Embracing Joy: Nurturing Happiness on International Day of Happiness
As the world gears up to celebrate International Day of Happiness on March 20th, it’s a poignant reminder of the importance of joy in our lives. In a time where stress and uncertainty often loom large, taking a moment to prioritize happiness can have profound effects on our mental well-being. At Western Youth Services, we […]
Why We Still Need To Talk About Teen Mental Health
Why We Still Need To Talk About Teen Mental Health We created our series 13 Reasons Why We MUST Talk About Teen Mental Health because when the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, aired there was tremendous controversy surrounding it. The show shares the fictional story of a high school student named Hannah Baker, who […]
Hope for Teens Struggling with Depression
Hope for Teens Struggling with Depression Depression in adolescents is more than sadness or moodiness. It is a complex mental health condition that requires compassionate medical care. At Western Youth Services, we support teens and families through the complexities of living with a mental illness. What is depression? Everyone feels sad at some point in […]
Understanding Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Understanding Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse High school is an exciting time filled with new experiences. Adolescents are hardwired to take risks and try out “adult” behaviors. It makes sense that almost 70 percent of high school seniors have tried alcohol, and 50 percent have taken an illegal drug such as marijuana. There is a […]
Mental Health Champion – Gene Lyons
Mental Health Champion – Gene Lyons “Sometimes one person can make all the difference in the life of another. One man more than any other made such a difference to me, both personally and professionally, and he positively affected the course of my life in too many ways to enumerate. That man was Eugene Michael […]
A Call to Action, NOT Arms
A Call to Action, NOT Arms Another shooting. I am devastated. This one is in my backyard. The UCLA campus. It’s my alma mater. As a person I just can’t wrap my brain around it. As a psychologist and CEO of a child and family mental health services organization, I feel an obligation to find […]