New California law forces chatbots to protect kids’ mental health
California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved mandatory monitoring and reminders when kids use chatbots. Child advocates backed a different bill.
Bipartisan bill seeks to reinstate national suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth
In July, Trump cut LGBTQ+ youth services for 988, the suicide crisis hotline that launched in 2022.
Psychology experts call for AI age controls and chatbot tailoring
Experts testified before Congress about their concerns with artificial intelligence’s presence in mental health practices, particularly among adolescents and children.
Idaho’s parental consent law impedes 988 suicide crisis hotline access for some youth
Mental health advocates say state law requiring parental consent for medical treatment provided to children limits care they can legally provide.
Teachers are happy with cellphone bans; students are more ambivalent
With cellphone bans, teachers have reported less stress, better ability to manage their classrooms and social benefits for their students, according to new research.
The National Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth went dead. States are scrambling to help.
Advocates say mental health issues are rising in that population amid hostility from the Trump administration.
How much is your NYC school getting for state’s new cellphone ban?
With New York’s new ‘bell-to-bell’ ban, New York City schools are getting a cash infusion for cellphone storage. Find out how much each school is getting.
Wyoming cops add remote counselors to some mental health-related calls
With a $2.4 million grant, a growing number of sheriffs and police departments will try telehealth for some of their most challenging encounters.
Texts to 988 hotline must now be georouted to local crisis centers
The Federal Communications Commission approved rules requiring wireless providers to route texts to the mental health line based on their origin, rather than area code.
The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health?
COMMENTARY | Mental health chatbots promise therapy at your fingertips, but can AI ease anxiety and depression, or are we confusing conversation with care?
Report: LGBTQ+ rural teens find more support online than in their communities
For many rural teenagers, online spaces provide support and community they can’t find in real life. The research found these online resources having a positive effect on the mental health of LGBTQ+ rural teens.
The challenges of tackling too much screen time
Excessive smartphone and social media use may harm youth, but are blanket school bans a feasible solution?
Inside Illinois’ journey to build a centralized platform for child welfare services
A digital transformation among six child welfare agencies in Illinois is helping to break down silos and connect families with the mental and behavioral health services they need.
Iowa governor signs statewide ban on cellphones in class
The law requires school boards adopt a policy that, at minimum, bans the use of cellphones in class beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
Nebraska social media age-verification bill moves forward
Democratic-allied lawmakers described the bill as government overreach and said it likely would face lawsuits, while supporters of the proposal said it would help address a mental health crisis among young people.
Ban on cell phone use during K-8 school hours in Georgia goes to the governor
Expansion to high schools could come later.
Utah lawmakers advance bill requiring age verification for app store purchases
The Utah Senate advanced a law to require app stores to verify the ages of customers to give parents more control over their kids' accounts.
Social media experts are skeptical about the power of new state laws
Lawmakers worry about negative effects on teens, but others raise concerns over free speech.
Nebraska lawmakers take aim at youth social media and cell phone use
Gov. Jim Pillen and a group of Nebraska lawmakers take aim at social media and school-hours cell phone use by youths.
Amid a $7 million deficit to Texas’ suicide hotline, thousands of calls are abandoned monthly
The state’s 988 suicide had the nation’s fifth highest rate of abandoned calls in August, the latest data available, amid a multi-million funding deficit that could worsen as federal dollars expire this year.
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