Publications - Parenting/Caregiver Advice and Support

Mental health crisis in children spurs psychiatric bed shortage, by TAMARA SACHARCZYK, NBC News, Jan 30 2022.

““Anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation have been among the most common presentations, but kids are coming in with a lot of different symptoms,” Bradley Hospital child psychiatrist Dr. Tanuja Gandhi said. “I think the pandemic stress has added to existing problems children had pre-pandemic.” ”

Children’s mental health may suffer if they spend too much time on electronic devices, by Shiv Sudhakar, New York Post, Dec 31 2021.

“Increased electronic screen time was associated with worse mental health issues in children compared to those with lower levels of screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent JAMA Network Open paper published this week.  ”

Children and teens face unequal mental health realities, by Marisa Fernandez, Yahoo News, Oct 12 2021.

“n the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 55% of children felt more "sad, depressed, or unhappy," compared to 25% of adults, according to a new report out Monday from the Child Mind Institute. Why it matters: The data offers a glimpse at the differences in children's early psych0logical responses as researchers work to tease out the pandemic's potential long-term effects on the incoming generation's mental health and developmental skills. ”

How men hurt and grieve over miscarriage, too, by Matt Villano, CNN, Jul 15 2021.

“What scientists do know: About 10% to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, at least according to the Mayo Clinic. Many obstetricians and other experts say this number likely is even higher, since many miscarriages occur so early in a woman's pregnancy that some women don't realize they are pregnant at all.  Typically, because women are the ones carrying the fetus, miscarriages are perceived to be biopsychosocial in nature — that is, they affect moms biologically, psychologically and socially.  But fathers experience acute loss as well, said Kate Kripke, founder and director of the Postpartum Wellness Center in Boulder, Colorado. Theirs is psychosocial, without the biology. ”

Root of teen empathy begins with secure relationships at home, study finds, by Sarah Molano, CNN, Jul 15 2021.

“Teenagers who have close, secure relationships with their families are more likely to extend empathy to their peers, according to a new study.  More specifically, when teens feel safe, supported by and connected to parents or other adult caregivers, they are better equipped to pass the empathy they receive on to others.  "I don't think teens in particular like being told what to do, and I don't think it's going to work to tell teens they should empathize with other people," said Jessica Stern, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the department of psychology at the University of Virginia. "But what does work is showing them empathy, and they can pay it forward to the people in their lives." ”

Cash for Kids Comes to the United States, by Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, Jul 14 2021.

“Beginning this week, the IRS will start sending monthly, no-strings-attached cash payments to an estimated 65 million children living in low- and middle-income families, potentially slashing the country’s child poverty rate by 45 percent.  The new policy will become tangible when money starts hitting bank accounts this week. An estimated 88 percent of recipients will not need to do anything to get the cash—the IRS will send the money automatically. But an estimated 4 million to 8 million eligible children are at risk of missing out, because their parents or guardians do not need to file taxes or are not filing taxes—and because they might not even know the complicated, obscure-sounding, and scarcely advertised policy exists. ”

Disruptive Behavior: Why It’s Often Misdiagnosed, by Child Mind Institute, Feb 9 2021.

“Most children have occasional temper tantrums or emotional outbursts, but when kids repeatedly lash out, are defiant, or can’t control their tempers, it can impair their functioning in school and cause serious family turmoil.  The first challenge in helping a child manage his behavior better is to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. In the same way that a headache or a fever can be caused by many things, frequent outbursts — which clinicians call “emotional dysregulation”— can reflect a number of different underlying issues.  It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that a child who’s pushing or hitting or throwing tantrums is angry, defiant or hostile. But in many cases disruptive, even explosive behavior stems from anxiety or frustration that may not be apparent to parents or teachers. ”

A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement, by Joshua Coleman, The Atlantic, Jan 10 2021.

“Studies on parental estrangement have grown rapidly in the past decade, perhaps reflecting the increasing number of families who are affected. Most estrangements between a parent and an adult child are initiated by the child, according to a 2015 survey of more than 800 people. A survey of mothers from 65 to 75 years old with at least two living adult children found that about 11 percent were estranged from a child and 62 percent reported contact less than once a month with at least one child.  In these and other studies, common reasons given by the estranged adult children were emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood by the parent, “toxic” behaviors such as disrespect or hurtfulness, feeling unsupported, and clashes in values. Parents are more likely to blame the estrangement on their divorce, their child’s spouse, or what they perceive as their child’s “entitlement.” ”

ER visits, long waits climb for kids in mental health crisis, by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press, Dec 5 2020.

“When children and teens are overwhelmed with anxiety, depression or thoughts of self-harm, they often wait days in emergency rooms because there aren’t enough psychiatric beds. The problem has only grown worse during the pandemic, reports from parents and professionals suggest. With schools closed, routines disrupted and parents anxious over lost income or uncertain futures, children are shouldering new burdens many are unequipped to bear. And with surging numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, bed space is even scarcer. By early fall, many Massachusetts ERs were seeing about four times more children and teens in psychiatric crisis weekly than usual, said Ralph Buonopane, a mental health program director at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston. ”

Helping children stay mentally well during pandemic starts with adults taking care of themselves: Connecticut panel, by Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, Nov 23 2020.

“The COVID-19 era is taking a toll on children and teenagers, but not necessarily in the way people think it does, said Dr. Alice Forrester, chief executive officer of the New Haven-based Clifford Beers mental health agency. Often it’s the parents’ stress that weighs most heavily on them. ”

Children's Day: Disparities among children of color, by Kristen Rogers, CNN, Nov 20 2020.

“The concept of institutional racism is the systematic distribution of “resources, power and opportunity in our society to the benefit of people who are White and the exclusion of people of color,” according to Solid Ground, a social justice organization in Washington state. Institutional racism has been blamed for the higher likelihood of poverty, food insecurity, poor overall health, environmental injustice and incarceration among Native Americans in the United States and among Black, Latinx and Asian people in both the US and the United Kingdom. ”

How To Help Your Kids Reframe Their Anxiety — And Reclaim Their Superpowers, by Kavitha Cardoza, NPR, Nov 16 2020.

“Every child feels anxious at times — but for some, that feeling persists and interferes with friendships and schoolwork. It can cause children to be fearful, worried, irritable and angry. And there are physical symptoms: Kids can feel tired and have headaches, stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children. ”

How parents shape their children's mental health, by Elissa Strauss, CNN, Oct 4 2020.

“There is a long-established relationship between parent and child mental health problems, explained Marcy Burstein, a clinical psychologist and employee of the National Institute of Mental Health, who has researched this topic. ”

Online crib sheets aid parents in dealing with children’s depression, anxiety, other issues, by Erin Blakemore, Washington Post , Oct 3 2020.

“Is it a learning disability? Is bed-wetting normal? How can you support your child through an upcoming move? These questions are enough to keep up at night parents and anyone who takes care of children — and as we spend more time with our kids during the pandemic, we’re more tuned in to their challenges. That’s where Facts for Families comes in. It’s a collection of online crib sheets for all kinds of issues that affect children, teenagers and families, from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to weight gain. The online fact sheets are the work of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), a professional organization that represents more than 9,400 psychiatrists specializing in kids and teens. Each sheet lays out common-sense information about a variety of challenges — such as bullying, delirium and grief — that can affect kids’ mental health. AD   Many of these challenges and conditions emerge during early childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 children ages 2 to 8 in the United States has a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. The older kids get, the more likely they are to experience depression, anxiety and a host of other conditions. These bumps can stress out caretakers, who may not know where to start when it comes to helping their children. The fact sheets are quick reads and give lists of symptoms and behavior changes. Most contain links to other, more in-depth resources, too. So next time you’re up at night mulling over a troubling interaction or symptom, browse the website instead — and use the information there as a starting point for conversations with pediatricians, specialists and the children. Then turn over and get some sleep, secure in your new knowledge and your preliminary plan. Facts for Families can be found at bit.ly/AACAP_facts. 0 Comments Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.   By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy PAID PROMOTED STORIES Costco's Kirkland Label Is Actually Other Brands In DisguiseInvesting.com Before you renew Amazon Prime, read thisWikibuy New poll: Mitch McConnell is trailing Amy McGrath. Chip in to defeat him.pelosiforcongress.org The Crisis is Real: 25 Cities That No One Wants to Live in AnymoreInvesting.com [Gallery] What This Mama Bear Did After Man Saved Her Cubs is HeartwarmingDaily Choices Playing Cards: Photo Gallery Playing CardsShutterfly Recommended by Sign in to join the conversation   Most ReadHealth 1 CDC says airborne transmission plays a role in coronavirus spread in a long-awaited update after a website error last month 2   Prospect of Trump’s early hospital discharge mystifies doctors 3   Perspective A doctor gave me an inept diagnosis for a neurological problem. I should know: I’m a neurologist. 4   An army of doctors. Access to an experimental drug. A special patient gets special care. 5   Little evidence that White House has offered contact tracing, guidance to hundreds potentially exposed Today’s Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.   By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy About Us Public Relations Careers Diversity & Inclusion Newspaper in Education Today's Paper WP BrandStudio Events Policies & Standards Get The Post Home Delivery Digital Subscription Gift Subscriptions Mobile & Apps Newsletters & Alerts Washington Post Live Reprints & Permissions Post Store Books & eBooks e-Replica Help Contact the Newsroom Contact Customer Care Reader Representative Advertise Licensing & Syndication Request a Correction Send a News Tip Terms of Use Digital Products Terms of Sale Print Products Terms of Sale Terms of Service Privacy Policy Submissions & Discussion Policy RSS Terms of Service Ad Choices washingtonpost.com © 1996-2020 The Washington Post ”

The Pandemic Is a ‘Mental Health Crisis’ for Parents, by Jessica Grose, New York Times, Sep 9 2020.

“New studies show caregivers with young children are stressed, with no signs of relief on the horizon. ”