With summer months winding down, the fall season can bring about a sense of excitement as we embrace the crisp morning air, beautiful colours and the excitement that comes with the back-to-school timeframe. Below is a list of topical story ideas for you to consider when planning your fall media coverage.  

Helicopter parenting without the cell phone
The practice of helicopter parenting and its impacts on youth has long been seen outside of the home, particularly in educational settings. With the implementation Nova Scotia’s cell phone ban this fall, parents and students alike may find themselves struggling to adapt to the lack of ability to connect with one another during school hours. Dr. Michael Ungar, professor in the School of Social Work and founder and director of the  Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University, can discuss the practice of helicopter parenting and the impact it has on youth. He can also offer insight into how the newly adopted cell phone ban may impact this form of parenting.

UpLift Partnership– Empowering youth to be change agents for their schools, families and communities
The Uplift Partnership is about supporting the health and learning of school-aged children and youth through using a Health Promoting Schools approach. The program has empowered children and youth to take the lead in creating school communities that are healthy, vibrant, caring and connected. Through the program youth have actively participated in decisions that impact themselves, programs and policies. Dr. Sara Kirk, professor in Dalhousie’s School of Health and Human Performance, can discuss how the Uplift Partnership has empowered children and youth to take the lead in creating healthy, vibrant, caring and connected school communities.

Dr. Kirk can also discuss a significant recent funding announcement that will see the work of the UpLift Partnership Youth Engagement Coordinators sustained within the provincial health system, through the hiring of eight permanent youth engagement coordinator positions and one provincial role. Youth engagement coordinators will work closely with school health promoters, regional HPS teams, and other partners to support the implementation of the provincial Health Promoting Schools model in schools and communities, supported by legacy assets created through the UpLift Partnership.

Prioritizing mental wellness as a parent
Parents often find their schedules become a bit more chaotic in the fall as they try to manage getting their children to and from school, extracurricular activities, heading back to the office, balancing household finances and daily chores. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a professor in Dal’s Department of Psychiatry, can speak to how parents can best prioritize their own mental wellness, while managing the day-to-day responsibilities that come with the back-to-school timeframe, and managing everyday life stressors.  

The benefits of NS’ Classroom Cell Phone Ban
Starting this fall, all students will be required to turn off their personal mobile devices and store them out of sight during instructional time. There is no doubt that children and youth may find this change difficult as cell phones have become a key part of their identity and way of life. Dr. Simon Sherry a clinical psychologist, who has strongly advocated for the implementation of the cell phone ban in classrooms, can provide perspective on why this change will be beneficial to students’ learning and development. He can also provide tips on how parents and teachers can support students during the implementation of these new regulations within their learning environments.

US Election
The US 2024 election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential elections in recent history. Dalhousie faculty members Dr. Lori Turnbull, professor, Faculty of Management,  Dr. Gabrielle Bardall, adjunct professor, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (French speaking), and Dr. Robert Huish, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, can offer insight into party candidates, policies, platforms, debates, international relations, voting, aggression towards women in politics, the election outcome itself and more. 

Please Note: Interviews are subject to faculty members availability.