TEENS AND MENTAL HEALTH

Today is World Mental Health Day...and while we usually highlight something like this later in our newsletter, I felt this subject needed to be showcased for our commentary...for obvious reasons.

Teen mental health and suicide has been discussed over and over again...but incidences still are at crisis proportions.

The good news is...as far as the 2021-2022 school year, 96% of public schools reported offering at least one type of mental health service to their students. SOME form help is being offered.

And...research demonstrates that students who receive social–emotional and mental and behavioral health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, engagement in learning, and students' sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well.

Now...here's the "not so good" news...more and more teens are turning to social media sites like "TikTok" for mental health advice. For example, 52% of "TikTok" videos on ADHD were proven to be inaccurate. Furthermore, research has shown that young adults who use social media are three times as likely to suffer from depression, putting a large portion of the population at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. So, you see the dichotomy...our teens go to social media for mental health advice, and not only find inaccurate information but because they are on social media for other purposes, it fuels the very thing parents, schools, counselors, etc. are trying desperately to change.

We will never be able to dilute social media from our kid's lives...perhaps the answer is to combat the incorrect information with correct information. Perhaps parents can try to make lines of communication a norm for their children when they are young, so that by the time they reach their teen years it's the standard in the household.

Obviously, if the answer was evident, we'd be doing it.

In any case, we cannot stop trying to save our teens from bullying, depression, self esteem issues, drug abuse, alcoholism and all the other issues that plague their success.

Let's not ever forget...they are all our future.

On behalf of the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Dorothy Stringer

Dorothy Stringer

CEO

The recent shooting in Monterey Park seemed to happen in our back yard. NoHo community...it's time to finally get mad and preserve and protect each of our communities to never lose another human being from this atrocity again!

PLEASE...attend our FREE conference on Thursday, April 13th,

6PM - 9PM, sponsored by the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and expertly presented by Officer John Kong of the North Hollywood Police Department. There will be a Q and A session available during the program, after the presentation is completed.

Your life, and the life of those you love may depend on the information you learn from this event.

Call the Chamber office with any questions 818-508-5155

Our new members, The Midnight Mission is having a whole lot of events ...we are looking forward to all of them! Today, we're highlighting their "Smokey Robinson Invitational Golf Tournament" on June 12th at the Calabasas Country Club. Whether you're a golfer, a small business, or a corporation...you can participate and enjoy a whole lot of marketing and visibility for your donating dollar! That's right...your participation is also tax deductible! Fun, corporate social responsibility, and a tax write off too...this isn't a "Twoofer..." IT'S A THREEFER!!

Sign up or questions?

Please contact David Prentice, Development Officer

424-558-0505

www.midnightmission.org

Our February Chamber mixer was noteworthy, with our special speaker Frederick Holland, President of Chamber members Concorde Career College. He joined us with a very informative presentation! Of course, there was mixing, mingling...and pizza!

Our next mixer is March 22nd, 6-8 PM always at Pitfire Pizza. Our ALL DAY fundraiser happens on the same day - 15% of the total cost of your order comes back to us! Two birds with one stone...the best of both worlds!!

Pitfire is located at: 5211 Lankershim Blvd,, North Hollywood

See ya on March 22nd!

The United Chambers of Commerce is holding their 9th Annual "Inspirational Woman's Luncheon" on May 11th. Do you know an inspirational, strong, amazing woman that you would like to nominate? Nominations are open through March 10th by noon. Time is winding down, so you gotta get those nominations in soon!!

And now, we have the electronic nomination forms and can forward them to you...just like that! It's so darn easy!!

Contact us at 818-508-5155 and we'll get those nomination forms to you right away!

NoHo Home Alliance...

 is a community-based, service-focused response to homelessness and other issues in the East San Fernando Valley. They offer community members who have fallen into hard times a way to transition into a better life with drop in programs, outreach teams, and advocacy committees. Pastor Stephanie of St. Matthews Church runs the Community Center located at 11031 Camarillo St. here in North Hollywood.

The North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry... 11634 Moorpark St. in North Hollywood, is a volunteer based coalition of organizations and individuals from around our community looking to end the growing problem of food insecurity by distributing over 320 non- perishable food bags every Monday through Friday - 52 weeks a year.

Contact our Chamber 818-508-5155 if you would like to volunteer to be a part of either or both of these organizations. Help is sorely needed and your aid would be much appreciated.

WHO LIKES BANANA CREAM PIE???

If you do...then it's your day! Yes, it's "National Banana Cream Pie Day!" Luscious goodness wrapped up in a flaky pie crust...are you ready?

We have plenty of restaurants here in North Hollywood where you can grab a banana cream pie, like the "Fish Grille" in the Arts District, for example. Or, if you'd like to make one...here's an easy recipe...just for you!!

The Best No-Bake Banana Cream Pie

By Laura Gummerman Updated: 1/30/23

Recipe

a delicious no-bake banana cream pie recipe

Yield 8

Prep 15 mins

Time in Refrigerator 2 hrs

Total 2 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients

-1 pie crust (graham cracker for super easy or a pie shell you bake for an extra step)

-2 cups milk (cold)

-1 box instant banana cream pudding (3.4 ounce)

-½ teaspoon vanilla extract

-2 cups whipping cream (measure out 2 cups then whip) you can also use Cool Whip if you prefer the taste of that)

-Nilla Wafer cookies

-2 bananas (ripe )

Equipment

-mixer or hand blender

-whisk

Instructions

-Take your pie crust and line the bottom with sliced bananas (should take about one banana to cover bottom).

-Pour 2 cups of whipping cream into a bowl and beat on high with a hand mixer (or mix in standing mixer) until soft peaks form when you pull up a paddle. Set aside.

-Pour your pudding mix into a bowl and add the milk and vanilla. Whisk to combine for 2 minutes and then fold in 1 1/2 cups of your whipped cream gently until combined.

-Pour the pudding mixture over the layer of bananas in the pie crust and smooth the top with a spatula.

-Gently add the rest of the whipped cream to the top of the pie and spread out to cover the top of the pie.

-Stick Nilla Wafers all around the edge of the pie.

Enjoy...and invite us over for a slice!!