UBCNews - Business

You're sitting across from your teenager at dinner, trying to make conversation, but something feels off. Maybe they're talking about things that don't make sense. Maybe they seem paranoid about their friends. Or maybe it's just a niggling feeling in the back of your mind that began when their grades started dropping at school...

Knowing the difference between regular teen mood swings and psychosis symptoms can help you get the right support before things get worse – and find the right psychosis treatment for teens.

Many parents brush off early psychosis symptoms as typical teenage rebellion or stress, but the signs are clearly different from normal teen behavior. Here's what to look out for...

Delusions and hallucinations that seem real to the teen, or speech that becomes mixed up, jumbled, or hard to follow.

Teens may also show signs of mental confusion that makes thinking clearly or working through problems nearly impossible.

Other symptoms include dramatic mood swings combined with paranoia and pulling away from others – or school performance that drops suddenly rather than slowly over time.

These symptoms show a serious disconnect from reality that goes way beyond typical teenage challenges. The emotional stress on teens during psychotic episodes is huge, as they often feel isolated, scared, or misunderstood by those around them.

Mental health conditions like bipolar disorder are common causes – but trauma, drug use, and underlying medical conditions can also set off episodes.

But having psychosis doesn't automatically mean your teen will develop chronic conditions like schizophrenia. And early help during the "prodrome stage" – before complete symptoms show up – increases the chances of recovery.

So let's say your teen does have psychosis – what kind of treatment options are out there? The most successful programs combine medication, proven psychotherapy, and supportive therapies designed around their needs.

Mission Prep specializes in creating plans that work on multiple levels – with treatment including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

If you're worried about changes in your teen's behavior, early professional consultation can make a big difference in outcomes. Learn more about recognizing psychosis symptoms and treatment options today! Click on the link in the description.

If profound understanding has turned into constant misunderstandings and intimate connection into isolating disconnection, you may be in a relationship that is giving you anxiety.

Whether you have a history with anxiety, or if these feelings of constant nervousness, self-doubt and dread are new, the mental health experts at A Mission for Michael (AMFM) are on a mission to help.

If you didn’t know that your partner could have a massive impact on your mental health, keep listening.

At their best and most wonderful, romantic relationships are a source of emotional support, love, understanding, compassion, and connection. However, sadly, some relationships can become characterized by poor communication, an inability to compromise, fighting and unresolved arguments, and one-sided investment.

If you are currently in a relationship like this, it wouldn’t be surprising if you were experiencing increasing anxiety and declining mental health.

Even worse, if you are already grappling with anxiety, or have had struggles with it in the past, and you have found yourself in this type of relationship, you are even more likely to be stuck in an especially problematic pattern of constant worry and over-analyzing.

Either way, if you are in the position that your relationship feels like a significant stressor, and is causing you anxiety on a daily basis, the experts at AMFM suggest that professional help may be necessary.

They particularly advise that if your partner is dismissive of your feelings and concerns when they voice them, ending the relationship may be the only path forward to protect your mental health.

AMFM also knows that this is not always easy, which is why they again recommend professional support.

AMFM, which has centers in California, Washington and Virginia, recommends you look for professional help at a center that can offer varying levels of care—so you can find the level of support you need. They also suggest you look for a center that can integrate personal therapy with couples and family therapy, like theirs do.

Also essential is a truly safe space that offers personalized treatment and recovery plans.

Their spokesperson said, “Our accredited facilities provide residential and outpatient programs, utilizing evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR. Our dedicated team of licensed professionals ensures every client receives the best care possible, supported by accreditations from The Joint Commission and the California Department of Health Care Services.”

Though romantic relationships can arguably have the biggest impact on our mental health, the team at AMFM also want you to know that a relationship with a close family member or friend, or perhaps with a colleague or boss, can similarly be a source of worsening anxiety; and, if you’re in this position, they also encourage you to seek help.

If you want to know more about the signs of an anxiety-inducing relationship, A Mission for Michael (AMFM) is proud to answer any questions you may have. Click on the link in the description!

If you speak both English and Spanish, have mastered the art of the deal, and can see yourself in balmy, beautiful Barranquilla, you should consider becoming one of the city’s most in-demand new professionals: a bilingual sales development representative.

In return, at international business process outsourcing firms like TTEC, you can enjoy a competitive salary with a strong commission structure, comprehensive training and ongoing development opportunities, and a fast-track promotion.

Lots of international BPOs, like TTEC, are currently growing their hub in Barranquilla, the capital of Colombia’s Atlántico Department, a thriving port and river city surrounded by Caribbean coast beaches and close to Cartagena, the jewel of Colombia’s tourist scene.

These companies have charted the city’s growth, including among tourists, expats and foreign companies, and are committed to growing their offices there, many of which are located in the heart of the city’s charming historic center.

The good news is, it is not only Barranquilla itself that is thriving, because sales is now one of the best careers to pursue in Colombia in 2025.

With the country’s new e-commerce sector booming, projected to reach US$81 billion by 2027, and their traditional sales industries like retail sales also remaining strong, up 12.7% so far this year, there are amazing opportunities for you to make your start.

If you’re looking for a bilingual sales development representative role, you will need to be proficient in both spoken and written English and Spanish, and most likely have at least six months’ experience in sales.

You should also work on developing your soft skills, like having a creative mindset, strong decision-making skills, a team-building approach, and confidence and comfort working with different clients and customers.

When you’re searching for your new dream sales job, what you should look for is a company that can offer a host of incentives.

This means things like a generous base salary, which also comes with a commission structure, meal allowance, hiring bonus and other regular bonuses. You should also look for companies that offer generous annual leave, flexible work hours and internationally recognized training and onboarding programs.

Plus, you also want a BPO with a culture of internal promotion, whereby promising entry-level sales representatives (like you!) will quickly find themselves on the path to promotion up to team lead and management positions.

Luckily, if you’re not sure where to start, all of these incentives are on offer at TTEC. As one happy current employee said, “By continuously developing skills, stepping out of my comfort zone, and simply showing a great work ethic, I’ve reached new heights at TTEC.”

Discover what your future in sales in Barranquilla could look like - click the link in the decription.

Is a treadmill going to help you hit your weight loss targets this year or is it an elliptical trainer that’s going to deliver your dream body? If you’ve been asking yourself this question, the truth is both machines are great, but they offer different functions, and the right one will depend on your body and what is going to get you and keep you motivated.

If you’re looking for quick answers, the fitness team at SOLE Fitness has weighed in on this question in a new fitness guide that breaks down the main differences between these two popular types of home fitness machines.

If you are in the position of looking to buy a top-quality machine for their home gym, it is most likely because you have a definite fitness goal in mind, whether you want to tone your body, reach a healthier weight or improve your cardiovascular health.

So before you take the plunge and purchase your new piece of gym equipment, you should know the main advantages and disadvantages of each machine type for cardio boosting and calorie burning workouts.

If you are ready and able to go at full intensity, a treadmill could be the better choice, as running on a treadmill at a high intensity can burn up to 606 calories per hour, while a comparable workout on an elliptical burns roughly 365 calories.

To get the best out of a treadmill workout, you should look for a high-quality, durable and advanced model like those by SOLE Fitness, which offer a fast top speed and a large incline and decline range. Their models also come with a host of pre-programmed workouts, including targeted modes like Cardio, Hill and Fat Burn.

You should also opt for a smart machine that offers sophisticated heart rate monitoring for both safe and effective, targeted calorie burning workouts, and that comes with a cushion deck to minimize the impact of these longer and higher intensity workouts on your joints.

Alternatively, if you need a more low impact workout and you want to tone your whole body, including your abs and arms, while you work towards your cardio and weight loss goals, an elliptical could be perfect.

In order to get the best overall body toning and slimming results, you should look for a machine with a great range of resistance levels, an adjustable stride length and pedal setup for more comfortable workouts, reverse motion capability and a large variety of pre-programmed workouts; all of which is on offer at SOLE.

As a rep from SOLE Fitness said, “At SOLE, we provide top-quality treadmills and ellipticals designed for cardio strengthening and weight loss. Our equipment facilitates shock-absorbing workouts, making them perfect for individuals of all fitness levels seeking effective, low-impact exercise solutions for improving cardiovascular health and achieving weight loss goals.”

If you want to know whether a treadmill or an elliptical will help you get in your best home fitness stride, SOLE Fitness is here to help. Visit the link in the description to find out more!

Alright, imagine you're chilling at home, maybe watching a movie, when out of the corner of your eye... boom. A spider. Huge. Just vibin' on your wall like it pays rent.

What's the move? For most people, it's grab the nearest can of bug spray and go full Rambo. But here's the thing—what if you didn't have to turn your whole house into a toxic warzone just to kick out a few pests?

More and more families in Utah are saying no thanks to chemical overload and switching to safer, smarter solutions—and Pickett Pest Control is one of the local companies showing it can actually work.

These folks have been in the game since 2014, and they're all about one thing: getting rid of pests without putting your family, your pets, or the environment at risk.

And they're clearly onto something. The U.S. pest control industry is projected to hit forty-two-point-five billion dollars by 2032. A lot of that growth is coming from people looking for exactly what Pickett offers—green pest control that actually works.

Let's be real—pests aren't just gross, they're expensive. Termites alone cause over five billion dollars in damage every year. And in Roosevelt? You've got pavement ants, black widows, mosquitoes, bed bugs, you name it. It's not just a summer thing either. These pests show up year-round.

Pickett Pest Control handles all of that with what's called Integrated Pest Management—a term for combining real pest science with eco-friendly methods. No more spraying chemicals and hoping for the best. They treat everything from spiders and roaches to rodents, wasps, fleas, and ticks. And they do it with organic, people-safe products that won't force you to evacuate your home for three days.

Now, if you're wondering what makes them different—aside from not nuking your living room—let's break it down. They do free evaluations within 72 hours; offer same-day treatments when they can; they've got emergency pest services; a solid A+ rating on BBB; and they're ranked in the top five pest control providers in Utah.

They even have what they call a "No Bull Money-Back Guarantee." If you're not happy? They keep coming back until you are. Still not happy? Full refund—plus 25 bucks for your time. Honestly? That's rare in this industry.

So if you're in Roosevelt, Vernal, Duchesne, or anywhere nearby, and you're tired of playing whack-a-mole with bugs and worrying about what's in the air after you spray—Pickett Pest Control's got your back.

Call 4 3 5 7 8 1 0 1 1 1 to set up your free evaluation or just click on the link in the description.

Picture this. It's a perfect summer evening. You're out in your Fuquay-Varina backyard, maybe grilling something good, drink in hand, enjoying the breeze—then boom. Outta nowhere, you're swarmed by mosquitoes. You're scratching like crazy, and that little voice in the back of your head is whispering stuff like "West Nile... Zika..."

And it's not just mosquitoes, right? Ticks are hiding out in your lawn, carpenter ants are chewing through your deck, and aggressive wasps are treating your porch like their property. It's giving pest takeover, and honestly? It's a health risk.

But don't stress. That's exactly why Holly Springs Pest Control is stepping up for Fuquay-Varina families this summer. They offer same-day service and free inspections, whether you're in the historic downtown area or out in the neighborhoods.

Let's talk real quick about why summer pests are such a big deal in North Carolina. Humidity and heat? That's a recipe for breeding grounds.

And what starts out looking like a couple of ants or a few bug bites? Can turn into thousands of dollars in repairs—or worse, health issues from bites and stings.

Here's the good news: Holly Springs Pest Control knows Fuquay-Varina. They've been serving this area since 2004, and they know exactly how to deal with these seasonal invasions. Their treatments are eco-friendly, safe for pets and kids, and actually effective—like, long-term effective, not just spray-and-pray.

They'll handle everything from ants, roaches, spiders, and hornets to mosquitoes, rodents, fleas, ticks, and even bed bugs. Yup—they cover it all.

And the best part? They offer a 24-hour response guarantee and back it up with a 100% satisfaction promise. So you're not just hiring someone to kill a few bugs. You're getting peace of mind.

And listen—this isn't just me hyping them up. Their customer reviews are full of people raving about how down-to-earth, helpful, and professional their team is.

One review literally says: "This is the best pest control in the area! I met with Erin and she is fantastic! Ryan is the owner and the most down-to-earth family man." So yeah—when the bugs start bugging, they're the team to call.

Bottom line? Don't wait. These pests multiply fast, and the longer you leave them, the harder (and more expensive) they are to get rid of.

Get ahead of it. Call 8 8 8 3 1 1 0 9 6 9 and book your free inspection today, or click the link in the description to learn more about their services.

Hiring the right candidate sounds simple in theory, but when timelines are tight and resources are capped, mistakes can happen. Even with the best efforts in place, misaligned hires can occur, costing companies both time and money.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a bad hire can cost a company up to 30% of the employee’s annual salary. Other estimates suggest the figure could climb as high as $850,000 depending on the role, the industry, and the resulting disruptions.

Weighing in on the problem, Begin Recruitment warns people often think of a hiring mistake as a one-time blip, but in reality, it can affect productivity, morale, team culture, and even client perception.

It’s not just the financial cost teams and companies suffer through a bad hire. The wrong hiring choice can create unexpected ripple effects throughout an organization. Internal teams may need to shoulder extra work, leading to burnout. Managers can lose valuable time retraining or rehiring. And in client-facing roles, one wrong hire can damage trust or brand reputation.

The reason for these outcomes is obvious: a lack of alignment. But misalignments can happen in various ways, such as a candidate that demonstrated the required skills during the interview process but put in minimal effort on the job. Or, there can be differences in values, communication style, or team compatibility. This is why smart hiring now relies on a balance of human expertise, intelligent screening tools, and AI.

AI can be a valuable tool in recruitment, enhancing the process by helping hiring teams make sharp and informed decisions.

Using AI allows recruiters to identify qualified candidates that also demonstrate intangibles that make them the right fit for a specific role and company culture. It brings clarity to what could be described as a subjective process.

Proper integration of AI tools can reduce the risk of of a bad hire, helping companies secure retention and keep costly turnover rates at a minimum.

Let's also not forget that strategic recruitment can bridge temporary needs. While most companies associate recruitment with filling permanent roles, a flexible hiring model can save significant overhead, especially in environments with fluctuating demands. Organizations can find cost savings by adjusting how and when they bring in support, and they can achieve these goals by retaining recruitment expertise.

Temporary or contract workers, for instance, can help address seasonal peaks or one-time projects, reducing the need for overtime or unnecessary long-term benefit commitments. This shift from fixed labor costs to variable ones gives companies room to maneuver when budgets or timelines are tight.

Additionally, by redirecting routine or lower-priority tasks to temporary staff, permanent employees can stay focused on higher-value work, maximizing the return on their salaries. Companies are encouraged to consult with recruitment experts to ensure this approach does what it's meant to do: fill gaps without exacerbating costs.

Beyond reducing labor-related expenses, recruitment agencies can also help streamline operations. Begin Recruitment points out that the administrative burden of payroll, onboarding, and even initial training can be offloaded to expert teams, freeing up internal HR resources and reducing overhead.

Companies that work with recruitment firms also benefit from the ability to “try before they buy.” Temp-to-hire programs give businesses a chance to assess performance and fit before committing to a full-time hire. If the match doesn’t work, the agency handles the transition, saving time, paperwork, and potential severance costs.

And for those seeking direct hires, recruitment firms often provide guarantees: if the initial hire doesn’t work out, they’ll find a replacement. These assurances help mitigate the risk of misalignment, offering peace of mind along with practical savings.

For businesses looking to refine or build out their internal HR capabilities, tailored consulting services help improve workflows, strengthen internal teams, and accelerate hiring outcomes.

Other supports companies can look into include exclusive career coaching for job seekers. Begin Recruitment even offers an On-Demand Advisory Hotline for companies that need immediate support navigating urgent recruitment decisions or internal roadblocks.

If you want to learn more about the process or get a better idea of how a recruitment agency can add value to your organization, Begin Recruitment is happy to answer any questions you might have.

You know, I was talking to a family recently who found themselves in a complete panic when their mom had her third fall in two months. Have you ever wondered what you'd do if you suddenly had to move a parent into senior care?

Hey everyone! You know what blows my mind? Almost 60% of Google searches now end without a single click. Think about that for a second - people are getting their answers right there in the search results without ever visiting a website.

Let’s face it – as we age, our skin goes through some changes. From fine lines to sagging, the signs of aging can feel like they appear overnight. But what if there was a way to fight those pesky wrinkles, hydrate your skin, and restore that youthful glow? Enter ProVital Skin Cream– the hydration-rich beauty cream that’s here to turn back the clock and leave you with smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin.

Wrinkles? What Wrinkles? We all know that collagen is key to keeping our skin firm and plump, but as we age, collagen production naturally decreases, leading to wrinkles and sagging. But don’t worry—ProVital Skin Cream is here to save the day! Packed with Tripeptide-5, this powerhouse ingredient stimulates your skin to produce more collagen, which helps to restore lost elasticity and tighten the skin. The result? A noticeable reduction in wrinkles and a firmer, more youthful appearance.

Clinical studies have shown that tripeptides work wonders when it comes to rejuvenating skin. They don’t just minimize the appearance of fine lines—they help rebuild your skin’s structure from within, making it feel smoother and more resilient. So, when you apply ProVital Skin Cream, you’re not just covering up the wrinkles—you’re addressing them at the source.

One of the best things about ProVital Skin Cream is its ability to provide intense hydration. Dry skin can make wrinkles and fine lines look even more prominent, but ProVital Skin Cream locks in moisture with Hexadecanol, a hydroscopic fatty acid. This ingredient draws moisture into your skin and keeps it there, ensuring you’re not just looking good but feeling good too.

The result? Soft, smooth, and hydrated skin that radiates freshness. Whether you're prepping for a big event or just want to feel good in your skin every day, this cream is your go-to for that dewy, healthy glow.

It’s not just about reducing wrinkles—it’s about restoring your skin’s natural elasticity. With consistent use of ProVital Skin Cream, you’ll notice a lifting effect that tightens and firms your skin. Plus, this cream works at a deep level, detoxifying your skin and rebuilding its structure, giving it that plump, youthful look that lasts all day.

One of the most exciting things about ProVital Skin Cream is how quickly you’ll start seeing results. Clinical trials have shown that wrinkle depth can be reduced by up to 20% in just a few short days! So, if you’re looking for an instant skin refresh, ProVital Skin Cream is your new best friend.

But that’s not all—it’s designed for long-term use. With regular application, your skin will continue to improve, becoming firmer, more elastic, and radiantly youthful. Say goodbye to dull, tired skin and hello to a glowing, smooth complexion!

The Bottom Line: It’s Time to Treat Your Skin Right! If you’re tired of the visible effects of aging and want to give your skin the hydration and rejuvenation it deserves, ProVital Skin Cream is the answer. With powerful ingredients like Tripeptide-5 and Hexadecanol, it’s the ultimate solution for reducing wrinkles, boosting hydration, and restoring elasticity.

Don’t wait—start your journey to youthful, glowing skin today. Visit ProVital Skin Beauty Cream at the link in the description to learn more and grab your bottle now. Your skin will thank you!