The Health and Wellness Committee of LJHS is comprised of staff, parents, students, and community members. We want to provide information, strategies, wellness tips, resources and more. We are also coordinating programs with the school counselors, nurse, and ASB/school clubs throughout the year to educate and support students and staff.
District Wellness Resources:
Mental Health Awareness
-Self-care article for teens: http://camhs.cnwl.nhs.uk/young-people-adolescents/mental-health-tips-coping-strategies/
-Stress-coping skills: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-race-good-health/201501/teens-and-stress-practical-coping-skills
-NPR article about high school stress/parent's role: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/06/11/616900580/back-off-how-to-get-out-of-the-high-pressure-parenting-trap
-General coping skills for adults and teens: https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/coping-skills-worksheets/
-Programs and assemblies in May, 2018: SDYS Here NOW, Check Your Mood, Health and Wellness Fair, Wiser Everyday Mindfulness assembly, NAMI Ending the Silence assembly.
-"Normal Teenage Behaviour vs. Early Warning Signs of Mental Illness": http://www.asmfmh.org/resources/publications/normal-teenage-behaviour-vs-early-warning-signs-of-mental-illness/
-Clubs on campus for students to join: Take a Minute (stress reduction) and NCHS (NAMI on Campus/Mental Health Club)
-Screen Time Linked to ADHD? https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/health/adhd-symptoms-digital-media-study/index.html
Vaping/Tobacco/Marijuana
-Great CNN video report: https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2018/04/06/high-school-students-vaping-e-cigarettes-gupta-orig.cnn
-Learn more about cancer-causing chemicals in electronic cigarettes/vapes: www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/teen-inhale-cancer-causing-chemicals-e-cigarettes-n853611
-Video: https://youtu.be/wBR1Dpiorrg
-Detailed report (Am. Heart Assoc.) about e-cigarettes: http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/6/9/e006353
-Students on our committee created educational posters for campus!
-Juuls: Wall Street Journal Article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/juul-to-ramp-up-efforts-to-combat-underage-use-of-e-cigarettes-1524680819
Prescription Drug Awareness
-Helpful and concise article: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs
-Community Resource: McCalister: http://www.mcalisterinc.org/
-Article about link between teen suicide and prescription drug abuse: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-adolescents-drugs-suicide/prescription-drug-abuse-tied-to-increased-risk-of-teen-suicide-idUSKCN10Q1T1
-Comprehensive guide for parents/families from DEA: https://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/prescription_for_disaster_english.pdf
Healthy Relationships
-We End Violence (Jeff Bucholtz) assemblies for all grade levels.
-Community Resource: Center for Community Solutions: http://www.ccssd.org
Anxiety
*More adolescents than ever are struggling from anxiety. Over the last ten years, anxiety has surpassed depression as the most common reason teens seek counseling services.
-Kevin Love (NBA) opens up about his experiences: https://www.yahoo.com/sports/kevin-love-opens-experience-panic-attacks-therapy-need-185559305.html?.tsrc=fauxdal
-Please visit your school counselor and school nurse for many resources and tips for managing anxiety.
-Mindfulness Resources: http://mindfulnessforteens.com/resources/
-Article about teens abusing RX drugs to self-medicate: https://drugfree.org/learn/drug-and-alcohol-news/teens-abusing-prescription-drugs-may-just-want-get-high-research-suggests/
Check out this free webinar: Teen Depression: What Families and Schools Can Do: http://ibpf.org/article/teen-depression-what-families-and-schools-can-do-reluctant-teens
Alcohol Awareness
*Did you know...
-56% of LJHS Juniors reported having used alcohol or drugs?
-1 of 4 LJHS Juniors reported being a current binge drinker (defined as 5 or more drinks in a row)?
-63% of LJHS Freshmen report that it is easy to get alcohol and 76% of LJHS Juniors say the same.
-More than half of the students believe that there is no harm or just slight harm in alcohol use.
-About half of students get alcohol from their home and between 1/2 and 2/3 from a party/event.
*Based on the most recent data from the CA Healthy Kids Survey.
Here's how you and we can help: Health and Wellness Issue December.pdf