February News Roundup
Your February Monthly News Roundup is here! Curated for Certified Wellness Coaches, click through to read summaries or full articles on the latest behavioral health news.
Featured Articles
California launches mental health media challenge to support boys and young men
- The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and Youth Creating Change are partnering to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men.
- In a recent study of men ages 16 to 25, 71% reported feeling isolated from others.
- Youth are encouraged to create a 60-second Public Service Announcement for the Directing Change Film Contest’s Boys and Young Men Media Challenge. Cash prizes will be given for first, second and third place. Submissions are due March 1, 2026.
Victims of hate acts in California are not getting the support they need
- Nearly a third of the 3.1 million Californians ages 12 and older who experienced a hate act did not receive the support they needed after the most severe hate act they experienced, according to a study published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR).
- 20% of Californians who experienced hate in the past year faced six or more hate acts in that time period.
- For this study, unmet needs included mental health support, physical protection, legal and/or financial assistance, time off work and other needs.
Pet dogs can help teens’ mental health
- A study published in the journal iScience found that the family dog prompts changes in our gut microbiome that result in better mental health.
- The study revealed that adolescents who keep dogs exhibit higher mental well-being.
- One of the most interesting findings was that bacteria promoting prosociality, or empathy, were discovered in the microbiomes of adolescent children who keep dogs.
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