Suicide-related emergencies underdetected among minority, male youth and preteens, study finds

By Med Express, 10/29/24 “…A new study by UCLA Health reveals that hospital emergency departments may be missing signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, boys and Black and Hispanic youth. The research, published in the journal JAMA Open Network, analyzed electronic health records of nearly 3,000 children and teenagers…” Read the entire article:  https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-10-suicide-emergencies-underdetected-minority-male.html

Why Kids Need More Play Time and Fewer Structured Activities

By Psychology Today, 10/21/24 “…Saying things like, “My child is so busy,” has become a bit of a status symbol for parents who want to raise kids who are prepared for the real world. Ironically, overscheduled kids are actually missing out on the thing they need most for their development: unstructured playtime. …” Read the READ MORE

Young Men in Crisis

By Stanford Review, 09/30/24 “…At Stanford, women now outnumber men by 7% among undergraduates. This seemingly small difference belies a significant shift in campus demographics and academic achievement from 50 years ago, when the ratio of students (as well as applicants) was 67% men to 33% women. While the gender parity achieved in recent decades was READ MORE

It’s Time to Man Up and See a Doctor

By Web MD, 09/17/24 “…“We’re taught from an early age to internalize everything,” noted Stephens. “So-called real men don’t seek out mental health [care].”But McDermott warned that this type of rigidity tends to backfire. “Medical issues are exacerbated by psychological problems, and vice versa,” he said. “The connection between depression and diabetes is a classic READ MORE

Boys need the HPV cancer vaccine as much as girls

By Japan Times, 09/20/24 “…Researchers examined the electronic health records of people who were or were not vaccinated against HPV between 2010 and 2023 and found vaccination lowered men’s risk of developing any HPV-related cancer by 54%, while their head and neck cancer risk fell by 56%. …” Read the entire article: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/09/20/world/boys-need-hpv-cancer-vaccine/

Men are carrying the brunt of the ‘loneliness epidemic’ amid potent societal pressures

By The Conversation, 09/20/24 “…In a recent study we conducted on 75 new and expectant Black fathers, they spoke of the need to address individual and collective trauma. This, they said, would ultimately help support their families. But they said resources to help men with their mental health are often unavailable or very limited. …” READ MORE

Loneliness Is On the Rise & Teen Boys Are Feeling It. Here Are 6 Ways Parents Can Help

By SheKnows 09/10/24 “…For teen boys, the problem can be especially fraught. “Teen boys face stigma and societal expectations when it comes to emotional vulnerability,” Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at The Jed Foundation (JED), a teen emotional health and suicide prevention nonprofit, tells SheKnows. “They’re discouraged from reaching out to form closer connections READ MORE

Harry Remer: Better care of boys, reduce school shootings

By Gazette, 09/12/24  “…I’m a psychotherapist, and the young students my colleagues and I work with can have very high levels of anxiety about school shootings. The vast majority of youth gun violence is perpetrated by boys. It’s crystal-clear that we as a nation are not serving them well. The wonderful improvements for girls in READ MORE

Recess Duty

By Slate, 09/01/24 “…As the new academic year approaches, I check off the back-to-school tasks—label folders, disinfect lunch box, buy overpriced required school shoes that will result in blisters and whines—and I also check to see which states, if any, have adopted new laws to require recess. I’m happy to report that California and Washington READ MORE