Archive for mental health
Talking to your child about slurs: When words hurt
Imagine the following scenarios: You’re walking down the street with your teenage son and an adult in a passing car yells a racial slur out the window at you. You’re at your local playground you overhear your daughter direct an anti-gay slur at another child. As a parent, what do you do? “These conversations are ... Read More
Back to school… back to what?
This month, many children and teens in Massachusetts and around the country are finally heading back to school in person. For some kids this news might elicit jumps for joy, while others might feel nervous or afraid. Wherever you or your kids land on this range of feelings, there will no doubt be an emotional ... Read More
COVID-19: What we know and how to cope with an uncertain future
Last March, when the world as we knew it shut down because of the coronavirus, we imagined we’d be home for a few weeks at most. But here we are, a year later, still unsure when our lives might get back to “normal.” And it’s still unclear what a new normal might even look like. ... Read More
Talking with your child about loss and death
The death toll from COVID-19 has recently surpassed more than 400,000 in the United States and continues to climb. This means that thousands of children have lost someone close to them — a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a family friend, or even a parent. Some children have lost more than one loved one. Talking ... Read More
Eight tips to help you make it through the winter
It’s officially 2021 and we have two approved vaccines for COVID-19 that are rolling out across the country. While this is great news, the reality is that we’re still facing a few more months of social distancing before we’re able to return to any type of “normal” lifestyle. And in the chill and darkness of ... Read More
Anxiety in kids during COVID-19: What parents should know
Some kids hide in their rooms. Others turn their cameras off during remote learning and don’t want to talk to anyone. Still others feel panicky when they do go out in public. As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, its effects on our mental health may have become increasingly noticeable — especially in children and teens. “My ... Read More
Can the show go on? Song, dance, and other activities during COVID-19
At the start of any typical school year, Kelly Blake is busy meeting with the after-school clubs she runs. This year, however, Blake’s schedule — and her students’ schedules — are full of unknowns. “The school has so many things related to COVID-19 to figure out this year,” she says. “After-school activities are not a ... Read More
Helping athletes cope with the emotional rollercoaster of COVID-19
“The athletes I work with are over this,” says Kimberly O’Brien, a clinical social worker in the Sports Medicine Division. Last spring, when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of organized sports, coaches and athletes assumed they’d be playing again by autumn. Now it’s clear many athletes’ plans will remain on hold through the fall season, possibly ... Read More
Tapping into the mind-body connection to reduce COVID-19 stress
In a dimly lit living room, a staff member lies on a couch, eyes closed, as soft music floats through the air. From a nearby computer screen, the voice of Victoria Klumpp, RN, BSN, IBCLC, comes over a Zoom link as she talks the person through a Reiki session. Klumpp, who is clinical coordinator of the Family Wellness Program ... Read More
COVID and suicidal thoughts: Help for families
Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released stark new figures on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. One in four young adults (age 18 to 24) surveyed reported seriously considering suicide during the previous 30 days — an increase from years past. Rates of suicidal thoughts were also high in ... Read More