Transgender children who have socially transitioned, that is, who identify as the gender “opposite” their natal sex and are supported to live openly as that gender, are increasingly visible in society, yet we know nothing about their mental health. Previous work with children with gender identity disorder (GID; now termed gender dysphoria) has found remarkably […]
Children
Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood
An online guide about interventions in early childhood that can help prevent drug use and other unhealthy behaviors was launched today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The guide offers research-based principles that affect a child’s self-control and overall mental health, starting during pregnancy through the eighth year of life. It recognizes that […]
Poverty and Child Health in the United States
Identifying poverty as one of the most widespread and persistent health risks facing children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued recommendations urging doctors to ask at all well-child visits whether families are able to make ends meet. The new policy statement in the April 2016 issue of Pediatrics, “Poverty and Child Health in […]
School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) Results
CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) recently released the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) results on the DASH Healthy Youth website. SHPPS is a national study conducted periodically to assess school health policies and practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels. This release is a comprehensive report that […]
Signs of Suicide Shows Promise as a Middle School Suicide Prevention Program
A study to evaluate the effects of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program in middle schools found that, three months after completing the program, children who participated in SOS were significantly more knowledgeable about suicide and depression than children who had not participated in the program. Children who reported suicidal ideation prior to participating in […]
Evidence for the Effectiveness of a National School-Based Mental Health Program in Chile
A national school-based mental health program that is now reaching almost one quarter of all elementary school students in Chile appears to have produced significant improvements in both behavioral and academic outcomes, such as attention problems and school attendance, among participating students. The results of a study by a team of Chilean and U.S. investigators […]