The U.S. Surgeon General is warning of a #youth #mentalhealthcrisis and after a string of #youth #suicides in Nampa in the last few months, the Treasure Valley is seeing the impact of that crisis.
By: Anna Azallion
TREASURE VALLEY, Idaho — The U.S. Surgeon General is warning of a #youth #mentalhealthcrisis and after a string of #youth #suicides in Nampa in the last few months, the Treasure Valley is seeing the impact of that crisis.
Recently, many are considering the harmful effects of #socialmedia, including local officials who are urging #parents to take action to protect their #kids from #socialmedia’s potentially harmful influence.
“I don’t think that #parents really understand the social landscape that we’re in with #socialmedia being as big as it is,” Daniel griffin, the corporate director of the Imagine program at Northpoint Recovery said.
#Socialmedia can be harmful for many reasons.
“The connection that people experience over #socialmedia is not akin to the kind of connection that #kids need–or people in general need–you know face to face,” Griffin said.
Another harmful aspect is comparison culture.
“You see something on #socialmedia and you start to consciously or subconsciously judge your own life against what you’re seeing,” Griffin said.
These things can have harmful effects on #mentalhealth, but #socialmedia is affecting more than just #mentalhealth. It’s also spreading trends that can be dangerous and have serious consequences.
As we’ve reported, two viral #TikTok trends this year have involved vandalizing #school bathrooms and vague threats against #schools nationwide.
#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
“With these trends, it’s not just on #TikTok first of all. It’s kind of based over all of #socialmedia, #TikTok, #Snapchat and everything like that,” School Resource Officer, Dallas Denney said.
One option for #parents to try to mitigate #socialmedia’s harmful effects and their kids’ participation in these trends are parental controls. There are several options for both android and apple devices.
“With the #iPhone, it comes with the phone. You go to the screen time and then it’ll have parental controls there. If you have an android phone then you can go to the android store, download the family link,” Nampa School Resource Officer, Stu Hobson said.
Bark and MMGuardian both charge a monthly fee, but Hobson said these apps provide more options and #parent education to learn how to use parental controls.
These parental control features and apps allow #parents to monitor what their #child is searching, block sites and set time limits for how long their #child can use a certain app.
Griffin says parental controls can be helpful oversight, but communication is also important, “If it’s just like a no discussion, you’re barred from this, I know everything you’re doing then that can kind of impede someone’s concept of privacy and autonomy.”
There are also signs #parents can look for to know if their #child is struggling.
“#Depression, #anxiety, #isolation, talks of wanting to go to sleep and not wake up, wanting to sleep all the time,” Griffin said.
Griffin also wants #parents to know that talking about #suicide with their #child is not a bad thing.
“Talking about #suicide and helping kids find support for having those thoughts and those experiences will only help,” he said.
You can find more information about Imagine by Northpoint by clicking here and other #mentalhealthresources by clicking here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing #suicidalthoughts, call the Idaho #SuicidePreventionHotline at 800-273-8255 or text the hotline at (208) 398-4357.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
