THE ROAD MAP

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

🚦 First Stop (Moving Away From "Person-First" Language?)
🛤️ Site-seeing at mylemarks.com (FREE: Supportive Texts)
📡 On the Radar (Little Bear, anti-depressants, and more)
📅 Mark Your Calendars
🤗 Sharing is Caring (spread the mylemarker love and earn)

Let’s go!

FIRST STOP

🏥 Is Healthcare Moving Away From "Person-First" Language?

For decades, healthcare has relied on person-first language (e.g., "person with autism") to emphasize individuals over their conditions. However, many people with lived experience now prefer an identity-first language (e.g., "autistic person"), arguing that it affirms their identity rather than separates them from it.

Critics of person-first language say it can feel clinical, unnatural, or even stigmatizing, reinforcing the idea that conditions should be "fixed" or distanced from a person’s identity. Marginalized communities, including autistic individuals, are advocating for self-identification, asserting that conditions like autism or disabilities are an integral part of who they are rather than something external.

The shift in language also reflects broader cultural movements around identity, self-determination, and empowerment. Many feel that using identity-first language fosters pride, particularly in communities that have historically faced stigma and misunderstanding.

Healthcare providers are increasingly encouraged to ask individuals how they want to be identified, ensuring personalized, respectful care that acknowledges each person’s lived experience. This conversation highlights the importance of listening to those directly impacted rather than imposing external preferences. While some still advocate for person-first language, the evolving dialogue suggests a growing recognition of the diverse ways people define themselves.

SITE-SEEING at mylemarks.com

Freebie: Supportive Texts for When I’m Anxious

When kids and teens feel anxious, reaching out to others can make a big difference—but they might not always know what to say. This new resource helps them think about what kind of support feels helpful and gives them a space to write down messages they’d like to receive from friends or family. Use it to spark conversations about emotional needs, role-play supportive responses, or encourage kids to keep it handy for moments when they need reassurance.

This resource is fillable, allowing it to be completed digitally, and includes a Spanish-translated version on Page 2.

Put It in Action!

✅ Encourage Reflection – Have clients think about what kinds of messages feel comforting when they’re anxious.

✅ Practice Supportive Responses – Role-play different text conversations to help clients feel more confident reaching out.

✅ Use It as a Conversation Starter – Discuss different ways to support a friend who is feeling anxious.

✅ Keep It Accessible – Suggest that clients save their supportive messages on their phone or in a journal for when they need a boost.

Additional Related Resources

Explore our other resources to complement your free download!

ON THE RADAR

📺 Why Parents are Turning to '90s TV for Their Kids

Classic '90s and early 2000s children's shows like Little Bear, Franklin, and Max & Ruby are making a comeback as parents seek gentler, slower-paced content for their kids. Unlike today’s fast-cut, hyper-stimulating shows, these classics use soothing visuals, soft music, and calm storytelling—helping children regulate emotions and improve focus while maintaining engagement.

Experts note that overstimulating media can lead to irritability and restlessness, while slower narratives support attention, emotional regulation, and cognitive development. Streaming services have reshaped kids' viewing habits, making it harder for parents to filter content, but co-viewing offers a way to introduce positive screen-time choices. Whether for preschoolers (Little Bear) or older kids (Magic School Bus), these timeless shows prove that sometimes, simpler storytelling is more beneficial for young minds.

🖤 The Hidden Crisis of Childhood Grief

As parental deaths rise due to COVID-19, gun violence, and drug overdoses, millions of grieving children struggle without support. Studies show that parental loss increases risks for depression, academic struggles, and emotional dysregulation, yet grief resources remain scarce—especially in rural areas and communities of color. By age 18, one in 13 U.S. children will have lost a parent, with disproportionate impacts on Black, Native American, and low-income families.

Utah has taken a groundbreaking step by adding a question about surviving children on death certificates, allowing agencies to identify bereaved kids and connect them to grief support, counseling, and financial aid. Programs like The Sharing Place offer peer-based grief groups that help children process loss in developmentally appropriate ways, reducing long-term emotional and behavioral risks. But with so many communities classified as "bereavement deserts," experts stress the need for national efforts to provide grief resources, school-based support, and social security benefits for affected children. Addressing childhood grief is not just an emotional issue—it’s a public health and economic priority.

💊 The Debate Over Antidepressant Use in Children

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is putting antidepressant use in children under scrutiny, echoing concerns from conservatives and the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again Commission. The commission is investigating whether SSRIs are overprescribed to minors, despite strong opposition from mental health advocates.

Doctors stress that SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft are life-saving for many kids, especially those experiencing severe depression, OCD, or suicidal thoughts. While Kennedy raises concerns about withdrawal symptoms and potential overuse, medical experts counter that SSRIs are not addictive and are typically reserved for serious cases.

The debate comes as youth mental health issues are rising, with a 43% increase in antidepressant prescriptions for teens between 2016 and 2022. Experts acknowledge that more therapy access is needed, but warn that Kennedy’s rhetoric could undermine trust in safe and effective treatments. The focus, they argue, should be on expanding mental health support—not restricting essential medication.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Here are some upcoming dates you should know!

• Self-Harm Awareness Month – Focuses on raising awareness about self-injury and promoting resources for prevention and support.

• National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month – Aims to increase understanding and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities.

• International Women’s Day (March 8) – Celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide.

  RESOURCE: International Women’s Day Activity Cards

• Pi Day (March 14) – Celebrates the mathematical constant π (pi), observed on 3/14 to represent the first three digits of pi.

  RESOURCE: Ways to Celebrate Pi Day

• Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17–23) – Celebrates neurological differences and promotes acceptance and inclusion.

  RESOURCE: Neurodiversity Activity Templates

• St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) – Celebrates Irish culture and commemorates Saint Patrick, featuring parades and the wearing of green attire.