Resources

Reading Time: 5 minutes You may not know it has a name, but you’ve probably experienced it—that creeping sense of dread that comes over you on Sunday night, as the prospect of going back to school or work looms closer. It’s called the Sunday scaries, and new research shows that the pandemic has made it even worse, particularly for […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes By Kristin Wilson, MA, LPC, Vice President of Clinical Outreach Within each of us, whether we are aware of it or not, is an inner child—with all the emotions and vulnerabilities of our younger selves. This inner child represents our capacity for innocence, wonder, awe, joy, sensitivity, and playfulness, and it also holds our accumulated […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes With more young people talking openly about mental health, gaslighting has become an increasingly common topic among this age group over the last few years. Gaslighting and other forms of emotional abuse have also shown up in popular media recently—for example, in the Netflix series Maid, the novel and movie The Girl on the Train, […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes When we think about anxiety, we usually think about being paralyzed with fear and worry, to the point of being unable to deal with everyday tasks. However, anxiety doesn’t always manifest that way. In fact, young adults with high-functioning anxiety are often overachievers who appear to be succeeding in every aspect of life. But on […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Mental health isn’t simply “good” or “bad”—it’s a spectrum that encompasses a wide range of experiences and symptoms. On one end of that spectrum is depression, characterized by feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. On the other end is flourishing: a sense of connection, purpose, and meaning. And in the middle is what’s known as languishing—when […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes The effects of stress on college students are taking an increasingly heavy toll. With the typical stressors of college multiplied by the pandemic, nine out of 10 students believe there is a mental health crisis on college campuses, according to a recent survey.  Each semester brings new challenges and uncertainties alongside academic demands. Anxiety about […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes What happens to us in our first 10 years or so of life will affect every single decade that follows. During this incredibly rapid period of growth and development, our bodies, brains, and personalities are imprinted by our early experiences. That’s why childhood trauma can have such a significant impact on our mental and physical […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Their eyes are sunken, their skin is ashen, and they communicate with grunts rather than words. Only their thumbs move, endlessly, flicking up and down on the glowing rectangles clutched in their hands. Just a small part of their brain still works, and that part is entirely devoted to the images flashing before them, one […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Not all abusive relationships are physically violent. In fact, emotional abuse within relationships is even more common than physical abuse. And it’s harder to recognize, because it can masquerade as an intense form of love and devotion. An abusive relationship often seems incredibly passionate and romantic at first, and then gradually descends into manipulation and […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes If you answered yes to that question, you’re not alone. Who doesn’t want whiter teeth, brighter skin, more symmetrical features? Social media filters let us have that and more, so we can keep up with all the other filter-using selfie-takers in our feeds. How could there be anything wrong with that?  It’s a natural impulse […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes College commencement—“the first day of the rest of your life.” After four long years, countless cram sessions, and too many all-nighters, you’ve finally made it. There’s nothing quite like that moment when you finally throw your cap in the air (literally or figuratively). But for many recent graduates, the feelings of accomplishment and celebration quickly […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Getting recognized for your accomplishments should be cause for celebration. So why does it sometimes feel like your successes have made you the target of criticism, gossip, or downright sabotage? You may be experiencing the social phenomenon known as “Tall Poppy Syndrome.”  Young adults are particularly vulnerable to Tall Poppy Syndrome. Competition for grades and […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for most people, the holiday season is definitely not the jolliest time of the year. Young people in particular find the holidays stressful: A Healthline survey found that 65 percent of Gen Z were stressed out by the holiday season, a […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes A new study has identified the top three health behaviors that support emotional well-being in young adults. These pillars of mental health clearly illustrate the power of the mind-body connection, and offer a road map for how to stay healthy in your 20s, both mentally and physically. Published in December 2020 in the journal Frontiers […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Young adults have felt the impact of pandemic-related stressors more than any other age group. Interruptions to work and school, increased political strife, and limited social interaction have added to the burden of uncertainty and pressure this generation was already carrying. At one point during 2020, three-quarters of young adults were experiencing symptoms of anxiety […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Narcissism is often defined as a fixation with oneself and one’s physical appearance or public image. Many young adults could be described as narcissistic, because they’re at a stage of life when they are establishing their identity and figuring out who they are in relationship to others. But is narcissism on the rise among young […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Social isolation and loneliness are two of the primary factors leading to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among young adults. Young people often feel disconnected and alone, as if no one truly understands what they’re going through. In a study conducted by researchers at Harvard, 61 percent of young adults reported high levels of loneliness, […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Hidden depression can be hidden from others—or it can be hidden from ourselves. A young adult with hidden depression may deliberately conceal how they’re feeling for fear of how they’ll be perceived. Or they may think that the feelings will resolve themselves if they can just “fake it ‘til they make it.” But in other […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes As much as we all want to get back to “normal” life post-COVID, that doesn’t mean re-entry will be easy. After more than a year of social distancing and limited activities outside the home, many people are feeling anxious about what it will be like to spend more time with friends, in groups, and out […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes We are constantly plugged in to the virtual world, even more so in the age of COVID. Our daily lives consist of regularly checking emails, responding to texts from friends, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, and getting news alerts. Now much of our socializing and work life takes place online as well. That makes […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes College is typically one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life—and also one of the most stressful. Positive experiences of connection, learning, and independence are counterbalanced by academic and social pressures, coupled with the challenges of being away from home for the first time. That’s why rates of depression in college students […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Emerging adults are the loneliest generation, despite being more social and more plugged-in than other age groups. Loneliness peaks between the ages of 18 and 29, according to a new research review. And feeling lonely increases the risk of mental health conditions—creating an epidemic of loneliness and depression in young adults. Loneliness is defined as […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Many young adults enter therapy at a crisis point, when they are struggling with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or another mental health issue. Treatment can support them to address underlying trauma and attachment wounds, so they can return to their lives stronger and more resilient. Moreover, the benefits of therapy go beyond the short term. […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Like their peers around the country, Minnesota’s young adult population is experiencing the long-term negative mental health repercussions of the pandemic. New research shows the one out of every three adults in the North Star State experienced a mental health condition last year. This mental health crisis is exacerbated by a shortage of Minnesota treatment […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Academic pressure on young adults has reached intense levels. The stress of getting into the right college, making good grades, and landing the best internships—all in preparation for success in the workplace—takes an enormous toll on young adult mental health. Too often, academic success comes at the expense of young adults’ social and emotional development, […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Our everyday surroundings have a powerful impact on our mood and emotions. A dark, cluttered room evokes different feelings than an airy, light-filled space. But the impact goes beyond our immediate reaction—for example, one study found that living in a cluttered home can actually stimulate the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. So exactly how […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Why do young people self-harm and how they can find self-harm recovery? Since self-harm typically starts in early to mid-adolescence, many young adults who struggle with this behavior may have been in treatment before, were able to stop, and then had a self-harm relapse during a period of emotional distress. Preventing self-harm relapse starts with […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Human beings are wired for connection. Having strong communities in which members looked out for each kept our ancestors alive, and connection is still key to our well-being. We want to feel a sense of belonging within a group of people who share our values—whether that’s Cubs fans, a gaming community, or Swifties (Taylor Swift […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes The food we eat has a powerful impact on our mental health. Therefore, a nutritious diet that supports young adult well-being includes a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats—foods you should eat everyday.

Reading Time: 5 minutes With an increasing number of states legalizing marijuana and other drugs, the debate continues on whether the negative effects of drug decriminalization outweigh the positives. Researchers, policymakers, and public health officials provide arguments on both sides. For mental health experts, however, the most relevant question is how drug legalization will impact rates of substance abuse […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Is there really such a thing as casual cocaine use? Because of cocaine’s powerful impact on brain functioning, it is highly addictive both psychologically and physiologically. Young adults who use the drug occasionally with friends may not be aware of the dangers of cocaine, including both short- and long-term effects of cocaine on the body […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Positive manifestation is an idea that has become increasingly popular among young people. Sometimes referred to as the law of attraction, manifestation is the belief we can change and shape our lives just by the way we think. We can control what happens and make our dreams come true by putting good thoughts and energy […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Whether they’re heading back to the office, back to a college dorm, or back to IRL communication after time in isolation, young adults are reentering a world that is fundamentally different. The pandemic has forged a new normal for these emerging adults as they face personal changes, professional changes, and stressful return-to-work guidelines. Fortunately, this […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes The mind-body connection is a powerful force. The mind and body are designed to be allies, working in sync to maximize our physical and mental health. But sometimes they work against each other. Like most relationships, the mind-body connection can be complicated. There is no doubt that our minds and bodies are deeply connected. Our […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes by Leigh McInnis, LPC, Newport Executive Director The nature of a healthy, harmonious relationship is that it is mutually beneficial. Both individuals feel assured that they are worthy of being heard, voicing their opinions, and having their wants and needs considered. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) offers the tools to allow this ideal to become a […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Women are diagnosed with PTSD twice as often as men, while men are more likely to use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate their psychological pain. These are just two of the many gender differences in emotional health that research has uncovered. Scientists and mental health experts ascribe these disparities to a number of factors, including […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes The stigma around male body image issues often prevents young men from speaking honestly about their experiences and seeking treatment for related mental health challenges.

Reading Time: 5 minutes For the first time since the Great Depression, the majority of young adults are living with their parents. As of late 2020, 52 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds and nearly three-quarters of the 18–24 age group had moved back home, according to the Pew Research Center. That’s 26.6 million young people—an increase of 2.6 million […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Use of a variety of common types of party drugs has reached record levels among young adults. In particular, use of the party drugs marijuana and hallucinogens is at historically high levels, according to a recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) study. Young adults use party drugs to enhance social experiences and feel more intense emotions […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes An increased risk of suicide among young adults is one of the most troubling effects of the COVID pandemic. According to the CDC, one in every four young adults (ages 18–24) has seriously considered suicide as a result of the pandemic and its impact on their social, academic, work, and family life. These suicide statistics […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Strengths-based programming is founded on the belief that each person, no matter their challenges, has unique strengths that can support them throughout their life. All too often, our culture prompts adolescents and young adults to focus on their failures rather than their successes. Well-meaning parents, teachers, clinicians, and other helpers and mentors tend to focus […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Men are less likely than women to be diagnosed with any of the most common mental health disorders, and those who have received a diagnosis are less likely to seek treatment. Yet nearly four times as many men as women die by suicide. Why don’t men receive the diagnoses and care they need to heal […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes New reports show that the mental health toll of the past year is manifesting in sharply rising rates of alcohol abuse in women. Social isolation, more time spent at home, and increases in anxiety and depression are driving up drinking rates. In fact, according to recent research, women are engaging in heavy drinking nearly twice […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes The term “compassion fatigue” has traditionally been used to describe a common experience for first responders, medical providers, and those in the helping professions. Sometimes known as secondary trauma, it occurs when those who are routinely exposed to others’ trauma begin to experience some of the same symptoms. However, compassion fatigue doesn’t just impact frontline […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes For young adults, self-care isn’t always a priority. The pressures of college and/or starting a job can make basic self-care seem more like a luxury than a necessity. But making a commitment to incorporate self-care practices into your daily routine can create a positive difference not just now, but for the rest of your life. […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes A sober living community can be a great solution for young adults who are in recovery. In a supportive and caring sober living home, young people can build strong connections with peers while learning to live independently. When researching how to choose a sober living home, it’s helpful to have an understanding of what to […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Research shows that alcohol and marijuana can serve as “gateways” to using harder drugs. But there’s another gateway drug that young adults should be aware of: nicotine. Smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes in your late teens and early 20s creates changes in the brain and body that can make young people more apt to experiment […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes The past couple of years have taught us that there’s very little we can predict or control. For most of us, plans and goals, whether big or small, have been upended time and again by the pandemic. The only thing we do have control over is our own behavior. So shouldn’t we be making lots […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes Turning 21 can feel like crossing a line in the sand between adolescence and adulthood. In the United States, turning 21 not only grants young people permission to legally drink and smoke, it also marks the official transition to adulthood, and all the responsibilities and expectations that go along with that. For some young people, […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes College and sleep deprivation are known to go hand in hand. But pulling all-nighters doesn’t just leave young people yawning in class—it may also significantly reduce their well-being. Sleep deprivation in college students and other young adults may be contributing to the current mental health crisis among this age group. Sleep Deprivation in College Students: […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes Codependency disorder is a type of dysfunctional relationship in which one or both people experiences an unhealthy level of reliance on the other. A codependent person may feel they are worthless without the other person.

Reading Time: 4 minutes When we think about hip hop artists, we don’t usually think about anxious or depressed rappers. Rap artists have a reputation as being tough and invulnerable. But some rap stars are changing that perception—and helping to reduce stigma—by writing rap songs about mental health. In fact, a recent study found that the number of rap […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Young adults are more likely than any other age group to smoke marijuana. While cigarette smoking among this demographic has declined and alcohol use has remained level, more young adults are vaping or smoking marijuana than ever before. As a result, the need for marijuana addiction rehab is also on the rise. In addition, the […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes Authentic relationships—close, supportive, and nurturing connections—are essential to mental health. Research shows that the quality of our relationships is directly linked to our happiness, well-being, and self-esteem. Unfortunately, early childhood trauma can impede our ability to create and maintain healthy, authentic relationships. When the parent-child bond is disrupted early in life, we carry the psychological […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’ve been experiencing a new or heightened fear of leaving the house, you’re not alone. After a year and a half of constantly changing guidelines around daily activities, it’s not easy to determine what’s safe to do in the outside world. As new COVID variants like Delta and Mu are identified, normal behaviors like […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Ever since psychologist Carl Rogers introduced the concept of unconditional positive regard, mental health professionals have been looking for ways to leverage the quality of the therapeutic relationship to shape outcomes. But research shows that it isn’t just the interpersonal dynamic between patient and provider that counts. The amount of compassion a person has for […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes What does it mean to be a “real man”? It means speaking and living your truth, whatever that may be. But that’s far easier said than done in a culture where men feel pressured to adhere to outdated and damaging stereotypes of masculinity. Despite how far we’ve come in dismantling male gender norms over the […]

Reading Time: 8 minutes It’s common knowledge that eating too much sugar and processed foods can lead to health problems like obesity and type 2 diabetes in young adults. But that’s not all.

Reading Time: 6 minutes When a young adult needs more support than weekly therapy or outpatient care can provide, inpatient care for mental health may be the solution. For young people struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, or co-occurring disorders, such as substance abuse and eating disorders, inpatient care can provide the environment and support needed for healing. The first […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes As we approach nearly a year of living with the COVID pandemic, the stress of ongoing uncertainty is creating what’s known as change fatigue. And this frustration and exhaustion is complicated by a related issue called decision fatigue. In some ways, we have fewer choices than ever before. Yet at the same time, every choice […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes As adults, we rely on a set of cognitive proficiencies collectively known as executive functioning skills. These capabilities help us to navigate life’s challenges, persevere in the face of stress, and meet our full potential. They dictate our capacity to make healthy choices, allow us to focus on important tasks so that we can complete […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Young adults have been hit harder than any other age group by the psychological, political, economic, and social repercussions of the last two years. And within this demographic, young people who identify as LGBTQ have been even more drastically impacted. A new Trevor Project survey on LGBTQ youth mental health found that 69 percent of […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Young activists are speaking out about today’s most pressing social issues. Recent polls show a high level of engagement among young adult and teen activists regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, systemic racism, and police brutality. Furthermore, today’s young adults believe that they are making a difference: In a survey conducted in June 2020 by […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes We all want to be loved unconditionally—to be loved despite not being perfect. True unconditional love, whether it’s between family members, friends, or romantic partners, supports us to be our best self. When we know we are unconditionally loved, we can go out into the world with confidence and a sense of security. Furthermore, research […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes If you’re feeling agitated, irritable, and down on yourself, it might not be for the reasons you think. Instead, you might be experiencing symptoms of grief. Sadness isn’t the only emotion associated with grief. And grief doesn’t look or feel the same for everyone. It’s a complicated emotion that comes in many forms and manifests […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes For young adults, the holidays are typically about catching up on sleep, going out with friends, and spending time with family. Entering or remaining in treatment for mental health conditions doesn’t usually look like an appealing option, even when they know they need help. So why is treatment important even during the holidays? Here are […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes EMDR Therapy is an evidence-based approach to treating trauma and PTSD. Read on to learn how and why it works.

Reading Time: 5 minutes There are always risks in life. But during a pandemic, even everyday activities can feel risky. Young adults are struggling right now to balance concerns about keeping themselves and others safe with their natural developmental need to connect with others and explore their world. Because the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which controls self-regulation, is not fully […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Young adults are plugged in all the time, yet they’re lonelier than ever. Separated from peers and mentors, yet connected to technology in every waking hour, Gen Z is suffering from both social isolation and digital overload—hence the term “virtual isolation.” As the pandemic wears on, many emerging adults feel as if their lives are […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes The statistics regarding high school dropouts are bad enough to make any parent cringe. For example, according to an article published…

Reading Time: 7 minutes By the time we reach age 10, our brains have grown to their full size. But that doesn’t mean they’ve finished developing. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for weighing consequences vs. instant gratification, making thoughtful decisions, and managing emotions, doesn’t fully mature until the mid-20s, and possibly even later. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex, in […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes What do we really want from our jobs, besides a paycheck? That’s a question that millions of people are reconsidering right now—especially young adults. More than 4 million people in the United States quit their jobs in April 2021 alone, according to the Department of Labor, and over 50 percent of 18- to 25 year-olds […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Gen Z unemployment rates, which were already high before the pandemic, are growing, which can have an impact on well-being and mental health.

Reading Time: 3 minutes Even if they haven’t had personal experience with mental healthcare, most people are familiar with the one-on-one setup of an individual therapy session. This traditional talk therapy format offers a safe space to process the highs and lows of the healing process with a trusted clinician who can offer guidance and support. However, group therapy […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes New research reveals that the youth mental health crisis is taking a heavy toll on the Asian American community. Statistics from the CDC show that suicide is the first leading cause of death for Asian American young adults—accounting for one-third of the deaths among Asian Americans aged 20–24. This is the only racial group within […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Each year, one in four young adults suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder, with one in 10 experiencing a depressive disorder such as major depression. And 41 percent of young adults don’t get treatment for their mental health disorders, either through lack of access to care or lack of support in finding treatment. These […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Separating from family in order to create an independent life is an important part of becoming a young adult. However, family relationships—both past and present—continue to have an enormous influence on young adult mental health even after they leave home. That’s why family counseling is one of the most powerful healing approaches for young adults […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Olympic athletes sometimes seem almost superhuman. Despite immense pressure and the millions of eyes upon them, they remain focused, calm, and collected as they push their bodies to achieve at the highest levels imaginable. In order to become the best at what they do, they’ve had to build both physical and mental resilience through sports. […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Young adults will inherit a world that is deeply impacted by climate change. Thus, a large portion of this generation feels both hopeless and helpless about the future of the planet. As a result, young adults often experience what’s known as climate change anxiety, or eco-anxiety. Mental health experts agree that climate change anxiety is […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Young adults are under enormous stress. Between academic pressure, workplace stressors, social anxiety, and struggles with self-worth and mental health, they often feel as if they’re underwater all the time. They don’t have enough hours in the day to fit everything in, and they never get enough sleep. Stimulant drugs seem to offer a way […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes What really matters in life? That’s a question people of all ages are asking themselves right now. As we gradually emerge from the stress and anxiety of the past year, it feels more important than ever to focus on the things that bring us joy. And for most people, making real connections with others is […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes College-aged men and women use alcohol in roughly equal numbers. However, binge drinking, particularly extreme binge drinking, continues to be far more common among young men. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings the blood alcohol level to 0.08 grams or above. For males, that means consuming five or more drinks within two hours. For females, […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Today’s young adults face an unprecedented degree of fear and uncertainty as they launch their lives. Globally, there’s the fear of viral contagion, economic insecurity, social disruption, and climate change. Individually, they face financial worries, disrupted plans, and personal losses, both large and small. At the same time, the pandemic has reduced opportunities for day-to-day […]