Psyched About School

A couple of days ago we posted about the connection between ADHD and video games. Another concern I hear frequently from parents is that the stimulant medication used to treat ADHD will increase the chances of their child becoming a substance abuser. If you google this question, you will likely find conflicting information. According to this article from the ChildMind Institute, researchers from Princeton and Clemson University took a closer look at this issue.  Their research, which analyzed the Medicaid data from over 150,000 young people, found that individuals who took stimulant medication were less likely to engage in risky behaviors and had lower rates of substance abuse, STDs, and injuries.  What are your thoughts? Do you think the benefits of these medications outweigh the risks.  To learn more about this study, visit the ChildMind Institute at http://childmind.org/blog/adhd-meds-cut-risk-of-drug-abuse-stds/

I get this question frequently, "How could my child have AD/HD since they focus so well when playing video games?"  I also get this question, "Do video games cause AD/HD?"  The relationship between video games and AD/HD can be complicated and confusing.  Children with AD/HD often have no problem maintaining attention while playing video games because of the constant stimulation and immediate feedback they receive. Compare that to a classroom setting where they are required to focus on things that may not be as exciting as their video games. To learn more about what the research says about the connection between video games and AD/HD, visit http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/features/adhd-and-video-games-is-there-a-link#2

In addition to information from the national suicide awareness and prevention organizations we've been sharing with you this month, we also wanted to tell you about a website created by the North Carolina Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force, led by the Division of Public Health's Injury and Violence Prevention Branch.  This Task Force developed Saving Tomorrows Today: North Carolina's Plan to Prevent Youth Suicide  in October of 2004, to outline comprehensive strategies for preventing suicides of youth between 10 and 24 years of age. Part of this plan is the  It's OK 2 Ask....  about Suicide website, which is designed to prevent suicide among young people by providing them with information and resources, including videos, poems, and other materials created by their peers. The website provides information on how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide and guidance on how to find help for depression and suicidal thoughts. It also encourages young peo...

As you know by now if you follow our blog, September is Suicide Prevention/Awareness Month.  We've been sharing information on this important topic through blog posts, our Twitter feed and Facebook.  These social media efforts are just one part of an ongoing process to continuously improve our crisis response actions for those students who may need immediate intervention from student services personnel in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Last year, the district's school psychologists, social workers and school counselors went through updated training on crisis response procedures for students who may be at risk for suicide.  The Department of Psychological Services also produced a brochure this summer on suicide awareness and prevention.  Our goal is to put this information into the hands of all teachers and other school personnel who are on the "front lines" with our students every day.  Our teachers are the primary source of referrals for students who m...

Like many of you, I closely followed the breaking news coverage from Charlotte last night, as peaceful protests following a police shooting later became violent. The situation in Charlotte is – unfortunately – only the latest in what seems like a never-ending cycle.  With the extensive media access that is now available to all of us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it would be understandable for anyone to feel overwhelmed with the endless stream of information delivered to our inboxes, smart phones, televisions, tablets, etc.  In the 10 days since the anniversary of 9/11, news headlines locally and nationally have included acts of terrorism in Minnesota, New York and New Jersey, ongoing racial tensions and strained relationships between police and community - and let's not even mention politics. If current events are stressful for us as adults,then it's a safe bet that some children may also be feeling hurt, scared or confused. This summer, we shared with you a resource from...

I do not consider myself the most tech savvy person, but I do try and stay informed on the latest apps, especially when they are designed for young people. Yesterday a student at my high school introduced me to Buddy Booster.  I was so intrigued that I spent some time learning more about it and reading the user reviews.  Buddy Booster was designed for youth and young adults to help them manage their wellness and overall mental health.  Users choose a character, or buddy, that falls asleep everyday and the user has to "wake" it up by interacting with it.  Users start by identifying how they feel each day. Based on that information, users must complete activities to get their buddy going.  If they are having a day of crisis, the app provides coping strategies as well as emergency contact information.  All of this information has to be entered by the user (in the settings) so it is designed to meet his or her particular needs. There are more features available...

Amy Clay, School Psychologist (Brunson Elementary, The Downtown School, Wiley Middle & Parkland High) Most of us have heard the phrase "random acts of kindness" before.  If you'd like to learn more, there's even a  Random Acts of Kindness Foundation  and their website provides lots of suggestions and information.  The idea is to do something small that may create ripples, so that others will "pay it forward" by then engaging in random acts of kindness themselves.  Simple things like paying a compliment to someone or writing a note of thanks can have a positive impact on others. Last week, you may have seen or read about Florida State University football player Travis Rudolph having lunch with a middle school student who has autism.  While visiting the school with several teammates, Mr. Rudolph saw a young man named Bo eating lunch alone at a table by himself.  Their lunch meeting was captured in a photo that has gained national media attenti...

Amy Clay, School Psychologist (Brunson Elementary, The Downtown School, Wiley Middle & Parkland High) NPR has just released the first part of an educational series on mental health in schools, and it contains some powerful information on what they refer to as a "silent epidemic."  For example, 1 of 5 children in the United States shows signs of mental health disorders in any given year.  However, around 80% of these students will not receive the mental health services needed for issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, etc.  Not surprisingly, this can lead to a decline in school performance for some students. My favorite part of this story is a discussion of the roles and realities related to mental health issues in children.  I've included excerpts below: " The teacher The role: During the week, many students see their teachers even more than their own families. Teachers are in a prime spot to notice changes in behavior. They read essays...

Last year, two of our very own School Psychologists, Abby Flynn and Liz Williams, wrote this helpful guide on youth suicide for the popular parenting blog, Triad Moms on Main.  Since September is National Suicide Prevention Month, we thought it would be a great time to re-post the article.  We hope you will take the time to read this information as we continue to promote awareness and prevention of youth suicide.  http://triadmomsonmain.com/my-blog/youth-suicide-facts/

Amy Clay, School Psychologist  (Brunson Elementary, The Downtown School, Wiley Middle & Parkland High) Over recent years, we have seen an increasing awareness of concussions and other types of head injury.  The CDC has done some excellent work in this area, with their HeadsUp! program for athletes and they have a wealth of information available on their website about concussions.  One thing that the CDC makes clear is that ALL concussions should be taken seriously.  Certainly not all head injuries have lasting effects, but some do. New findings from research published in the journal Pediatrics  reinforce the CDC's stance that all concussions should be taken seriously. Playing With Concussion Delays Recovery Time Although this was not a large study, the findings are powerful.  It was reported that student athletes suffering a concussion who were immediately removed from play - which is the first step in the CDC's HeadsUp! program - took 22 to...

Since September is designated as National Suicide Prevention Month, we will be updating the blog with information on this topic throughout the month.  This article from NPR stresses the critical role educators and parents play in protecting those children at risk.  One challenge we face is understanding and overcoming the myths we may have about suicide.  To learn more about what those myths are, visit  http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/02/478835539/6-myths-about-suicide-that-every-educator-and-parent-should-know

Amy Clay, School Psychologist (Brunson Elementary, The Downtown School, Wiley Middle & Parkland High) September is designated as National Suicide Prevention Month, in order to educate and involve others in the prevention of suicide.  The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)  reports that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 42,773 deaths per year.  Here is AFSP's Fact Sheet  on how suicide impacts us in North Carolina: The  National Alliance on Mental Illness  shares these warning signs for suicide risk: Threats or comments about killing themselves, also known as suicidal ideation, can begin with seemingly harmless thoughts like “I wish I wasn’t here” but can become more overt and dangerous Increased alcohol and drug use Aggressive behavior Social withdrawal from friends, family and the community Dramatic mood swings Talking, writing or thinking about death Impulsive o...

Although many people know that both an IEP and a 504 plan are designed to help a child succeed in their education, fewer people are clear on the differences.  According the authors of this article, " Both Individual Educational Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans can offer formal help for K-12 students with learning and attention issues.  They're similar in some ways but quite different in others."  In this article on understood.org, the differences are clearly compared in a side by side table.  https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans

As we enter the new school year, teachers may be looking for new ideas for fostering positive behaviors in their classrooms.  The Good Behavior Game is a whole-class approach to behavior management that teaches appropriate behavior and rewards students for displaying those behaviors. It is a research-based approach that can be implemented during certain academic times of the day to motivate students to stay on-task. the amount of time that the game is "played" can be incrementally increased as children are more and more successful. Best of all, students love to play! To implement this game, follow the link below for more information. http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/schoolwide-classroommgmt/good-behavior-game

Last year, we shared with you that Tommy Hilfiger produced a line of adaptive clothing for children who are differently-abled.  Those items included magnetic closures, rather than zippers, buttons or other fasteners that could prove challenging, as well as adjustable waistlines and other features to make the clothing more accessible.  The Wall Street Journal did a great story this summer on adaptive clothing, including the Tommy Hilfiger line.  You can see their coverage in the video below: In addition to the original line of clothing that Tommy Hilfiger released in the Spring, they've now also developed a "Back to School" collection, in partnership with Runway of Dreams, a nonprofit group that works with clothing brands to modify existing lines or to develop new lines that meet the needs of the differently-abled.  (If you are interested in this topic, you can find amazing and inspiring videos documenting the Runway of Dreams fashion shows on YouTube!) ...