Nadine Gilden

Sunscreen, swimsuits, and sertraline — what else do you need for a perfect summer? Around February, my mental health takes a huge dip as I stressfully anticipate the weeks between the end of May and middle of August. Yes, my anxiety spikes 3 months early because February is the month when kids’ summer camps begin to fill up. And despite how expensive they are, those days I can drop my three kids off for a few hours provide much-needed childcare for me.

My husband works in-office the majority of the time, so I signed up my kids for a few weeks of summer camp to help me get my work done. That doesn’t totally ease my anxiety, though. After all, it just makes me busier as I have to chauffeur my kids around. In the study, 86 percent of parents believe the 2025 summer will be busier than last year, due to plans to attend more events for their kids (49 percent), managing their kids’ schedules even more (44 percent), and planning more summer camps and activities (44 percent).

Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, a mom herself and CEO of Parents Anonymous, tells SheKnows, “Summer breaks down the carefully established routines which many families need for stability. Because schools are closed, parents face significant stress from having to juggle being entertainers, teachers and caregivers all at once to fill their children’s time.”

Read more at SheKnows

A groundbreaking new study confirms what California families have long known: when overwhelmed parents reach out to the California Parent & Youth Helpline®, they leave feeling stronger, calmer, and far less alone.

Published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, the peer-reviewed research validates the effectiveness of Parents Anonymous, Inc.®‘s Helpline, showing that in under 30 minutes, callers experience significant improvements in mood, engagement, and parenting outlook.

The study, led by Liz Harris, PhD, Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, analyzed 281 Helpline calls made between late 2022 and early 2023. Using a novel approach that combined AI-based sentiment analysis with qualitative methods, the research team found that 85% of parents showed improved mood during the call, an especially meaningful finding in a post-pandemic landscape marked by soaring parental isolation.

“Helplines have existed for decades, but surprisingly, very little research has explored their actual impact,” said Liz Harris, Lead Author and Researcher. “Our study shows that parents’ emotional state measurably improves – an improvement we could see through natural language processing analysis, traditional qualitative content coding and rate of speech.”

Innovative Research, Real Results
The team applied natural language processing technology, specifically BART, to measure how parental sentiment shifted throughout each call. They validated the use of BART for this purpose against qualitative coding done by the authors and by trained parent service users.  They found that callers’ language became more positive, their tone more collaborative, and their pace of speech dropped in half, indicating reduced distress.

Key findings include:

• Statistically significant improvement (p<.001) in parental mood and optimism over the course of each call.
• 85% of callers left feeling more emotionally balanced.
• Speech slowed during calls, aligning unconscious vocal cues with the emotional shift measured by AI tools.
• Over 50% of parents expressed intense loneliness and the Helpline directly helped alleviate that isolation.
• Callers responded especially well to counselors who validated their efforts, praised their parenting instincts, and offered tailored resources or emotional support.

“This is the first study to rigorously validate the use of AI-based tools in evaluating emotional change on a helpline,” said Harris. “It’s a big leap forward for how the human services field can measure impact without burdening vulnerable callers with lengthy surveys.”

A Proven Model for Crisis Support
The research underscores the unique value of the Parents Anonymous model, which prioritizes trauma-informed counseling and ensures all Helpline counselors have formal training or degrees in mental health fields.

Now in its fifth year, the Helpline offers free, confidential, 24/7 emotional support in English, Spanish, and over 250+ other languages. With its anniversary approaching on May 9, the service stands as a compelling example of scalable, accessible intervention, especially as child welfare agencies and funders weigh future investments.

“We’ve shown it’s possible to make a meaningful difference in a parent’s mental state in just one call,” said Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, CEO & President of Parents Anonymous. “And when you reduce parental stress and loneliness, you improve outcomes for children. That’s the power of this model.”

Parents and youth (up to 25) based in California needing emotional support can call the California Parent & Youth Helpline by calling/texting 1-855-427-2736 or through live chat 24/7 at caparentyouthhelpline.org. Outside of California? Parents and youth can call/text 855-427-2736 or chat online through nationalparentyouthhelpline.org.

Read more on PR Newswire | Read the Press Release

The California Parent and Youth Helpline turns five years old today – just in time for a brand new study that confirms its effectiveness.

The study, published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, found that 85% of people felt more positive, calmer and less angry after calling in.

Lead author Elizabeth Harris, a sociology professor at Arizona State University, said that kind of result is rare in social science research.

“Parenting interventions are expensive and difficult to do,” she said. “Most interventions take months to take effect, so to be able to do an effective intervention in 30 minutes, that’s a big deal.”

The data also show about one-third of callers improved significantly on the scale – meaning they either went from making all negative statements to feeling 100% neutral, or they started off neutral and said they felt “100% positive” by the end of the call.

Parents and youths in distress can reach a trained counselor at 855-427-2736, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Or they can reach out online at CAparentyouthhelpline.org.

Read more about the effectiveness of the California Parent & Youth Helpline

Emotional distress and crises don’t take holidays. They don’t take the weekends off or pause for the evening after the work or school day is done. Fortunately, neither do the trained counselors at the National Parent & Youth Helpline™. Whether someone is in the midst of a personal or mental health crisis, or they just need someone to talk to, the Helpline’s counselors are ready to help, 24/7 every day of the year, via phone or text at 855-427-2736, via live chat at www.nationalparentyouthhelpline.org, and via email.

“Our compassionate and trained Helpline counselors provide evidence-based support for any parent, caregiver, child or youth up to age 25, even if they do not live under the same roof,” said Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, ACSW, ACHT, President and CEO, Parents Anonymous, which operates the Helpline. “We can help with both emotional issues and practical ones. For example, we recently counseled people living through the Los Angeles wildfires about everything from the mental anguish of losing their homes, jobs and schools, to how to find a shelter. We provide resources and referrals and encourage those reaching out to call or connect with us as often as they need to get their issue resolved.”

Read more at HealthWell Foundation

Taking care of the children of the world is a daunting task. Taking care of their parents as well takes inordinate energy and dedication. That’s Dr. Lisa Pion Berlin’s mission.

Throughout my career as a social worker, clinical hypnotherapist and CEO of Parents Anonymous Inc., I’ve always viewed advocacy as central to who I am and what my contribution is as a caring, participating citizen of the world. My passion is to support the empowerment journey of diverse parents, children and youth.

Before becoming CEO at Parents Anonymous, I managed a state-level foundation dedicated to strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect. I witnessed parents and young people being pushed aside and not fully understood, which motivated me to stand up for change. My experience in that position not only enhanced my abilities as a leader, but it amplified my sense of determination to help both parents and youth, which has continued to guide me in my career journey.

Read more on BizWomen

Research suggests the challenges of parenting may strengthen brain networks and potentially guard against age-related decline.

Parenthood reshapes priorities, schedules, and, indeed, the brain itself. While short-term brain changes in parents are well-documented, it’s unclear if they last. Now, a study suggests that parenthood may give you a younger brain due to brain restructuring that safeguards against age-related cognitive decline.

Researchers of the study published in  PNAS found that parents have better brain connections in areas that typically weaken with age. Compared to adults who are not parents, these different parts of their brain work more smoothly together.

“Yes, parenting is stressful and demanding, but it is also the most transformative experience because of the personal growth and changes over a lifetime of raising children and benefiting as a parent,” said Lisa Pion Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous®, a nonprofit that helps parents and communities thrive.

Read more on Parenthood Linked to Lower Cognitive Decline With Age

Maybe you’re feeling anxious about discussing your spouse’s recent overspending, addressing your teenager’s slipping grades or letting a friend know that their actions hurt you. Major talks like these can be daunting, so you’re not alone if you’ve ever wished there was a way to make them less stressful.

Another perk of going on a walk: It allows people to engage with their environment — not just the conversation — while still staying in the present moment, Lisa Pion-Berlin, social worker and chief executive officer of Parents Anonymous, tells Yahoo Life. Taking a walk can provide “a simple, mindless and repetitive distraction from the discussion,” which makes people feel calmer and less stressed. Research shows that walking in nature can be particularly beneficial for our well-being, which can also help bring our nervous system into a relaxed state.

Read more on why experts say you should walk and talk

Are your kids starting to get bored with making their beds and taking out the trash? The good news is that there is so much more they can do! All kidding aside, there are plenty of household responsibilities that your kids can help with, beyond cleaning their room and taking the trash out. 

“So many parents think of household chores as things that need to be done by the adults, especially when kids are little,” says  Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, a licensed hypnotherapist and CEO of Parents Anonymous®, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and providing support to parents and families. “However, assigning children age-appropriate tasks not only helps lighten the load for parents, but also teaches valuable life skills, such as independence, responsibility and self-confidence.”

Read more on Chores and Responsibilities at Greenlight

If your teen is anything like the average teen, they’re probably always on a FaceTime call, gaming with friends online while chatting through a headset, or getting notification after notification from Snapchat. You’d think with so many opportunities for conversation and connection, the word “lonely” wouldn’t even exist in their vocabulary. But surprisingly, research shows that Gen Z is the loneliest age group – even more so than older people, who don’t get out often and lack the social opportunities they had when they were younger.

Another big factor contributing to teen loneliness? The culture of comparison – and the fear of missing out. Anyone who’s ever used social media, even adults, can relate; it’s a landscape of glossy, carefully curated and edited content that makes aspects of other people’s lives seem … well, a lot better than yours.

“Social media creates a platform for comparison – teens view idealized representations of others’ lives, which makes them feel isolated and inadequate despite having numerous virtual connections,” Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, ACSW, ACHT and CEO of Parents Anonymous, tells SheKnows. “The expectation for teens to appear flawless in their digital profiles creates barriers to developing authentic and open emotional connections.”  

Read more on The Lonely Reality of Being Connected