Parenting styles significantly shape the mental health of Nepali adolescents, with 42% of teens experiencing anxiety and 37% experiencing depression, according to a study in PLOS One. Authoritarian parenting is linked to higher depression and lower self-esteem, while authoritative parenting is linked to better mental health outcomes. The researchers recommend support for parents to encourage authoritative parenting and school-based mental health programs.

The holiday season can be so hectic, and licensed clinical social worker Erlene Grise-Owens offers three self-care approaches for managing stress, starting with prioritizing meaningful activities over taking on obligations. Grise-Owens also espouses valuing the power of being present more than giving gifts, and suggests focusing on celebration rather than obligation.

Dark web users report higher levels of depression, paranoia and self-harm compared with surface web users, according to a study from Florida Atlantic University published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. Survey data from 2,000 US adults indicate that individuals with suicidal thoughts are nearly three times more likely to use the dark web, while those engaging in self-injury or digital self-harm are up to five and 19 times more likely, respectively. "Equipping social workers and mental health practitioners to safely and ethically engage with individuals on the dark web could open new pathways to support those who may otherwise go unnoticed," say the researchers.

Goat therapy for generalized anxiety disorder was more effective than she anticipated, writes Charlotte Lewis Finigan. The therapy involved interacting with friendly goats, which helped reduce stress and anxiety. Lewis Finigan says she noted improvement in stress levels and sleep quality for a week after the session.

The North Carolina State Board of Education has approved a plan to raise pay for school social workers by requiring a master's degree in social work, contingent on up to $10.9 million in state funding. The proposal aims to address the mental health and social needs of students, but funding from state lawmakers is uncertain.

A federal appeals court has temporarily maintained funding for 49 school mental health projects after the Trump administration announced plans to end them, citing a shift in priorities. The ruling has created uncertainty for districts expecting new grants, as the Education Department has expressed doubts about issuing new awards by the end of the year.

If you want to drive organizational change, empower your middle managers to model and reinforce new behavior with their teams, rather than relying on top-down directives, writes Michel Koopman, the CEO & founder at CxO Coaching. Prepare managers for the role with targeted coaching, peer-based cohorts for accountability and mentoring from senior leaders, Koopman writes.

Instead of giving your team all the answers they seek, formulate good questions that create a sense of safety so they can generate ideas and come up with creative solutions, writes executive coach Kelly Meerbott, who offers five "turn-key ready" questions you can ask today. "Each of these questions is deceptively simple. But paired with active listening and genuine curiosity, they can completely change the trajectory of a conversation," Meerbott writes.