August 31, 2018

By Steven Schlozman, Co-Director, Gene Beresin, Executive Director and Ellen Braaten, Co-Director

Many families are growing more concerned about suicide, especially among young people. Yet, suicide is often preventable when family members, friends, and communities learn how to recognize warning signs and connect those who are struggling with help.

August 23, 2018

By Steven Schlozman, Co-Director, Ellen Braaten, Co-Director and Gene Beresin, Executive Director

What is bullying?

Most of us have a sense of what it is, but there actually isn’t a clear definition of bullying.

June 25, 2018

By Ellen Braaten, Co-Director

“You don’t understand, Mom!” I said.  “They were making fun of him! They were imitating his speech and laughing!”

My mom shrugged.  It would take more than a couple of small-town high school punks to get her attention.

September 19, 2017

By Steven Schlozman, Co-Director

Think about these questions:

Where do people learn that it is OK to call someone fat?

Where do kids learn that calling someone fat is tacitly acceptable bullying?

Can you think of another health condition for which kids are so easily ridiculed? 

Somehow, being overweight creates open season for merciless reprimands.

September 8, 2017

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Most school age kids are eager to head back to school. Sure, they’ll miss their summer vacation, but the prospect of moving up a grade, seeing friends again, and even having a new teacher is really exciting.

Yet, for or a few kids and their parents it’s kind of a nightmare.

Here are a few stories from years of experience.

August 15, 2017

By Steven Schlozman, Co-Director

Here’s a weird fact.

Until about six or seven years ago, the term “bullying” was pretty much absent from everyday use.  In fact, six or seven years ago, if you had asked someone to define “bullying,” they’d probably tell you that the word itself was both old and old-fashioned.

May 4, 2017

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Today is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, and one mental health topic that’s been on the mind of many parents, caregivers, clinicians, and educators lately is the Netflix TV series, 13 Reasons Why.

March 27, 2017

By Michael S. Boroughs, Ph.D.

For more information on helping to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, please visit the National Coalition for LGBT Health website.

February 2, 2017

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Note from Gene – February 2017

I wrote this post over a year ago, reflecting on a powerful, ongoing relationship I’ve had with the community at Lake Wales High School in Lake Wales, Florida – with high school principal, Donna Dunson, and the students and faculty there.

April 12, 2016

By Frieda Aboul-Fotouh, M.D.

If you turn on the news these days, it’s a flood of Donald ‘Trumpisms’: Trump said this, Trump said that…

As an adult Muslim, I find it disconcerting, and at times, downright frightening, to hear xenophobic statements about keeping Muslims out of the country.