Breaking the Silence: Why Teenage Boys Need to Talk About Their Feelings
Society often teaches boys to be strong and suppress their emotions, but encouraging teenage boys to talk about their feelings is crucial for their mental health. Opening up to peers can help them navigate the challenges of adolescence, build emotional resilience, and prevent long-term mental health issues. Here’s why it’s so important for teenage boys to talk about their feelings with one another. Challenging Harmful Masculinity Norms Many boys grow up with the belief that showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. This societal pressure can lead to the suppression of emotions, which may result in unresolved anger, anxiety, or
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How Higher Social Media Use Can Negatively Impact Mental Health in Teens
The Pervasiveness of Social Media Among Teens Despite concerns about its impact, social media use among teens remains high. A Pew Research Center survey found that some teens describe their social media use as “almost constant.” About 95% of teens ages 13 to 17 use social media, and more than one in three report using it almost constantly. The use of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram is particularly prevalent among this age group. Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Linked to Social Media Use Studies indicate that adolescents using social media more than three hours per day face twice the
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Youth and Substance Use: Understanding the Connection
When we think of adolescence, we often envision a time of discovery, growth, and challenge. Yet, this pivotal period is also marred by the specter of substance use. With nearly half of American adolescents reporting illicit drug use at some point in their lives, the connection between youth and substance experimentation is undeniable and concerning. #YouthSubstanceAwareness Substance Use: Beyond Just Experimentation Substance use among teenagers is not just about occasional experimentation. For many, it becomes a coping mechanism to manage stress, societal pressures, and sometimes, underlying mental health conditions. The Spiral of Use and Mental Health Causation vs. Correlation: Does
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