Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

The COVID pandemic is like nothing most of us have ever lived through. This is especially true for kids and teens who are still developing mentally and physically. This week we talk with special guest, Annabel Reddick, a high school senior in Davidson, North Carolina about her experience living through the pandemic, and how things are going two years into it. Gene, Khadijah, and Annabel discuss the struggle of remote learning and maintaining relationships, readjusting to school more than a year later, how she and her sister coped, and what she thinks adults should know about teens and mental health. Tune in for a great conversation and to hear a perspective we don’t often get but have a lot to learn from. While Annabel’s experience is just that of one teen, we believe she discusses some universal truths from her story that highlight issues of mental health for many teens out there. Media ListBirdcage Memoirs: A Teen's Reflections on Living Through the Pandemic (MGH Clay Center) 7 Ways to Support Kids and Teen

At what point are we pushing our young athletes too hard? We all watched 15-year-old Russian Olympic skater, Kamila Valieva, exit the ice in tears after a doping scandal. Where did the adults in her life fail her? What can be done to make sure situations like this don’t happen again?These are the questions Gene and Khadijah try to answer this week, with the help of former competitive skater turned child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Mai Uchida, MD.Dr. Uchida is passionate about supporting youth athlete mental health and has written about Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and interviewed Mirai Nagasu. This week, she shares her perspective and ideas of how to move the athletic world in a healthier direction for our young people.Media List:Figure Skating's Identity Crisis: Supporting Our Young Athletes (MGH Clay Center)Naomi Osaka - Shining Light on Athlete Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)Simone Biles - Choosing Mental Health Over Defending Olympic Gold (MGH Clay Center)Chapter 1: Teen Champion (A Mental Health Conver

Low self-esteem gets all of us down at one point or another. For kids, the goal is to help build them back up. Lots of things can lower our kids’ self-esteem like body image, cyberbullying, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and surprisingly, guilt (along with lots of other things!).This week, Gene and Khadijah break down the ways that we can help our kids elevate their self-esteem and their sense of worth. From giving positive feedback to creating a sense of competency, there are plenty of things parents – and other caring adults – can do to help their kids. If this is something you think your child might be struggling with, tune in below. Media List‘Snow potentially in April’: Massachusetts spring forecast predicts winter setbacks (Boston Herald)‘They draw bombs, tanks and wishes for peach’: Ukraine’s child mental health crisis (The Guardian)Low Self-Esteem: Where does it come from and what can adults do to help? (MGH Clay Center)Trauma: What Parents Should Know (MGH Clay Center)Ways to emotionally

The crisis in Ukraine feels to many like the straw that broke the camel’s back. Between the COVID pandemic, police brutality, the climate crisis, and now the war in Ukraine, the world may feel increasingly unsafe. Very young children, though, actually respond more to their adults’ distress than to the tragic events themselves. That said, repeated media exposure of horrific events can sometimes lead to PTSD in kids who do not experience the tragedies themselves.This week, Gene and Khadijah discuss the important work of protecting our young people from the very real conflict they are witnessing in the media, and hearing about at school and at home. Whether you have friends and family in Ukraine, know someone who does, or are simply a concerned global citizen, this week’s episode covers how to help kids of all ages manage the devastation, while taking care of yourself, too.Tune in for this pressing episode. We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours.Have more questions about how to handle your you

Turning on TV, opening a magazine, or going on our phones these days, kids are overwhelmed with images showing us what we should look like. Even on “reality” TV, none of the people look like your average person. With all of these images circulating in our everyday lives, it is easy for any of us to get caught up and judge our own bodies, but especially young people who soak these images in and can internalize these “ideals”.Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by special guest Dr. Holly Peek, Assistant Medical Director of the Klarman Eating Disorders Center at McLean Hospital, and former Miss New Orleans, to talk about body image and the ways in which it can affect self-esteem. They also touch on how boys are often left out of this conversation, how media and Hollywood impacts body image, the importance of nutrition, and how parents can help young people cultivate a positive body image for themselves.Tune in for this timely episode. We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours. Media List:·&n

Our recent conversation with Dr. John Kelly of the MGH Recovery Research Institute reinforced even more how important it is to start talking with young people about about alcohol use and it's possible problems, early on. Let us help you get started! From child & adolescent psychiatrist Gene Beresin, MD, MA, here are a few ways to open to door to this ongoing conversation with your grade-school child or middle schooler.If you missed our last episode on alcohol and adolescents, tune in here!We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Did you know that 3 out of 4 addiction cases in the U.S. are alcohol addictions, and that kids who start drinking before age 15 are significantly more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder than those who wait? Alcohol causes more deaths each year than all other drugs combined, including around 5,000 deaths to children under age 21. Yet, culturally, we don’t tend to think of alcohol as a serious psychoactive drug that causes intoxication, toxicity, and addiction.Today, Gene and Khadijah talk about alcohol, adolescents, and what parents should know. To help make sense of it all, they are joined by very special guest, Dr. John Kelly, program director for Mass General’s Recovery Research Institute. Dr. Kelly walks us through how alcohol exposure affects the developing teen brain, how it can lead to other negative health outcomes, including cancer, substance use trends during Covid, and signs to look for you in your child if you’re concerned.Please tune in for this special episode. We hope that our conversatio

COVID-19. We can’t seem to escape it no matter where we turn, even in our own homes. All of us – caregivers and young people, alike – are experiencing feelings of fear, frustration, and anger as we balance trying to stay safe and trying to move on with our lives. It’s mentally and emotionally draining.How do we keep going? That’s what Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins talk about today. Ways to manage our strong emotions in a healthy, sustainable way. They explore why emotions like anger and fear arise, and share concrete tips for responding to the COVID-19 challenges families are facing – including ever-changing news and protocols, and internal family conflict.Thanks for tuning in! We hope our conversation will help you to have yours. Media ListFollow along with the conversation.Prioritizing Parent Mental Health (JED Foundation / MGH Clay Center)Yes, All this COVID-Related News Is Incredibly Exhausting—25 Therapists Explain How They're Coping (Parade)The Power of Music: To Feel, Heal, and C

If your child is struggling to go to school and regularly wanting to stay home, it's important to learn more about what's making things so hard for them. Talking about it can help. Here are a couple ways to start a conversation with your child or teen, from child & adolescent psychiatrist Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH.If you missed Khadijah and Gene's full discussion about school refusal, tune in here!We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does your child get stomach aches at the thought of going to school? Does your younger child throw temper tantrums? Does your teenager spend all day in the school counselor’s office, or even refuse to leave the home? When kids struggle to go to school, it can be a really challenging situation. And since the pandemic, child psychiatrists Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins are hearing more concerns about this kind of behavior from the parents they work with.Today, Gene and Khadijah talk through school refusal: what it is, how to recognize signs in your child, and how to help. School refusal is very treatable! But getting to the root cause and responding quickly is key. Tune in for more!Plus, Gene shares the Clay Center’s 2022 word of the year…We hope that our conversation will help you to have yours. Have a question or comment? Write to us!Media ListFollow along with the conversation. School Refusal: When Back-to-School Is a Struggle (MGH Clay Center)Our Word of the Year (Instagram - MGH Clay

As we lead into a New Year, we wish you and your loved ones physical and mental wellness. It has been a challenging two years, with more challenges to come. But together, we can manage this. So for tonight, unwind a bit if you can, draw strength from memories past, and look forward to a new year with new beginnings.Thank you for all you do to support the young people in your life. It really makes a difference.Auld Lang Syne (traditional Scottish folk song)Musicians Gene Beresin and Jim MayerArranged by Gene BeresinPoem by Robert Burns, 1788English Lyrics:Should old acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?Should old acquaintance be forgot,and old lang syne?CHORUS:For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne,We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,For auld lang syne.And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!And surely I’ll buy mine!And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,For auld lang syne.CHORUSWe two have run about the slopes,And picked the daisies fine;But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,Since auld lang syne.CHO

Mindfully enjoying the things we look forward to during the holidays is a great way for families to lessen stress and support well-being. What are Gene and Khadijah's favorite things about the holiday season? Tune in!From all of us at the MGH Clay Center, we wish you a wonderful holiday season. May your minds be merry and bright. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Families have felt tremendous stress over the past two years due to the pandemic. But for many, this is a special time of year that we fantasize about and look forward to, and it’s not healthy to go into the holiday season at this heightened state of stress and duress.Perhaps you're anxious about spending time with loved ones in a safe way, or fighting about house rules with your college student who is home. The season may be challenging because it awakens traumas from your past. Or maybe you just want to give your child the emotional break and fun they need, but it’s hard when you can’t unwind yourself.Today, Gene and Khadijah share strategies to help you feel less overwhelmed this season, and wind down a bit leading up to the new year. Plus, they share favorite songs they’ve been sharing with each other.Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have questions or comments, please write to us!Media List(follow along with the conversation)Coping With Holiday Stress: 11 Parenting Tips (MGH Clay Center)

As we "fall back" this weekend, hold onto to some clinical wisdom from Bernard Kinane, MD, Director of the Pediatric Sleep Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. He joins Dr. Gene Beresin in this clip from a recent episode to answer the question: "If a child or young adult is sleep deprived, can they make up for it on the weekend or at other times?"Want more on sleep, kids, and mental health? Tune in to the full episode here: https://bitly.com/SID-SLEEP See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If your young person is struggling in school, and you think it might be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins has some ways to start a conversation with them. These conversation starters might help you learn more about what's making things so hard at school. Also, watch Dr. Booth Watkins' short video on recognizing signs of ADHD in your child. Thanks for tuning in! We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode of Shrinking It Down, we revisit some of the most helpful conversations we've had with clinical experts about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in kids and teens. First, we talk through what ADHD really is with Dr. Ellen Braaten (01:10), including the three types of ADHD and how the behavioral signs can be different in different children. Then, we take a closer look at the use of medication for ADHD with Dr. Timothy Wilens (15:55), including when medication can be most useful as a treatment for your child, and when it probably isn't needed. Finally, we learn more about Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) from Dr. Susan Sprich (19:25), and how it can be a helpful part of a child's, or an adult's, ADHD treatment plan.Please tune in! We hope that our conversation helps you to have yours.Media ListEllen Braaten, PhD, Executive Director, MGH Learning & Emotional Assessment ProgramTimothy Wilens, MD, Chief, MGH Division of Child & Adolescent PsychiatrySusan Sprich, PhD, Directo

If Instagram and social media are still on your mind after our last episode, but you still haven't talked to your teen about your concerns, here are some things to say to start the conversation. Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins says, it can actually be pretty simple if you approach the conversation with curiosity. Dr. Gene Beresin says, you might learn a lot about what's really going on in your child's digital media circles if you're willing to include them as part of the problem-solving team.Tune in for their suggestions. We hope our conversation will help you to have yours. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We weren’t due for another episode until next week, but given the news of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and her disturbing claims that the company knows its platforms cause mental harm, including to teen girls, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins are back early. They put on their shrink caps to process the concerns that Instagram poses to children and teens, and talk through guidance to help young people navigate digital media in healthier and safer ways. We’re all hostages to this digital age, and we need to know how to harness it, protect ourselves, and protect our children and teens. A lot of this starts with casual but sincere conversations with our kids to learn more about what media they use, how they use it, why they use it – to be more informed and guide them in thinking more critically about it. Plus, Gene and Khadijah concrete conversation starters and approaches to begin these important conversations and keep them going. Thank you for tuning in. We hope that our conversatio

Welcome back to Shrinking It Down – because mental health is anything but simple. What better way to launch Season 5 than by busting some mental health myths?In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins check in with each other after the summer break, and then share the facts on some common misconceptions about depression and anxiety, violent video games, "bad" parenting, and more.Thanks for joining! We hope our conversation will help you to have yours.Media ListGene Beresin, MD, MAKhadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPHMental Health Myths: BUSTED (MGH Clay Center)Myth Busters (Discovery+)3-2-1 Contact (IMDB)When Teens Talk of Suicide: What You Need to Know (MGH Clay Center)Bipolar Disorder and the Arts: Mark Vonnegut’s Story (MGH Clay Center)What If My Child Has Depression? (MGH Clay Center)Game Reviews (Common Sense Media)What If My Child Has an Anxiety Disorder? (MGH Clay Center)Social-Emotionally Supporting Your Child In a Pandemic School Year (Canada Talks, Sirius XM)Exercise for Str

Can six minutes of meditation really make a difference? Try it for yourself!In this excerpt from our March 17 episode, "Medicating with Meditation?" Dr. Darshan Mehta leads us in a 6-minute meditation - right in the middle of our workday. Follow along to take a break in your own day, and share with someone else in your life.Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH, is Medical Director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine and Director of the Office for Well-Being at Massachusetts General Hospital. For more on the power of meditation to support mental health, physical health, and overall well-being, tune in to the full episode here:Medicating With Meditation? The Power of Mind Body Medicine, featuring Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.