Offering Teen Mental Health and Substance Use Support Close to Home Help for teens. Hope for families. Healing starts here. If you’re a parent in the Central Valley navigating the emotional rollercoaster of teen mental health challenges, you’re not alone, and you shouldn’t have to travel far to get the help your family needs. That’s […]

Treating in Summer, Thriving in Fall: A Smarter Path for Teens in Need Summer is often seen as a time to relax and recharge. But for teens facing mental health challenges or substance use issues, it can quietly become a time of regression. With less structure, no daily school routines, and reduced access to support […]

Anxiety can be difficult to distinguish from other conditions, with overlaps in both cognitive processing and physiological responses. If you understand anxiety and other health conditions, you can better identify what’s going on and seek proper treatment.  Overview of Anxiety  Most people experience anxiety from time to time. A significant number are also diagnosed with […]

Drug use is surprisingly common among teenagers. According to the 2023 Monitoring the Future survey, 31.2% of high school seniors reported illicit drug use in the past year. Recognizing the signs of teenage drug addiction and other drug use can help parents protect teens and guide them toward proper treatment. Signs of Teenage Substance Use  […]

When teens struggle with substance use, there’s a deeper story beneath the surface—often one of pain, trauma, and an attempt to cope with overwhelming emotions. Examining how substance use, addiction, and trauma are interconnected is the first step toward helping teens find healing. For many parents, recognizing this connection can be eye-opening, paving the way […]

It’s difficult, painful, and often frightening to watch your teen struggle with substance use or mental health issues. While you may feel eager to start your teen’s recovery as soon as possible, your teen’s readiness and willingness to seek help is a critical part of a successful recovery journey. These questions can help you understand […]

Mental health challenges and substance use rarely exist in isolation during adolescence: Up to 75% of teens with substance use disorders also experience mental health challenges. While these challenges manifest differently for each individual, some turn to substances to cope, creating a cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break. What begins as an attempt to […]

Substance use is one of the top risk factors for suicide in teens. Teens may also turn to substances as a way to cope with profound mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and trauma—all of which further increase the risk of suicidal ideation and related behaviors.  When teens turn to substance use as a […]

Many parents feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn when their teen needs help. Thankfully, different types of programs exist to support teens and their families through behavioral health challenges.  Inpatient treatment—think psychiatric hospital—for teens offers a short-term intervention for acute crises, while residential treatment—think group home with clinical staff—is designed for longer-term care, […]

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10–24, resulting in thousands of deaths each year. As recently as 2021: Source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Teen suicide facts can help parents understand this issue. We’ve gathered the most recent data on the topic to better equip parents to support their […]

Studies show that over half of teens diagnosed with behavioral disorders or substance use issues are also dealing with at least one other mental health condition. In the realm of behavioral health, this overlap is known as comorbidity.  Comorbidity with addiction and other mental illnesses is also referred to as dual-diagnosis or co-occurring illness in […]

Youth suicides and suicide attempts have steadily increased over the last several years, meaning more teens are at risk now. Assessing the intensity of suicidal thoughts is essential for determining the appropriate level of care for teens. A suicidal ideation scale is one tool clinicians use. Learn more about these scales and how they guide […]