Every parent wants what’s best for their children. We want them to do well in school, make friends, be happy and healthy, and be kind to others. But how much responsibility do we bear as parents in helping them achieve these goals?

Traditionally, summer was a time for kids and their parents to relax and enjoy some unstructured days – a chance to decompress, have fun and play. But thanks to the ubiquity of personal technology, as well as the increasing number of scheduled summer activities, the summer can feel an awful lot like the hectic, plugged-in school year for some families.

When you are dealing with a mental illness, or any condition for that matter, it's extremely important to become an advocate for yourself and make sure you have a voice in your treatment plan. Most likely your treatment team will consist of a psychiatrist, a psychologist and/or a social worker. These professionals know the intricate details of mental illnesses, how they typically present and what is the best first step in treatment. 

When you’re a parent you’re bound to feel anxious at times. It’s normal to feel some anxiety when sending your child to school for the first time, leaving them overnight for the first time or sending them off to summer camp. All parents feel a certain amount of anxiety, but when you have an anxiety disorder, it’s easy for it to spiral out of control.

If you are responsible for caring for an aging parent or older relative, you may grow accustomed to their occasional grumpiness or glass half-full attitude, but don’t be so quick to chalk it up to the typical aging process.

Every parent of a teenager is familiar with the mood swings, defiance and other behaviors that are often part of adolescent development. But how can a parent recognize if their teen’s challenging behavior is something more serious than that – such as depression, anxiety or another mental illness -- requiring serious intervention? 

Self-harm or self-injury is when a person intentionally and repeatedly harms themselves. Cutting is the most common, but other methods include scratching, punching, picking skin, pulling hair or burning. It is estimated that about two million Americans injure themselves intentionally. 

Deciding you need mental health treatment can feel scary. You know you don’t feel like yourself and you want to feel better, but sometimes it’s hard to admit you need help.

As time goes by, things get harder and harder for teens.  Slogging through junior year, SATs, and college applications are all a prelude to the inevitable worry about college acceptance. 

As the year comes to a close many people look at the new year as a fresh start. People make resolutions to lose weight, eat healthy and save money, but what about mental health? Who wouldn't want to be happier and less stressed? We put so much emphasis on physical health and often ignore the fact that a person needs to be well, both physically and mentally, in order to be a healthy person. 

It's the holiday season once again. Just because you want to avoid alcohol doesn't mean you can't enjoy a festive beverage. Try one of these alcohol-free holiday drinks.