Shyness, anxiety, and worry in Kindergarten-aged children can be indicators for potential anxiety disorders
A University of British Columbia research team has developed a simple two-question test to screen Kindergarten-aged children for future anxiety disorders—the most commonly reported mental health concern among children. The screening questions, which asked parents about shyness, fear, and anxiety in their children, had an overall accuracy of over 80% in diagnosing anxiety disorders in young children. (more…)
Last week approximately 200 Nanaimo school pupils heard Mark McLaughlin’s “Be Crystal Clear” presentation, learning more about refusal skills and keeping themselves safe when confronted with drugs such as crystal methamphetamine.
Two recent deaths, by suicide, of bullied teens has again raised the issue of bullying in school settings. Ashkan Sultani, 15, of Lantzville, died January 12th. His parents have revealed he had moved schools but 
“In recent years, addictions policy has stressed the need to counteract stigmatization in order to promote public health. However, through tobacco ‘denormal-ization’ strategies, tobacco control advocates appear to have embraced the use of stigma as an explicit policy tool.”