adolescent health

New Forsyth County program to support pre-teen boys' development and self-esteem

1:26pm July 13, 2023

Motivating Males on the Move aims to be a safe space for boys ages 9 through 13 to learn about their development, body image and self-esteem, and masculinity.

"When you're younger, your mind is more open, and you're more creative," says 13-year-old Leo De Leon. Adolescence is a time of rapid brain development that scientists call "breathtaking."

Want to understand your adolescent? Get to know their brain

12:59pm May 23, 2023

by Jon Hamilton

For parents of teenagers, adolescence can be challenging, but to a brain scientist it's a time of breathtaking development. And it's a "window of opportunity" on the way to becoming an adult.

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Teens started dying in greater numbers from fatal drug overdoses in 2020, raising alarm that the trend could continue or worsen.

Teen drug overdose deaths rose sharply in 2020, driven by fentanyl-laced pills

1:19pm April 12, 2022

by Rhitu Chatterjee

While adult overdoses surged in the last decades, teens hadn't seen the same kind of death rates. But now fatal overdoses nearly doubled in one year and continued to rise in 2021.

Two boys stand at the edge of the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in July. A recent study finds that globally, boys and young men made up two-thirds of all deaths among young people in 2019.

Research sheds light on what's killing young people, especially boys and young men

5:45pm November 19, 2021

by Joanne Silberner

Globally, boys and young men made up two-thirds of all deaths among young people in 2019. A recent report finds that many such deaths in this "neglected" age group are preventable.

Sandra's 17-year-old daughter, Lindsey, has autism. Lindsey thrives on routine, and got special help at school until the coronavirus pandemic cut her off from the trained teachers and therapists she'd come to rely on.

'I've Tried Everything': Pandemic Worsens Child Mental Health Crisis

11:47am January 18, 2021

When schools closed last spring, children with severe mental illnesses were cut off from the services they'd come to rely on. Many have since spiraled into emergency rooms and even police custody.

Teen romance gone wrong can be dangerous for girls. Around 7 percent of teen homicides between 2003 and 2016 were committed by intimate partners and girls were the victims in 90 percent of those deaths.

Health & Safety

Teen Dating Violence Can Lead To Homicide — Girls Are The Most Common Victims

4:45pm April 15, 2019

by Rhitu Chatterjee

A study finds that about 7 percent of all teen homicides between 2003 and 2016 were committed by a romantic partner. The majority of victims were teen girls.

During the era that social media and smartphones has risen, depression and stress among young people has also risen.

Health & Safety

A Rise In Depression Among Teens And Young Adults Could Be Linked To Social Media Use

6:26pm March 14, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

A new study shows a rise in depression and stress among young people parallels the growth in smartphone and social media use.

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Close up of a teenager on her smartphone.

The Perils Of Pushing Kids Too Hard, And How Parents Can Learn To Back Off

5:00pm June 11, 2018

Part of a parent's job is to help kids do their best, but pushing too hard can backfire. Research shows kids in high-achieving communities are at higher risk of anxiety, depression and substance use.

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The kids also learned handy visuals, like a remote control for negative thoughts so you can switch channels in your head.

For Troubled Kids, Some Schools Take Time Out For Group Therapy

11:11pm May 23, 2018

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

A growing number of schools are offering training for emotional and social skills that can benefit kids in school and throughout their life.

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