When parents come in for a consult about their child's emotional wellbeing, the conversations typically focus on the factors most people naturally think about. They talk about family relationships, friendships, school experiences, learning challenges, anxiety, stress, behaviour, and self-esteem. Occasionally they discuss sleep, exercise, or the impact of technology. What rarely comes up, at least initially, is nutrition. Yet nutrition is becoming an increasingly important part of the...

Over the past several years, researchers have documented a troubling increase in emotional distress among adolescent girls. The statistics are difficult to ignore. According to the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four in ten high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the previous year. Among girls, the numbers are even more concerning, with nearly one in two reporting these...

By Dr. Bob Carey, C.Psych. Over the past several years, many parents, educators, and mental health professionals have noticed a concerning shift in the emotional lives of children. Increasingly, children who appear bright, capable, and conscientious are presenting with significant levels of anxiety related to performance, achievement, and fear of failure. While anxiety surrounding grades, sports, auditions, and social acceptance has traditionally been associated with adolescence, clinicians...