BNI Treatment Center

We’re excited to announce our first monthly family talk! This month, Laurie Nelson will speak. We’d love for you to join us on September 25th, at 7 PM PST. See the image below for more information.

Each school year, we like to point out community resources that can help parents and teens with the transition back to school. While education is important, mental health is at the center of everything we do. This year, we want to point out Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s own education page. Here you can find crisis hotlines, educational tools, and comprehensive resources for all things mental health.

https://dmh.lacounty.gov/resources/education/

In 2022, the Annie Casey Foundation reported that rates of depression among California youth increased by more than 70% since 2016. In many of these cases, teens point to school as a large factor in their feelings of anxiety and stress.

Adolescence is a time of great change for teens. So today we want to take a moment to point to some of the key signs your teen may be developing depression:

• Emotional symptoms of depression. Persistent sadness, sudden emotional outbursts, and a lack of care or energy.

• Social isolation. Withdrawing from their friends, spending more time laying around or in their room alone, and not pursuing their previous hobbies or passions.

• Behavioral changes. Sudden changes in their schoolwork, their appetite, or the way in which they speak to themselves.

Recognizing these early symptoms can be key to getting your teen the help they need.

This back to school season, make sure to check in with your teen’s mental health. School is meant to be a safe space of learning and growth. Yet for many teens and adolescents, it’s a significant source of stress and fear.

Teens experience dramatic changes during this period, so it’s not always obvious when your teen is going through a tougher time than usual. While some stress is normal, anxiety can last long after a stressor disappears. Pay attention to the way your teen talks to themselves, as negative self-talk can be a sign of underlying difficulties.

In all, parents are the most equipped to recognize when or if their teen is finding it difficult to go back to school. Paying attention and staying vigilant can make sure they have the support and care they need to thrive.

“In 2022, the Annie Casey Foundation reported that rates of depression among California youth have increased by more than 70% since 2016. In many cases, teens report school as a large factor in their feelings of anxiety and stress. At BNI, we have seen this surge firsthand, and this is why our teams are specifically equipped to help with education.

Understanding the role school can play in adolescent depression will help you keep your own child safe, healthy, and happy. Today, we’re going to answer the ever-present question in your teen’s mind: Why does school make me depressed?”

Depression and loneliness are ever-present concerns for teenagers. To learn what role school might play in these conditions, check out the full blog at the link below:

https://bnitreatment.com/school-makes-me-depressed/

From secondhand smoke to friendships – learn more about what impacts teens' mental health in our September newsletter!

From Secondhand Smoke to Friendships - Learn More About What Impacts Teens' Mental Health Plus, join us for our first monthly Family Talk!   RESEARCH ROUNDUP   Secondhand Smoke and Anxiety in Teens We're all familiar with the physical health consequences of smoke exposure, but its effects

The U.S. Surgeon General calls it an “Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation”. And it certainly is for teens, with nearly 40% reporting they feel lonely. As parents, it’s easy to want to help, but harder to know what to look for.

What are some of the warning signs you should keep in mind?

First, listen to your teen. If they talk about being lonely, or not liking school, or having no friends, don’t dismiss it as teenage angst. Their feelings are real and valid. Take their emotions, comments, and concerns seriously.

Second, pay attention to the way they interact with friends and the way they communicate. Do they suddenly stop leaving their room, or stop talking about the people they’ve been spending time with? Other warning signs include spending less time around their phone, avoiding texting or talking with friends.

Finally, look out for unexplained changes in their interests or emotions. While adolescence is a time of great change and development, rapid or sudden shifts can indicate negative feelings. If your teen suddenly abandons friends or hobbies they’ve been enjoying, or emotionally lashes out in unexpected ways, it can be a sign of an underlying sense of isolation.

At BNI Treatment Centers, we are laser-focused on making sure your teen doesn’t just get back on their feet, but they’re equipped for everything their future holds. That’s why our treatment plans include access to our on-site academic support staff. This allows your teen to get the treatment and help they need without falling behind in their schoolwork. Connect with us today to learn more at (888) 522-1504, or via the website link below.

https://bnitreatment.com/contact/

Education is the gateway to the future. Yet it can feel impossible to keep your teen up-to-date and on track with their schoolwork, especially when your child is living with mental health conditions. So today, we’re going to share some of our favorite tips for helping parents and teens keep up, whatever challenges they face.

● Listen openly to your teen’s concerns. Teens want to be heard and understood, and many feel they aren’t listened to. By showing you care and are paying attention, teens are much more likely to open up to you and work with you to overcome their challenges.

● Create a supportive home environment where your teen can relax. Rest and recovery are important for anyone, but teens are especially vulnerable to stress and fatigue. This is only compounded when mental health conditions are involved.

● Work to establish a stable and consistent routine. Not just for schooling, but for things like food, sleep, and exercise. This can provide a healthy base for your child to excel and thrive.

● Collaborate with the school. While not an option for all families, many teachers and counselors will work with parents to keep them in the loop regarding assignments, progress, and their child’s needs.

● Seek professional help. Teens don’t have to handle their mental health alone. Trained psychiatrists and therapists can give them the mental tools needed to not just heal their mental health, but to thrive in their social and academic lives.

What tools do you use to help your teen stay on top of their schoolwork? Let us know in the comments!

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X

“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life; it comes to us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives, and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.” – John Wayne

Teens face greater challenges today than ever before. Between social media, rising rates of teen mental health conditions, and increased pressure to perform in school, finding your teen the help they need can be critical.

At BNI Treatment Centers, we are laser-focused on treating and helping teens, whatever their circumstances. Our clients receive hands-on care from our industry-leading psychiatrists, and we work with them to make sure their life is back on track. Each teen in treatment with us receives on-site support to help them maintain their schoolwork, getting them back on their feet without falling behind.

Whatever your teen is going through, know that they don’t have to do it alone. Connect with us today at 888-522-1504 to learn more.

Virtual reality has been a hot topic for a few years now. And while there are many exciting uses for it, what about the costs?

Recent research suggests that some VR games and scenarios can reinforce ethnic stereotypes. In one fascinating study, researchers identified some problems with stereotyping in a VR scenario, and worked directly with teens to solve the issue.

“More specifically, we focused on ethnic representation within our virtual environment, to discover how specific bias resulting from ethnic stereotyping could be prevented as much as possible.”

To learn more about this research, check out the full article below:

https://bmcdigitalhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44247-024-00081-0

For parents of teens in the Los Angeles area, it can be hard to find services, support, or resources. So today, we want to share one of our favorite resources for LA County – 211LA. This is a community organization with information on a huge number of services, recreational groups, and support systems in the Los Angeles area. Check out their youth and teen services section below.

https://211la.org/resources/subcategory/youth-services

Your teen is at a critical juncture in their life, a mixture of adult and childhood responsibilities, emotions, and behaviors. Social skills are how they navigate and interact with the new world forming around them. Here are a few tips you can follow to make sure they learn the skills and lessons needed to develop and thrive:

➥ Model the behaviors you want to see. Teens learn by observation and imitation – practice active listening, empathy, and treating others with social grace. Your teens will mirror those behaviors.

➥ Talk with your teen openly and with respect about their concerns, behaviors, and feelings. Teens, like all people, want to feel respected and validated. By providing this, you are able to help them feel safe to build their overall social skill set.

➥ Encourage them to join social or sport clubs, such as soccer or gaming clubs. Remember, though, that forcing them to keep going if they want to stop could have the opposite effect – it’s often best to encourage people, rather than force them.

➥ Praise the behaviors you want repeated. Praise is more effective than criticism, and it’s an excellent way to increase positive behaviors in your teen. Rather than highlighting their faults, encourage their good qualities and actions.

Does your teen have good social skills?

For most parents, the answer is probably some version of “sometimes”! Teens are still learning, growing, and developing. This isn’t just a physical process. They are still learning how to interact with other people, and developing into the person they want to be. They’re often transitioning into high school or beyond, and face new challenges every day.

These challenges are made all the more difficult when your teen doesn’t have a solid base of social skills. To learn more about how to help your teen learn these crucial life lessons, check out our blog on the topic at the link below:

https://bnitreatment.com/social-skills-for-teens/

“Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart.” – John Nash, mathematician and Nobel Prize winner

“The onset of schizophrenia can be a harrowing experience, both for those developing the condition and the people around them. Delusions, hallucinations, and general psychosis can be coupled with significant changes in personality, speech, and affect…symptoms can persist for years, and these challenges are compounded when the one exhibiting early symptoms is a teenager.”

Schizophrenia can forever change your teen’s life. To learn more about this serious mental health condition, read the full blog at the link below:

Helping Your Teen With Schizophrenia and Psychosis - BNI Treatment The onset of schizophrenia can be a harrowing experience, both for those developing the condition and the people around them. Delusions, hallucinations, and

Schizophrenia, while uncommon, is a serious mental health disorder that affects approximately 1 out of every 100 people. Treatment and therapy can reduce its negative impact, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the better the outcomes.

Recognizing the early symptoms of developing schizophrenia can help your loved one get the help they need.

● Unusual or bizarre thoughts and beliefs, combined with paranoia and irrational behavior

● Hallucinations, either visual, auditory, or physical sensations

● Consistently speaking in a flat or empty tone, lack of eye contact, little body language or movement when speaking

● Sudden difficulty concentrating or focusing on schoolwork

● Decline in their personal cleanliness and organization

● Social withdrawal, spending less time with friends or texting, more time alone or sitting without interacting with other people or technology

At BNI Treatment Centers, our mission is to provide comprehensive evidence-based care to teenagers living with behavioral health problems. We are laser-focused on treating teens and adolescents, and we leverage that focus to provide effective treatment for all of our clients. Our psychiatrists are involved at every step of the way, working with your teen to build the treatment plan that’s right for them.

Whether they are living with a mental health disorder, or trying to stop a pattern of substance use, we’re here to help. Get in touch with us today at (888) 522-1504, or via the website link below.

Contact - BNI Treatment Home|No breadcrumbs

When your teen starts acting out, it’s easy to dismiss it as typical teen behavior. Being emotional and rebellious is a part of growing up. But how can you tell the difference between teenage rebellion and underlying mental health problems?

First, remember that teens feel emotions just as strongly as you do – sometimes even more so! If they talk about their emotions, listen. If they say they are struggling, it’s important to validate and empathize, rather than dismiss them.

Secondly, look for signs of anxiety. While nervousness is a normal part of life, anxiety can last long after the original stress is over. If they’re experiencing anxiety, it may be part of an underlying mental health condition, rather than just typical teenage stress.

Finally, pay attention to unexplained mood and personality changes. While adolescents are growing and changing, when taken to extremes this can be a sign of other underlying problems. Look for signs they may be isolating themselves away from friends, avoiding hobbies that they used to love, or displaying sudden and sharp changes to their mood or belief systems.

What ways have you found to best connect with your teen? Share your stories in the comments!

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” – e.e. cummings

Reviews like these, from stressed and worn-out parents, are why we do what we do. We are beyond grateful every time a client shares their journey with us.

“I have been searching for support for my son for months now and after exhausting correspondences with 40+ treatment centers across the country…BNI treatment centers have been nothing short of a breath of fresh air that has filled me with hope in this difficult process. I would trust BNI wholeheartedly with the care of my son and recommend this program to anyone finding themselves in my position and needing safe and effective solutions for their loved ones”

Today, we say goodbye to Doug Jewell, who is moving on to new horizons after six years as our Director of Admissions.

We founded BNI Treatment Centers in 2017, and Doug has been an integral part of our growth since the beginning. He has not only helped us welcome our very first clients, but has worked tirelessly to develop and grow BNI to where we are today.

His determination, talents, and passion have been a guiding light for us over these years. Whether it’s his relentless marketing work and dedication to our clients, or his compassion and commitment to growing the surrounding community, Doug was a key part of this team.

We know that he will excel at anything he seeks to accomplish. We’re excited for his journey, and cannot wait to see what his future holds.

Thank you, Doug, for your unwavering commitment to teen behavioral and psychological health. You are more than just a member of our team – you are a part of our family.

As we bid farewell to Doug, we are also excited to welcome Katrina Sullivan, who will be starting with BNI as our new Director of Admissions. We look forward to the all the things she will bring to our team.

More than half of all teenagers will experience some sort of mental health or behavioral disorder before they turn eighteen. At BNI Treatment Centers, we’re here to help. Our industry-leading psychiatrists work with your teen to develop a plan to not only treat their initial condition but also to give them the tools they need to thrive years down the road.

Whether your teen is going through anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder, know that a path forward is always possible. To find out how, connect with us today at (888) 522-1504 or through our website at

Contact - BNI Treatment Home|No breadcrumbs

While too much social media can be a bad thing at any age, new research may suggest that it can be a useful tool for teens.

“For many years, researchers have tried to determine whether the amount of time a child spent on social media contributed to poor mental health and the results have been really mixed, with probably the consensus being that no, it’s not related,” the article, published last month in the New York Times says.

To read the full article, check out the link below.

Researchers Say Social Media Warning Is Too Broad Some scientists who study youth mental health say the evidence does not support the notion that social media is harmful per se.

If your teen is living with a mental health disorder, or just needs a bit of help getting through the day, it can be hard knowing where to turn. One incredible resource is the website of the California Health and Human Services Agency, where they have aggregated a huge list of effective resources for youth and teen mental health.

Youth Mental Health Resources Hub - California Health and Human Services Digital mental health support for youth, young adults, and families. A groundbreaking new program providing free, safe, and confidential mental health support for young people and families across the state with two easy-to-use mobile apps: Get support with the tough stuff & help your child thrive. B...

Is your teen finding it difficult to get the most out of therapy? This can be common, especially with rebellious adolescents. Here are a few tips that might help them open up:

1) Create a safe and non-judgmental environment, in therapy and other areas of their life. Many teens shut down when they feel they aren’t being listened to, and even seemingly unrelated topics can influence their thoughts on therapy.

2) Take it slow. While you want to get your teen the help they need, it’s important they go at the pace they are comfortable with. The most effective therapy involves buy-in from everyone involved.

3) Encourage them to follow the suggestions of their therapist. While teens can often push back on new ideas, or think something is silly, it’s important they put genuine effort into the process. Remind them that this is an effective way to make progress – most teens want to feel better.

Remember that your teen’s treatment is a collaboration between them and their therapist. While effective treatment plans rely on evidence-based therapies, ultimately if your teen feels like they are not benefiting from treatment, you should consider looking at other options. It’s important to find the right fit and approach for your teen.

Despite its relatively rare occurrence, schizophrenia remains one of the most well-known mental health disorders. While this disorder is most prevalent among young adults, it can still strike teens and adolescents.

Schizophrenia can lead to hallucinations, difficulties thinking, and changes in behavior. When teenagers develop this condition, doctors can struggle to tell it apart from normal teen behavior or mental health problems. This makes it tough for teens to get help.

We recently published an article covering this topic in much more detail. Check it out at the link below!

Helping Your Teen With Schizophrenia and Psychosis - BNI Treatment The onset of schizophrenia can be a harrowing experience, both for those developing the condition and the people around them. Delusions, hallucinations, and

Symptoms of schizophrenia can leave teens feeling isolated and afraid, but help is available.