Lakeside is very committed in our work with students and professionals to help them utilize many different methods for regulating their emotions. We know there are many reasons why students and adults struggle with brain dysregulation and can find some relief if they learn to find ways to calm those...
A Missing Component in our Political Discussions
We are already entering a season of the next presidential election. The debates and discussions have begun and there are many issues that need to be confronted to help our families and children in America achieve their dreams and aspirations. Issues like the economy, education, border protection, poverty, foreign policy,...
Why the Teacher Shortage?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 300,000 public school educators quit between February 2020 and May 2022. K-12 teachers were reported to have the highest burnout rate of all professions in 2022. For many schools, hiring teachers and keeping teachers have become a significant problem. We know that managing...
The State of Mental Health In America
There's a great deal of conversation about the state of mental health in America. I am not one for citing too many statistics since we are often unsure of how they were gathered. However, I think it's helpful to get a gauge for some understanding of what statistical data we...
End of School Year Stressors for Students
As we conclude the 2022-23 school year we are anticipating the good moments of graduation and eventual moving onto the next phase of life for our high school seniors. Lakeside is about to have 4 different graduations over the next week. These are special moments for our students and staff...
Surgeon General Warning About Social Media
I have been writing about the significant level of crisis in the mental health of our children and teenagers. Lakeside serves over 5,500 students per year. It's clear to our current staff that this crisis is real. Our regional school districts are requesting more help than ever before with students...
How to Manage Stress Responses
Most of us grew up in our education learning about the "fight or flight” response to fearful situations. It is that protective brain function that warns us of high threat and sometimes gives us unique abilities to escape or deal with those threats in rather remarkable ways. As neurological science...
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
This is the month where we raise awareness about mental health issues in our country. Our own research teaches us that one in five Americans experience mental health issues each year. Those conditions include: Depression Anxiety Mood disorders, including bipolar disorder Personality disorders Psychotic disorders including schizophrenia Trauma Eating disorders...
Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescents
As I have written in the past, we acknowledge that social media has had an increasing impact on our teenagers. It is used for connection, advertising, even for self-image and also bullying. The American Psychological Association has just published on their website the downloadable results of some of the most...
Another Mass Shooting – This Time in Atlanta
Once again, we are stunned by another mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia. One person lost their life, and 4 others are hospitalized. Our prayers go out to these individuals and their families. Also, it is yet another awakening to the mass shooting crisis we are having in our country that...