Bradley REACH Blog.

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Mental Health, Teens, Depression Ellen Hallsworth, Director Mental Health, Teens, Depression Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Prepping Our Mental Health for the Holidays: A Parent’s Guide to Boundaries, Joy, and Self-Care

The holidays can be magical—but also overwhelming for parents. 🎄✨ This season, prioritize your mental health with our practical tips on balance, boundaries, and finding joy in imperfection. 💛 Your well-being matters too! #HolidayStress #ParentingTips #MentalHealth

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Mental Health, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director Mental Health, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director

How To Prep A Mental Health First Aid Kit

Your mental health matters—just like your physical health! In our latest blog, we’re sharing tips on creating a Mental Health First Aid Kit designed specifically for teens. From stress-relief tools to grounding techniques, this kit helps you take care of yourself when things get tough.

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Mental Health, Sleep, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director Mental Health, Sleep, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Adolescent Sleep Tips: How Much Do Teens Really Need?

Did you know teens need 8-10 hours of sleep each night, yet most don’t get enough? Parents, setting healthy sleep boundaries (like no phones in bedrooms!) and modeling good habits can go a long way. Remember, sleep is crucial for your teen’s development and well-being. Let’s make sleep a priority this school year!

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Mental Health, Parenting, Anxiety Ellen Hallsworth, Director Mental Health, Parenting, Anxiety Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Parents Under Pressure

Turns out many parents and caregivers are feeling pressure to push down on them on a regular basis. So much so that the U.S. Surgeon General put out an Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents. The U.S. Surgeon General offers a snapshot of the stressors that parents and caregivers face on a regular basis. If you are a parent or caregiver, how much of this resonates with you?

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School, Mental Health, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director School, Mental Health, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director

How To Talk About School Shootings With Your Children

Children and adolescents mostly perceive schools as safe places, so learning about school shootings can trigger anxiety.  Although active shooter drills are meant to prepare children for such incidents, participating in them can be extremely stressful. The good news is that there are ways that parents and caregivers can help children cope with the trauma of gun violence. 

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Teens, Mental Health, School Ellen Hallsworth, Director Teens, Mental Health, School Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Returning to School:  Helping Your Family Set Up Healthy Routines.

Back to school can be an exciting, yet nerve-wracking time for parents and teens.  Some children and their families will thrive with the increased structure and routine of the academic year relative to the summer.  Others will struggle with potential academic, extracurricular and social stressors.

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Teens, Mental Health, Partnership Ellen Hallsworth, Director Teens, Mental Health, Partnership Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Partnering with Primary Care 

Primary care providers are on the frontlines of the youth mental health crisis. Pediatricians are known for their holistic, comprehensive approach to the care of their patients. Treating the whole child involves diagnosis of physical concerns, but also recognition of the interplay between family structures, school environments, daily routines, and life stressors.

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Teens, Parenting, Depression, Anxiety Ellen Hallsworth, Director Teens, Parenting, Depression, Anxiety Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Dealing with Teen Dating Violence 

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Often when we speak of dating violence we think of physical violence. In fact, there are several different types of violence teens can experience. Intimate partner violence can include physical violence, sexual violence, and psychological violence. Teens can experience violence in person, online, or through any type of technology.

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Mental Health, Depression, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director Mental Health, Depression, Teens Ellen Hallsworth, Director

Mental Health First Aid in Indigenous Communities

Bradley Hospital has been working with Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness to identify ways that we could help to meet the specific needs of their Indigenous young people. I was recently invited to Maine to co-instruct Youth MHFA for Tribal Communities and Indigenous Peoples.  Maine has four Indian tribes, the Maliseet, Micmac, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy, known collectively as the Wabanaki

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