An Interview With Maria Angelova Our children are facing challenges that didn’t exist just a short while ago. They are growing up with social media, constantly being connected, and the hurried pace of life today, as well as the pandemic, and the often frightening news. In short, our children are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Anxiety, depression, and even suicide are on the rise. As parents and educators, what can we do to raise children who are mentally healthy? In this interview series, we are talking to authors, parenting experts and mental health professionals who can share their expertise and [...]

To improve student well-being and get them excited about coming to school, we must address two critical areas: mental health and screen time. School attendance matters. Students who show up regularly are more likely to excel academically, graduate on time, and develop essential social and emotional skills. Yet, chronic absenteeism remains a nationwide issue. From what I’ve seen as a therapist and school counselor, students who avoid school aren’t doing so because they don’t want to learn; they’re young people often struggling with anxiety and a lack of belonging, which triggers a negative response to school, decreased motivation, and sometimes [...]