Let's all Talk Mental Health’s Post

Does lowering the drinking age teach teens to drink responsibly? 🚫🍷 In my latest blog, I bust the myths, share surprising research, and offer actionable tips for parents navigating the teen years! Full blog here: https://loom.ly/7TNLAGg #ParentingTips #AdolescentHealth #AlcoholUse #Teens #Research

Childhood Drinking Culture. Our Opinion: So as this news hits, it contradicts past news that the youth of today are actually drinking less. We believe the reason WHY so many young kids have drank so early, is because it is simply just so normalised in our culture and society. Few possible contributing factors which are examples of this include: > Children being around their parents drinking from birth. At parties, weddings, watching T.V on a Friday night. All perfectly acceptable things, but the impact of this is the fact that alcohol is simply part of life, daily or otherwise. Making it 'No big deal' and just something 'you do. > Parents offering alcohol to their kids at aforementioned events at an age well below 18. We have all seen and possibly done it. Offered a teenager a beer or Shandy at the pub. Our parents did it to us, no harm right? It just simply drives the message home that alcohol is perfectly ok, and something that you do. If we are to improve the health of our society and reduce alcohol harm we as adults must change our approach to drinking and offering alcohol to children, as well as looking at our own relationship with alcohol. Is it really that healthy? Do you have a wine glass in your hand around you kids far to often than even you really like? . We are not against alcohol we simply believe it should be a choice. And that includes a choice for children, for them to decide to if they want to drink when they are 18. We as a culture and society do not need to be leading children to think it is simply the norm, part of life. It is a choice and that decision should not be taken away from our younger generation. What do you think? Tobi Angelica Thomas #press #who #alcohol #kids https://lnkd.in/dxCURWiH.

The most troubling aspect of this article is NOT the finding that young men are engaging in high levels of excessive alcohol consumption. It’s that this finding is NOT NEW - I published a fair bit of research examining alcohol use and abuse among young adults in the 1990s and early oughts and even back then the data consistently showed that men drank more alcohol (quantity), drank more often (frequency), and drank more excessively (binge drinking). We need to stop talking like this is a new finding and start asking ourselves why nothing has changed after more than 40 years of talk about reducing excessive alcohol use, especially among young men.

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“Most kids won't believe they will die due to substance use, but will believe   it may cause issues with their social and personal life (which happens to be true).”    With the recent reports on child alcohol use being record high in the UK, the webinar led by Bechara Ghaoui, PMP on Strategies in Media and Social Media for Substance Use Prevention couldn’t come at a better time! I attended it as part of Turning Point All-Age Drug and Alcohol Prevention Service, Wakefield. Organised by ISSUP - International Society of Substance Use Professionals, here’s a quick run through of what was covered:     ⭐ Understanding theories of media influence with case studies/examples which reflects on how to encourage individuals to move away from substance use through synchronised initiatives and campaigns. (Side note: The case studies shared here are Arabia specific, however, they are relevant examples to discuss prevalence of substance use and prevention among children.)    ⭐ Relevance of using mass media to reach the relevant individuals/prospective service users.   ⭐Leveraging social media for prevention  →The necessity of identifying the target audience.  →Theoretical framework - when it comes to media strategy.  →Conducting formative research. →Coordinating and collaborating with existing drug and alcohol prevention drives to amplify efforts. ⭐Crafting effective prevention messages through  →Incorporating distractions.  →Misdirection. →Indirectly sharing the message with individuals/young adults through parents and caregivers.  →Referencing credible resources/using facts and evidence-based approach.   It is important for everyone to understand the lasting effects of substance use on children. Spending my teenage years in a Tier-2 city (Mangalore, India), where drugs and alcohol are easily accessible to young people and children (to this day), here's hoping resources like these can help raise awareness and destigmatise conversations around substance use. Link to the webinar: https://lnkd.in/ekFggdBv #mediastrategies #awarenesscampaigns #substanceuseprevention

Some very interesting facts and figures from Truth Initiative regarding E-Cigarette use. "While e-cigarette use prevalence has declined significantly since the heyday of JUUL — 10% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2023. E-cigarette use among young people remains a concern. Thousands of flavored, high-nicotine, and relatively cheap e-cigarette products remain on the market — many of them illegally — driving youth use and nicotine addiction. Equally concerning, nearly half of young people who have ever tried e-cigarettes continue to use them, and many do so daily." FULL REPORT: https://lnkd.in/gfahyzss #ecigarettes #nicotine #hbcat #makeiteasier #healthychoices #quitsmoking

When someone has a problem with alcohol, the ripple effect can extend far beyond their own health. Children are often the ones most heavily impacted. This important review, published in the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, looks specifically at men’s alcohol use and how it can harm the children around them. As the graphic shows, there are a range of direct impacts that can flow from drinking, including family conflict, child maltreatment, financial pressures, and exposure to violence linked to intoxication or withdrawal. That can lead to children internalising their emotional stress and an increased risk of anxiety and depression, trouble at school and behavioural and social problems. When kids live in volatile home environments and are exposed to conflict and tense family dynamics, it can be unpredictable. If you never know what’s coming next, that can set you up for a lifetime of maladaptive behaviours. This review found that children who had men in their lives who had issues with alcohol went on to have impossibly high expectations of themselves, difficulty accepting authority, and problems with intimacy and trust. You can read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gd6_cp5e These are complex issues and there is no simple solution, but it highlights the need to take a holistic approach to tackling alcohol misuse – one that looks not just at the individual but at the broader social drivers that influence someone’s drinking. Rather than blame or judge parents who have issues with alcohol, we need to intervene early, offering accessible support before problems escalate. If you or someone you care about is looking for judgement-free, evidence-based peer support to help change unhealthy drinking patterns, you can join our Daybreak community here: https://lnkd.in/gjcdJpGn Thank you to Cassandra Hopkins, Siri Håvås Haugland, Tom Greenfield, Ilona Tamutiene, Siri Hettige and Anne-Marie Laslett for the insights in this review. #alcoholresearch #harmreduction #aod

This week's blog features some risks, guidelines, and prevention strategies for adult alcohol use. https://hubs.la/Q02-WWv80 With the holidays coming up, what are your thoughts on how we can promote moderation and education about alcohol use in our communities? Drop your ideas below! ⬇️

Check out our latest blog post on the reasons behind underage drinking!

As parents, discussing the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs with your children can be challenging, but it's crucial for their safety and well-being. Our blog post provides practical advice to help you navigate this important conversation. Here are the top tips: Begin Early 🌱: Start the conversation when your children are young to normalize the topic and encourage open dialogue. Stay Calm 😌: Avoid overreacting to their questions or disclosures to maintain a safe and trusting environment. Be Honest and Stick to the Facts 📚: Provide age-appropriate, factual information rather than scare tactics. Discuss Family Expectations and Rules 🏡: Clearly communicate your family's stance on substance use and the consequences of breaking these rules. Lead by Example 👨👩👧👦: Model the behavior you want to see in your children. For a more detailed guide and additional tips, read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eTvYmCPX At Wellview Counseling, we are here to support you and your family in fostering healthy, open communication. If you need further assistance, our child therapists are ready to help. #WellviewCounseling #ChildTherapy #ParentingTips #MentalHealth #SubstanceUsePrevention #FamilyWellness