Q: Why can teens be so moody and what can adults do to help?

I am often asked how to help kids and parents to navigate screen time, social media and other issues. Dr David Reitman, a pediatrician, parent and fellow adolescent health colleague, along with Marc Groman, a former Obama White House tech and privacy adviser, have launched a wonderful podcast series called “Their Own Devices”.

Q: How long does it take for the teen brains to develop fully?

I recently met the NYT best-selling author and educator, Rosalind Wiseman during her talk in Amsterdam. Rosalind wrote Queen Bees and Wannabees on helping girls to survive cliques and conflicts (which was the inspiration for the hit movie " Mean Girls") as well as Masterminds and Wingmen on boys’ social hierarchies and its effect on their wellbeing. Her advice for parents: go on a verbal diet!

Starting this month, we are launching a teen corner where young people from around the world tell us as parents, educators, health professionals, what we need to be aware of. Elijah Jacob, a 17-year-old from Kuwait, kicks off "Ïn their Own Words" by asking us to address teen mental health. If you know a teen who would be willing to share their thoughts by writing a blog or being interviewed for a future, please contact us.

I recently returned from a ten-day trip to Hong Kong, doing a series of seminars and workshops for parents, teens and educators at several schools on staying healthy, sexual health, etc. One of the issues that struck me was the number of young people who told me they were feeling stressed. In fact, kids as young as 9-10 years said they were felt anxious and overwhelmed. This is a growing epidemic that we must respond to. Surprisingly, boredom may be part of the answer.