According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10% of Americans report symptoms that are in keeping with diagnosis requirements for clinical depression. Depression in individuals struggling with substance abuse is even more prevalent. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a proven, effective way to treat depression with or without chemical dependency issues. At Destinations…
With the proliferation of smartphone use in the United States, it’s no wonder that people are concerned about the dangers that lurk there. From smartphone addiction to online bullying, people are taking steps to protect themselves from the problems revolving around smartphones. Although the smartphone is an extremely helpful tool for most people, it can…
Feelings of sadness can occur at any time and at any age. According to Psych Central, roughly 10 to 15 percent of children and teenagers are depressed at any particular time. This can lead to co-occurring teen depression and drug use. Although it is not uncommon for individuals at any age to develop mild to…
A potent mix of hormonal changes, growing independence, and still-developing brain structures make the teenage years particularly difficult. These difficulties lead to teen alcohol and drug use. Many adults look back on their teen years as a particularly challenging rite of passage, and today’s teens face even more pressures than their parents’ generation. With the…
Teen depression and anxiety are often viewed as the same thing- and they do overlap in some areas. Furthermore, they are emotional responses to circumstances or experiences in a teen’s life; however, the symptoms and causes of teen depression and anxiety differ. Treatment for each condition may also differ depending on the individual. For instance,…
Anxiety is a normal and beneficial emotion in teens. It can signal that danger or something threatening is near; however, anxiety can also become a disorder. If left untreated, it can have a devastating effect on a teenager. Sadly, many teenagers and their parents do not recognize the signs of anxiety. As a result, it…
Depression is not always easy to spot in teenagers. One of the reasons is that the signs of depression can often mimic normal teenage behavior. Changes in mood, abnormal sleep and eating patterns, inability to stay focused, or changes in social behavior may look like typical traits of an adolescent in transition. However, it’s also…
Clinical depression has become increasingly common among adolescents. In fact, there has been a 37% increase in clinical depression among Americans ages 12 to 17 between 2005 and 2014. In the past year, more than 3 million adolescents experienced at least one episode of depression. Overall, the prevalence of depression among adolescents has continued to increase dramatically since the…
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the United States and 7.1% of children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with an anxiety-related disorder. Anxiety-related conditions are also becoming more common among children ages 6-17, increasing in prevalence by 0.9% between 2007 and 2011. Although anxiety disorders are common, less than 60% of children diagnosed with…
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in America. Thus, it is a major factor in suicide becoming the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. Suicide rates among Americans ages 15 to 19 has increased by more than 40% since 2000, making teen suicide and depression a major problem…
Destinations For Teens staff are actively getting vaccinated through the county and the hope is to have the majority of our staff vaccinated by the end of January, 2021. Destinations For Teens is likewise committed to educating staff to the benefits of vaccinating and to providing access to the vaccine to all employees. By minimizing the risk of transmission, Destinations For Teens is working hard to protect its clients, families and employees from contracting the COVID-19 virus.
A dedicated COVID-19 task force, including our Medical Director, Clinical Director and our Director of Nursing, provides written materials and verbal education and training to all staff. In the words of Dr. Baback Gabbay, Destinations For Teens Chief Medical Director, the message could not be simpler: "We are committed to the health and well-being of our patients and families. Our staff is committed to the CDC recommend cleaning protocols and have been fortunate to receive the Moderna or Pzifer Covid vaccine this week. Vaccination is important in order to help keep all our employees and the families we serve safe".
In addition to distributing vaccinations, Destinations For Teens facilities has implemented the following procedures for all in-person programs:
• Established a revised screening process for admissions, including questions about recent fevers, travel and mandated negative COVID-19 test results. Anyone who poses a risk to our centers will not be admitted.
• Implement active screening of residents and staff for fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Remind residents to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.
• Screen all staff at the beginning of their shift for fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Actively take the staff’s temperature and document absence of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, and sore throat. If they are ill, have them put on a facemask and self-isolate at home.
• Destinations For Teens has revised how they interact with vendors and receiving supplies and equipment, and other non-health care providers (e.g., food delivery, etc.), and take necessary actions to prevent any potential transmission. For example, supply vendors transport supplies to dedicated locations versus inside of facilities.
• In lieu of in-person visits, facilities are offering alternative means of communication for people who would otherwise visit, such as virtual communications (phone, video-communication, etc.)
• Creating/increasing communication to update families, such as advising to not visit.
• Assigning staff as primary contact to families for inbound calls and conduct regular outbound calls to keep families up to date.