Archive for mental health
A Juneteenth celebration of children’s books featuring Black characters
Books can provide a mirror for kids to understand themselves and a window into the world around them. Yet for many generations, Black characters were almost nonexistent in children’s books. Very often, the few that did appear were limited, with one kind of hair and one skin tone. “Thinking about the books that were popular ... Read More about A Juneteenth celebration of children’s books featuring Black characters
Tagged: health equity, mental health
Suicide prevention in teens: Can we intervene through primary care?
The past year has seen a disturbing rise in suicidal thoughts and attempts among adolescents, with a spike of suicidal teens going to emergency departments (EDs). This adds to a growing trend: From 2007 to 2016, ED visits for deliberate self-harm more than quadrupled nationwide among children age 5 to 17. In a recent review ... Read More about Suicide prevention in teens: Can we intervene through primary care?
COVID-19 takes its toll on kids’ mental health
As experts warn that increasing behavioral and mental health challenges could represent a “second wave” of the pandemic in kids and teens, a recent study suggests that hospitalizations for self-harm and suicide attempts show no signs of ebbing. According to a study from Boston Children’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, ... Read More about COVID-19 takes its toll on kids’ mental health
Tagged: adolescent medicine, coronavirus, mental health, suicide
Eating disorders in the time of COVID: Advice for parents
As the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on, it has led to a secondary epidemic of eating disorders among children and teens. In January, the National Eating Disorders Association reported a spike of activity on its help lines. And treatment programs are having trouble keeping up with the requests. “We have seen a huge increase in ... Read More about Eating disorders in the time of COVID: Advice for parents
Tagged: coronavirus, mental health, nutrition
Helping your kids understand and cope with anti-Asian racism
Over the past year, there has been an alarming increase in anti-Asian sentiment and discrimination in the United States. The advocacy and hate reporting group Stop AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Hate reports more than 6,600 hate incidents — including harassment, shunning, and physical attacks — since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. ... Read More about Helping your kids understand and cope with anti-Asian racism
Tagged: health equity, mental health, racism
Could returning to sports after COVID-19 harm kids’ mental health?
After a year away from playing, athletes everywhere are excited to jump back into the sports they love. And for the most part, participating in sports is great for kids’ mental health. Yet for some, the demands of training and competition can cause stress and anxiety. While their teammates celebrate their return to play, some ... Read More about Could returning to sports after COVID-19 harm kids’ mental health?
Tagged: female athletes, mental health, orthopedics, sports medicine
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 about Talking to your child about slurs: When words hurt
Tagged: health equity, mental health, racism
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 about Back to school… back to what?
Tagged: coronavirus, mental health
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 about COVID-19: What we know and how to cope with an uncertain future
Tagged: coronavirus, mental health
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 about Talking with your child about loss and death
Tagged: coronavirus, mental health