens are very adept at talking themselves out of negative self-talk and distressing situations and discovering a new perspective.

Red flags that negative self-talk is becoming symptomatic of mental health disorders include:

  • Changes in sleep or appetite
  • Decline in self-care (stops showering and/or caring about appearance)
  • Loss of pleasure in activities they used to enjoy
  • Any forms of self-harm
  • Change in friend group
  • Substance use
  • Lower achievement at school
  • Increased levels of anger and/or irritability

Parents/guardians should consider asking your pediatrician to complete a mental health screening for your child at each year’s wellness check. Most pediatricians follow the American Academy of Pediatricians’ guidelines and are ready and willing to provide these screenings.

These screenings are equally as important as immunizations, dental checkups, healthy eating, and regular exercise. If you think something is wrong, notice any of the above red flags, or just sense something is off, consult with your primary care provider or a mental health provider (we are always happy to field your questions: info@wpc-oc.org).

 The WPC provides prevention and mental health treatment services on secondary school campuses in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Aliso Viejo, via telehealth, and at our community clinic in San Clemente.

We provide prevention education through our bimonthly e-news webpage, virtual and live education events, and through our website, wpc-oc.org, and we partner with other mental health providers and youth serving organizations to bring mental wellness resources to a larger audience.

We meet with youth in the community and at schools to help them gain knowledge about supporting their mental well-being and making healthy choices.

Susan Parmelee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and executive director of the Wellness & Prevention Center: wpc-oc.org. She can be reached at susan@wpc-oc.org.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: Dana PointemotionsGreen Ribbonsmental healthMental Health Awareness Monthmental wellbeingOrange CountySan ClementeWellness and PreventionWellness and Prevention CenterWPCYouth
ShareTweetPin1

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

Nomination Period Opens for Veterans of the Year Awards

Nomination Period Opens for Veterans of the Year Awards

September 29, 2023
On Life and Love After 50: The Man in Black at The Coach House

On Life and Love After 50: The Man in Black at The Coach House

September 29, 2023
On Life and Love After 50: The Man in Black at The Coach House

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Mina

September 29, 2023
At the Movies: ‘A Haunting in Venice’

At the Movies: ‘A Haunting in Venice’

September 29, 2023
Next Post

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Luigi

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide 2023
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • San Juan Football Preview
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • WSL Rip Curl Guide 2023
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media