The tragedy of suicide is devastating to anyone who is impacted. It is still a significant and frightening national reality. However, we know suicide is preventable by recognizing the warning signs. If those signs are realized, then there are some significant interventions that can prevent suicide by those who care for the identified person. According […]
Sometimes it just takes a dog!
In a trauma-informed environment we must have sensitivities to the many ways that individuals can be regulated so that they can have the opportunity to make changes to overcome their deficits. At Lakeside our teachers and counselors work diligently to provide safe, regulating environments where students can be themselves, find support and learn how to […]
The Compassion Gap
As I hear and reflect upon so much of the national dialogue, particularly in the political arena I grow increasingly concerned about the dissonance that is occurring among our leaders. The extreme level of polarization has moved our country to a place of division, exclusion, fear tactics, intimidation, humiliation and significant discord. Even discussions on […]
How to Help Kids Adjust to School
For many kids, the beginning of the school year is a time of excitement and anticipation for the many adventures they are going to experience: making new friends, learning about new teachers, finding one’s way around the halls, and figuring out how much homework they will have to deal with each night. For some kids, […]
Moving the Opioid Crisis to the Forefront of Legislation
In the early part of this year, the United States House of Representatives passed sweeping legislation addressing our national opioid crisis. Over 50 bills were sent to the United States Senate. Since that time, new statistics have been released that in the year 2017 we lost 72,000 Americans due to drug overdoses. This totals 197 […]
Trauma-Informed Schools May Become an Educational Standard
Lakeside has been a vital resource in trauma-informed care for schools and organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Without a state mandate, we have already provided trauma training for schools and social service organizations in 41 counties within Pennsylvania. We have recognized first-hand and can speak to the value of trauma-informed care in school classrooms, […]
Crying with Words: How to Understand Whining
Whining is something parents can find as irritating as fingernails on a chalkboard (some younger parents may not have had experience with chalkboards, but trust me, the sound of fingernails on these archaic forms of classroom communication would make everyone in the room grimace.) “Stop that whining!” parents often shout. What is it about whining […]
Technology as a Tool to Help the Opioid Crisis
I have written extensively on the opioid crisis. It is an epidemic that seems only to be increasing with each and every day. However, this crisis is not being ignored. It has become a serious enough problem that coalitions of organizations are now joining to try to find ways to mitigate opioid addiction and provide […]
International Overdose Awareness Day: How Can You Help?
It is rather sad that our world is so filled with addiction issues that we have an International Overdose Awareness Day. This day is officially recognized on August 31. The Center for Disease Control has recently released these alarming statistics about overdoses. About 197 Americans now die every day from overdoses Drug overdose deaths have […]
Parents, What Do You Do When You “Lose It?”
I clearly remember yelling something unkind at one of my children and pounding my hand on the wall hard enough to bruise it (my hand, not the wall.) I can’t remember what the offense was. I’m guessing sibling rivalry that seemed to never end. But I do remember being shocked that I could get so […]
