Two out of three Oklahoma youth report that their parents have NOT spoken to them within the last 12 months about alcohol.* When it comes to talking with your children, the key is frequency. It doesn’t have to be an hour long lecture. One important way is to help youth interpret the messages our culture…
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Consider showing your child this video of how this college athlete learned to re-frame her negative thoughts for better performance, and more importantly, better mental health. All of us can get stuck in negative self-talk, but did you know that positive thought habits are one of the best protective factors against depression? Most of us (kids and…
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Sleep. It’s a basic need for our brain but it’s one we often ignore. A tired brain doesn’t learn as well and a tired brain isn’t as mentally healthy. In fact, the cycle between sleep deprivation and mental illness is well-documented. Lack of sleep is a risk factor for depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.…
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Ask your child to lie on his/her back. Ask your child to close her/his eyes and breathe normally while paying attention to all the parts of his/her body that move when she/he breathes. Ask him/her to place one hand on her/his upper chest and the other on his/her stomach. Tell your child to inhale through…
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Did you know that that there is a safe space for youth to discuss and share their stories about mental health and wellness? You Matter is a safe space for youth to discuss and share stories about mental health and wellness, created and administered by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You Matter blog posts are…
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Did you know that young people start using marijuana for many reasons? Some may use out of curiosity or peer pressure and some may use as means of coping with anxiety or depression. Despite whatever the reason may be, marijuana has negative effects on young developing brains. When marijuana is smoked, vaporized or consumed, the…
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Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a parent. It is important to start talking to your children about alcohol and other drugs before they are exposed to them. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s “Talk. They Hear You.” Underage Drinking…
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Help your child build resilience by teaching them ABC Planning, a simple tool that is good for almost any age. When your child is planning for an important event, help them think through not only their Plan A, but also a Plan B and even a Plan C. Allow them to think through their own…
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While lying on their backs, ask your child to stiffen every part of their bodies, and be like spaghetti before it is cooked. Slowly count to 3. Then ask your child to completely relax while you slowly count to 3. Tell them to be like cooked spaghetti. This is a fun way to calm down…
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Welcome to the first post of the OKPTA’s Prevention and Safety Committee! Every day of the week we will work together to cultivate a different practice. Mondays we will focus on HOPE. We can’t think of a better way to start our journey together because there is HOPE for our children. We all know the…
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