fbpx Nexus Family Matters | Nexus Family Healing
Mother showing love to daughter

Parenting Tips for Suicide Prevention

Suicide is and has been for the last decade, the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. The reasons why suicide occurs are often not well understood, leaving family and friends wondering what could have been done differently. Here are some things you can do as a parent to help your child if there is a concern about suicidal thoughts or actions.
Struggling Teenage boy at school

Talking to Students About Suicide

Suicide can be a very difficult topic to discuss. Teachers often feel helpless to prevent student suicide, but they probably underestimate the impact of their words on their students. Honest and caring conversations about suicide can save lives. Not only can students in emotional pain benefit from these talks, but their peers can begin to recognize warning signs among their friends and gain the courage to act.
A distressed young adult female in a gray sweater, sitting against a door frame, holding her knees to her chest and resting her head on her left arm.

Self-Harm/Injury vs. Suicidal Ideation

Self-Harm can be a difficult subject to talk about, but it's important parents and caretakers are educated on what it is, signs to look for, and the difference between self-harm and suicidal ideation. 
A man holding a child on his lap.

How To Identify and Address Bullying

Childhood bullying is a near universal experience with 1 in 5 children encountering it it at some point. To help our children navigate this, it is crucial to engage in candid discussions about various bullying types and effective coping strategies.
A mom and a dad helping their two kids get ready for school

End of Summer – Slump or Frenzy?

Summer is slowly coming to an end. Many families are experiencing a mixture of feelings, both positive and negative. Some of the positives are a desire for normalcy while some of the negatives include the pressures to finish summer projects. No matter how you are feeling as summer draws to an end, remember, your most important job is to teach your children how to be successful adults.
A child sleeping.

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping. It may feel like a waste of time, but it may be helpful to think of sleep as an investment in your physical and emotional energy. Sleep gives your brain and body a chance to recover from the day and get ready for tomorrow. 
Two people looking at each other.

Creating Healthy Relationships

As teenagers and young adults grow up, they may begin to explore romantic relationships. While these are normal milestones for a young adult, it’s important to talk with youth about boundaries and consent, and how they are important in any relationship, platonic or romantic. 
Cyberbullying

The Invisible Bully

Children live in a new age of technology. Communication is mostly done through texting, Facebook messaging, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Cyberbullying can and does exist through each and every one of these platforms. With the Internet, sometimes it’s hard to tell who the source is, making it even harder to shut down the bullying.
A woman who looks like she is in deep thought.

Summertime Depression – The “Blues” or Something More?

Seasonal depression, or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), is when someone experiences depressive symptoms during cold winter months. However, some people experience this in reverse and feel symptoms of depression during the summer and spring time. While fun for some, summer can trigger depressive symptoms or make people feel melancholy. So how do you know if you have “summertime blues”, summer SAD, or something more?
A child standing.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

While conversations around children’s mental health have entered the mainstream, often children who are newborns to age six are left out due to misconceptions that they won’t remember the things happening at this point in their life. But science shows us differently – children’s mental health begins developing before they are even born.