Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

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.

It’s our last episode of the season, but never fear – we're signing off with tips to last you the summer long. Today’s episode is all about sleep!Sleep is so important to our overall health and well-being. So, very special guest Dr. Bernard Kinane, Director of the Pediatric Sleep Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene and Khadijah to answer all of your questions about how to support kids in healthy sleep habits. What are the most common sleep problems in toddlers and teens? Why is sleep hunger important for maintaining a healthy sleep schedule? What’s the most common sleep challenge for kids with mental health disorders, and how do help them? How does iron deficiency affect your baby’s sleep (and yours)? Can you make up for lost sleep? (The answer might surprise you!) And if your teen has gotten in the habit of staying up until 3am, what’s a realistic approach to get back to normal? Plus, tips to manage vacation/back-to-school sleep transitions. Dr. Kinane answers all this, and more. Don't skip

We'll be back in two weeks for our season finale and we'll be talking about SLEEP, kids and teens, and mental health. Stay tuned. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over the past year, the Clay Center has worked to support even more young people by translating our free, online resources for Spanish-speaking parents and caregivers. In this time, we’ve seen high readership on topics like emotionally supporting kids and teens during COVID-19, the importance of sleep for child mental health, and how to help young people manage anxiety and stress. On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah welcome special guest Dr. Angel Caraballo for a conversation about the unique mental health challenges impacting Latinx and Hispanic families. From his experience as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and also as a parent, Dr. Carraballo help us to think more about ways to address stigma and other barriers to accessing mental health care within Latinx communities. Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a question or comment about supporting the mental health of Latinx children and teens? We’d

Coming into April, Autism Awareness Month, we’ve noticed more families coming to our website with questions about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some are seeking guidance on challenges families face, some wanting to learn more about behaviors stereotypically associated with ASD, and others wondering what happened to the Asperger’s diagnosis.  On today’s episode of “Shrinking It Down,” we welcome special guest Dr. Robyn Thom, a psychiatrist at the Lurie Center for Autism at the Massachusetts General Hospital, for a conversation about challenges for kids and teens with ASD, including with social relationships and repetitive behaviors. She also shares guidance on seeking evaluation and treatment for kids with ASD, as well as the importance of early disclosure about their diagnosis. Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a question or comment about high-functioning ASD? We’d love to know. Write to us! Media List Robyn Thom, MD (M

Everyone has been hit hard mentally and emotionally during the pandemic, but there’s growing research to suggest that young adults – that special 18-24 age group – are suffering more than we might think. GenZ and Millennials had already been flagged as possibly the loneliest generation, even before COVID-19. Now many are faced with increased social isolation and a devastating economy at a time when, developmentally, they should be building independence and identity through higher education or work.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah share insights from their clinical practice on navigating these unique challenges, including ways to help young adults maintain their sense of purpose despite everything else they can’t control.Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you a question or comment about supporting young adults during Covid? We'd love to know. Write to us!Media List (Follow along with the conversation)Here’s How the COVID Lockdown Impacted College Students’ Mental He

On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah welcome special guest Dr. Darshan Mehta, Medical Director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine of Massachusetts General Hospital, to talk about something we could all use more of: Meditation. This past year has brought on new stressors and anxieties for families, on top of those they were already managing. So, what about treating this stress with a healthy dose of meditation?Meditation is a practice that can help to decrease stress levels, increase calmness and clarity, and improve our physical health. Whether you’ve tried meditation before and are interested in the science behind how it works, or you’re looking for tips on how to start, Dr. Mehta walks through it all. Plus, he guides Gene and Khadijah through a “mini” meditation to demonstrate how even just a few minutes of focus can make a big difference.Thank you for joining in this meditation! Do you have a question about mind body practices, or something you’d like to share? We’d

During COVID-19, many kids across the country have been doing most or all of their schooling online. But now, a year later, many communities are finally finding ways to bring kids back to school, in person. While it’s largely agreed on that in-person schooling is critical for child and teen positive mental health and social-emotional development, going back comes with its own concerns and a host of new anxieties for kids, parents, and teachers alike.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Khadijah share insights from their clinical practice as child psychiatrists on supporting the mental health of your family with some of these mid-year “back-to-school” challenges.Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have anxieties or concerns about sending your kids back to school during Covid? We'd love to know. Write to us!Media List (follow along with the conversation)More Schools Are Returning To In-Person Learning. How Do You Decide To Send Your Child Back? (Wisconsin Public Radio)K-12 School Operat

Content Warning: Today’s episode is the second in a two-part series on teen relationship violence. It may be difficult for some of our listeners.  When we look underneath a young person’s anger, or shame, or grief, there is often a hidden need that’s not being met. Learning how to identify and address these hidden needs is a skill we can all build over time. And doing this is a critical part of fostering healthier relationships and preventing tremendous pain to ourselves and to others. Last week on our podcast, we began a difficult, but important conversation about teen breakup violence through the lens of Lauren Dunne Astley’s story, an 18-year-old young woman who died at the hands of her former boyfriend. This week, Gene and Khadijah welcome a very special guest to continue the conversation – Malcolm Astley, Lauren’s father.Based on much research over the years and his efforts through

Content Warning: Today’s episode is the first in a two-part series on teen relationship violence. It may be difficult for some of our listeners.Romantic relationships are a critically important part of life for teenagers. In fact, one of the most common reasons for emotional struggles in high school and college are breakups with friends or romantic partners. We all know that breakups can be emotionally distressing for teens, but we don’t often talk about how they can also be emotionally or physically violent. Somehow, it feels easier to talk about the sadness or loneliness that can follow a breakup. But violence needs to be part of the conversation, too.Today, Gene and Khadijah welcome a very special guest, Mary Dunne, to help us start this difficult conversation. Mary’s daughter, Lauren Dunne Astley, an 18-year-old young woman who had just graduated high school, died on July 3, 2011 at the hands of her former boyfriend. She was a victim of breakup violence. Since then, through the Lauren Dunne Astley Memoria

Did you know the first telepsychiatry visits at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), conducted back in 2014, weren’t for adults, but for children? Flash forward, we never imagined how critical teletherapy and telemedicine would become – in such a short period of time – as a part of routine healthcare for all age groups and populations, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, we welcome special guest Dr. Janet Wozniak, Associate Chief of Quality and Safety for Department of Psychiatry at MGH, for a conversation about telepsychiatry. What is it? How has it been helping kids and teens? What barriers still exist for some families, and what are we doing to address them?  While virtual visits will never be the same as in-person, Dr. Wozniak talks about the gains for clinicians working with kids, like meeting other members of the family (including pets!) and getting a better sense of the home environment, which influences their day-to-day life. Pl

Today’s young people are spending more time online than previous generations, and many parents and caregivers worry about how digital media is affecting their mental, emotional, and social well-being. Strengthening media literacy skills can help us all better use media as engaged and informed consumers. But what does “media literacy” mean, and how can we help kids and teens build these skills?  On today’s episode of 'Shrinking It Down,' Dr. Michael Robb, Senior Director of Research at Common Sense Media, joins Gene and Khadijah to talk about how parents can help kids better understand the media they use, and make healthier choices about it. Plus, why the quality of screen content matters more than the amount of screen time. Tune in for more!  Thank you for joining in this conversation. If you have a question about helping kids build media literacy skills, we’d love to hear from you. Write to us! Media ListFollow along with the conversation.Michael Robb, PhD (Common Sense Med

Today is the shortest day of the year! That means the daylight only increases from here, a great boost for our brains as many kids and families move into winter break. We'll be taking a break, too, but not until after a very special episode this Wednesday.During school break, kids and teens may be turning to more digital media to fill the time - at least different forms of media than they've been using for remote learning. TV, smartphones, social media, video games, and more. So we have a very special guest to help families understand more about media literacy and mental health. Dr. Michael Robb, Senior Director of Research at Common Sense Media, joins us for a conversation on how to help even the youngest kids better understand the media they consume, and make healthier choices about it.Tune in Wednesday! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.