COLLEGE
The JED Foundation has excellent resources for college students and their parents. Their mission is to support emotional wellness and prevent suicide in young people. Their site ULifeline focuses entirely on college mental health and they host a helpline where you can get immediate support and guidance.
The Campus Cure: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students describes the academic, social, and financial pressures that face today's students. Dr. Marcia Morris has years of experience as a campus psychiatrist. Her book is a springboard to navigate a campus health system.
UNC grad and New York Times opinion writer, Frank Bruni, breaks down the pressures of admissions season and offers solutions for stressed out families. In Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be, he explains how to find the right match without impossible expectations.
MENTAL HEALTH
The documentary Angst started an important conversation about anxiety in young people today. It introduces principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Although not streaming this time, the filmmakers plan to bring it online soon.
The Mighty is a site devoted to the stories of people facing health challenges and disabilities. Reading stories of recovery is a powerful way to feel less alone and connected with others who are flourishing despite experiencing anxiety and sadness.
The Child Mind Institute is a terrific resource that includes fact sheets on how people develop mental illness and which treatments can help. Their tips and guides on how to parent teens and young people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and eating disorders are invaluable.
SCREENS
One of the most frequent questions I get from parents is what to do about screens. Over the last decade, these little devices have taken over our lives and have left us with a lot of questions. Should you be able to track your college student's phone location? When should parents stop stalking their kid's Snapchat? Should I talk to my kid about the dangers of sexting? The books Screenwise by Devorah Heitner and Social Media Wellness by Anna Homayoun dive in to these complicated waters and give practical advice on how to find guidelines that are the right fit for your family and for your child.
Parenting – Good parenting starts with good communication. How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk and Parenting with Love and Logic are classics on how to help your kids feel heard and supported. I've been lucky enough to present with Michele Icard, author of Middle School Makeover. She unpacks how to guide kids through this tumultuous time. Parenting a Teen with Intense Emotions also gives the low down specific strategies to ride out big waves of emotion in yourself and in your child using DBT skills.
Brain Development – We know sooo much more about teen brain development than ever before including data suggesting that adolescence extends through the mid-20's. The books Born to Be Wild, The Teenage Brain, and Age of Opportunity unpack why teens take risks and how to keep them safe.
Self Compassion – Everyone could use a big ol' dose of self-compassion. Kristen Neff's book Self-Compassion is a must read to learn more about the science of being kind to yourself and how self compassion can make you more motivated, not less