Archive for mental health
When a friend dies by suicide: Preventing suicide contagion
Suicide can shake an entire community. For some kids, a friend or classmate’s suicide increases the risk that they may resort to the same behavior. This risk, known as suicide contagion, can affect people who lived down the street from the person who died, went to school with them, or simply saw them around town. ... Read More
Tagged: emergency medicine, mental health, suicide
Returning to holiday chaos: Preventing anxiety in kids
After taking last year “off,” many families are preparing to dive back into holiday busyness, and with it, holiday stress. But what has the time away from crowds, travel, and extended family done to kids’ abilities to enjoy the yuletide cheer? Here, psychologist Dr. Lauren DiLullo with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, answers ... Read More
Tagged: autism spectrum disorder, coronavirus, mental health
Help kids fight the “Selfie Effect” and build self-esteem instead
It may be hard to imagine now, but there was a time not too long ago when social media didn’t exist and we didn’t have cameras on our phones. But today, some of the most widely used social media platforms influence not only how we communicate with the world, but how we think the world ... Read More
Tagged: digital health, mental health, psychiatry
When your child is the bully: Tips for parents
It’s bad for children’s health, makes headlines, and defies most attempts to prevent it. Bullying has become the “big tobacco” of the 21st century. What can a parent do when their child is engaging in behavior that’s condemned by nearly everyone? We talked with Dr. Peter Raffalli, a neurologist and director of the Bullying and ... Read More
Tagged: ADHD, bullying, mental health
After two ACL tears, a skier reconnects with her body and her sport
The memory remains vivid in Sophia’s mind. Racing down a slalom course at top speed, she hit a patch of bad snow. “The next thing I knew, I was launched up in the air. My legs were above me and I lost sight of my right leg. I felt my right knee twist and I ... Read More
Tagged: acl, mental health, orthopedics, sports injury, sports medicine
Keeping kids emotionally healthy during COVID-19
Children and teens have suffered immensely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changing school and family routines, isolation at home, illness or loss of a family member, stressed parents, and fear of the virus itself have hit kids hard. And sadly, the pandemic continues with the rise of new COVID-19 variants. Pediatric practices can play a role ... Read More
Tagged: coronavirus, mental health, primary care, public health, well child care
The adolescent mental health crisis: Bolstering primary care capabilities
The mental health crisis among children and teens shows no sign of abating, and COVID-19 has clearly made matters worse. A recent study found that suicide attempts and self-harm were among the few indications for hospitalization that didn’t drop during the first waves of the pandemic. On the contrary, the past year has seen a ... Read More
Tagged: advocacy, mental health, primary care, primary care alliance, psychiatry
Teens, anxiety, and depression: How worried should parents be?
Part of the work of being a teenager is making connections outside of the family and becoming attuned to world issues. But add social media, an ongoing pandemic, and academic and extracurricular pressures to the mix, and teens can become vulnerable to mental health issues. “Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health concerns ... Read More
Tagged: adolescent medicine, mental health, psychiatry
Losing a parent or caregiver to COVID-19: Advice for families
Ed. note: This story was updated on October 7 with new data on COVID-19 deaths. A recent international study estimated that at least 104,884 U.S. children lost one or both parents to COVID-19. And that was as of April 20, 2021, before the highly contagious Delta variant became widespread. A more detailed study of U.S. deaths ... Read More
Tagged: bereavement, coronavirus, mental health
Not just a physical thing: The psychology of sports injuries and recovery
“Nobody plays sports expecting to get injured, but unfortunately, injuries are part of sports,” says Melissa Christino, MD. As a surgeon in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital, Christino helps athletes recover from sports injuries, some of which keep her patients on the sidelines for weeks or months at a time. Key takeaways ... Read More
Tagged: mental health, orthopedics, sports injury, sports medicine