adolescent mental health

The best grades, the best schools, the best sports programs, the best universities – sure, it's great for students to strive for success. But when does the pressure to succeed become too much?

American journalist Jennifer Wallace says 'toxic achievement culture' is harming the mental health of many students.

Is this a uniquely American phenomenon?

Journalist Robert Whitaker (author of books including Mad in America) interviews Sarah Fay about her mental health experiences and her memoir "Pathological..."

This is a brief excerpt from the much longer conversation podcast. My title comes from a comment by Sarah Fay: "I have to admit that I was so attached to my diagnosis, I had defined myself by it."

Source podcast:

The Impact the DSM Has Had On All of Us: An interview with Sarah Fay and Allan Horwitz By Robert Whitaker, Mad in America, April 6, 2022

Sarah Fay, PhD is an author of essays and articles published in the New York Times, the Atlantic and numerous other national publications. Her memoir is Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses.

In her newsletter, Fay summarized: "Simply put, Pathological is both a memoir and a work of investigative journalism that...explores the ways we pathologize human experiences and emotions."

She quotes a review:

"Over thirty years, doctors diagnosed Sarah Fay with six different mental illnesses—anorexia, major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar disorder.

"Pathological is the gripping story of what it was like to live with those diagnoses, and the crippling impact each had on her life. It is also a rigorous investigation into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)—psychiatry’s “bible,” the manual from which all mental illness diagnoses come.

"Yet as Fay found out, some of our most prominent psychiatrists have been trying to warn us that the DSM is fiction sold to the public as fact.

"In Pathological, former advisory editor at The Paris Review and award-winning writer Fay calls for a new conversation about mental health diagnosis, one based on rigorous transparency.

"With exquisite detail and a precise presentation of fact, she digs up her own life at the root to finally ask, Is a diagnosis a lifeline or a self-fulfilling prophecy?"

Her site: sarahfay.org

Her book Cured: The Memoir "tells the story of Sarah’s full recovery from serious mental illness and how recovery is possible for everyone. It’s the sequel to Pathological."

Read the exclusive publication on Substack - see the Creative Mind Newsletter site with this podcast episode, plus additional material: "Attached to my mental health diagnosis" - interview with author Sarah Fay.

~~~~ 

Listen to episodes and see transcripts and resources in the Podcast section of The Creative Mind Newsletter and Podcast site.

Welcome to another episode of Through Help & Back. In this episode, we are privileged to have Dr. Shivana Naidoo, a board-certified clinical psychiatrist, as our guest. Join us as Dr. Naidoo delves into the critical topic of preventing teen suicide and imparts invaluable insights on improving overall well-being. With her specialization in families and adolescents, Dr. Naidoo shares remarkable tips to empower listeners in making the most of their therapy sessions, ensuring they receive optimal support. Don't miss this engaging conversation that aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster a healthier and happier life. 

DoBetterMD Website: https://www.dobettermd.com/ 

Follow Dr. Naidoo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivana.naidoo/ 

Follow Dr. Naidoo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiv9282 

–

Thanks to Anew Behavioral Health for sponsoring this podcast. If you or a loved one is seeking help with mental health, behavioral health, or substance abuse, visit https://www.anewbh.com/ or email helpnow@anewbh.com for help.

If you would like to be a guest on our show or want to submit topic ideas or questions, drop us a note here: 

https://forms.gle/jbnP4HxfuuwVHD698

–

DISCLAIMER

The information provided by Help & Back should not be considered personal medical or mental health advice. It is not a substitute for professional care. Consult your own healthcare providers for specific guidance and do not rely solely on our content. We do not diagnose or treat conditions, and our advice should not be taken as medical or psychological guidance. Contact your healthcare provider if you have concerns or suspect an issue.

–

Episode Production Credits

• Leo Massoud

Mental Health Trailblazer’s focus on youth and adolescent mental health continues with a conversation around bullying. According to the US Surgeon General, one in five high-schoolers in America report being bullied, and one in six have experienced cyberbullying. The mental health consequences can be severe with consequences for the victims, the perpetrators, their families, communities and wider society, lasting a lifetime. SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association alumna Dr. Teresa Combs who has studied the phenomenon of bullying and addresses bullying in her clinical work, shares her insights with our host, Indrias Kassaye. Together they explore the various ways that bullying manifests and its impact, particularly among ethnic and racial minority communities, and what behavioral health professionals including psychiatric mental health nurses can do to respond.

You can learn more about Dr. Teresa Combs at https://emfp.org/about-us/national-advisory-committee/teresa-combs

Required Disclosures to Participants – 2023 ANA MFP Podcast Season3:
 

Continuing Nursing Education Disclosures:

- Participants may earn 0.5 hours of CNE credit for this session.

- Requirements for CNE credit are to:

1. Listen to the entire podcast.

2. Complete the evaluation after the event.

** Please use the link below to access to complete the evaluation form and to receive your CNE certificate by email. Expiration Date/Deadline: May 9, 2026

Evaluation Survey Link: https://surveys.nursingworld.org/s3/MFP-Podcast-Bullying-and-Mental-Health (opens on May 8, 2023)

The American Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

ANA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17219.

The mental health crisis in adolescents is a growing problem. Three years after the COVID pandemic uprooted life as we knew it, kids are still dealing with many issues causing a number of mental health conditions.

 Dr. Laine Taylor,  Medical Director at The Village for Families and Children in Hartford, joins me to discuss mental health in children in this episode.

Prior to working at The Village for Families and Children, Dr. Taylor was an assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and worked in child psychiatric inpatient service for seven years.  Dr. Taylor completed general psychiatry residency at the University of Arizona and completed a Child and Adolescent Fellowship at The Yale Child Study Center in New Haven.  

A recent report stated that 40 percent of US parents are “extremely” or “very” worried that their children struggle with anxiety or depression. The Pew Research Center report concluded that mental health is the greatest healthcare concern among parents. 

We discussed the health disparity in mental health for Black and Latino children, and the barriers o treatment that exist. 

To learn more aboutThe Village for Families and Children, visit www.thevillage.org

For more information on CT Paid Leave or to apply for benefits, visit www.ctpaidleave.org

https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_US



https://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeave



https://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/



https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeave



https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

The research shows that all children are capable of learning and succeeding in school and life. We have all the information we need to raise great human beings that are mentally-well, emotionally-balanced and self-confident but haven’t applied it. In this episode, we discuss:

• The state of mental wellness for children and what we need to do
• The importance of environment in a child’s well-being
• How we should redesign the educational system to better serve the children’s learning and development.
• The parents’ role in cultivating emotional resilience in their children

This podcast represents the opinions of Debra Berndt Maldonado and Robert Maldonado, PhD. The content here should not be taken as medical/mental health advice. The content here is for informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your mental healthcare professional for your mental health questions.

Interested in Jungian Life Coaching? Download your free program brochure: https://www.creativemindlife.com/program-brochure

Stay Connected with Debra and Dr. Rob:
Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | creativemindlife.com | Email: connect@creativemindmethod.com

Do you feel moral panic about the digital well-being of young people? Are you swamped by the effects of the ‘data deluge’? This digitally nutritious conversation will leave you with a sense of competence and control, ready to better support young people’s (and perhaps even your own) digital well-being.

Listen in to this episode of A Conversation About Digital Well-being and Young People’s Mental Health as Dr. Lyn O’Grady, Community Psychologist, and Jocelyn Brewer, Psychologist explore the role technology plays in our lives and how we can support young people to use it in safe and savvy ways. 

Jocelyn's professional journey, from teacher to psychologist and mother, gives her a unique perspective into the definition of digital well-being. She shares her insights on supporting young people’s well-being, including how to involve them in the conversation around their own digital well-being.

Lyn and Jocelyn share how they have evolved professionally to work in this space supporting families, discussing how technology has changed across generations, and how to ‘get curious, not furious’, with young people in order to help them navigate and stay safe online.

Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About by following MHPN Presents.

Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.

Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About Digital Well-being and Young People’s Mental Health or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

Prince Dumanat, otherwise known as Princey D, is the co-host of the "Fight in Sight" MMA podcast based out of Toronto.  He is also a mental health and addictions nurse that primarily supports the children and adolescent population.  Prince is funny, authentic, and highly qualified to teach and share real world tools and solutions to help boost mental and emotional health, and his favorite empowering tool is humor. 

You can reach Prince on Instagram @fightinsightpodcast. 

Please share, subscribe, visit the Linda's Corner website at lindascornerpodcast.com and follow on youtube, facebook, instagram, and pinterest @lindascornerpodcast.

Also please visit the Hope for Healing website at hopeforhealingfoundation.org for free resources to increase happiness, build confidence and self esteem, improve relationships, manage stress, and calm feelings of depression and anxiety.  

Highlights

• Introduction | Stacey Dove sets the groundwork with an overview of the challenges facing teenagers when it comes to mental health and getting support.
• 02:54 Roundtable introduction | Drs. Potter, Stevens and Benhalim introduce themselves and share their background in adolescent mental health and their perspectives from working with children, teenagers and families.
• 27:39 Treatment and care options | Beginning with a discussion on how to approach children and teenagers who may be reluctant to receive help, the guests talk through different ways to meet them where they are, plus their advice for parents and other caregivers.

Help and Resources

If your child or teen is taking steps to manage stress and anxiety and they don’t seem to be helping, here are some additional resources.

Mental health screening

Free, private and anonymous mental health screening at: http://mhascreening.org/. Based on the results, MHA will provide information and resources to help.

Crisis hotlines and text lines

Crisis counselors are available every day, all day:

Call 1-800-985-5990

Text TalkWithUs to 66746

If in crisis or thinking about suicide, get in touch with someone immediately:

Call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) 

Text MHA to 741741

Additional Information

• To break the ice on talking about mental health with children and teenagers, get conversation starters at OptumConversation.com.
• Visit optum.com/behavioralhealth to see how Optum is working to support mental health needs.
• U.S. News and World Report: Fixing the mental health crisis: It takes a community

Guests

Dr. Mona Potter

Chief Medical Officer, InStride Health

Assistant professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, part time

Dr. Jonathan Stevens

Medical Director, Outpatient Services and Admissions, The Menninger Clinic

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Yusra Benhalim

Senior National Medical Director, Optum Behavioral Health

The views, opinions, and content expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of Optum.

Visit optum.com for more information about how Optum is helping to create a healthier world. 

After more than a year of hybrid and remote learning, students have experienced a new normal of staying home. School professionals are concerned that a wave of school refusal will hit us this fall. How can we prepare?

In this episode, Chris talks about strategies for school refusal intervention with Dr. Paul Barbato, Director of Special Services in Dumont, NJ Public Schools. Dr. Barbato is also an Adjunct Professor at three NJ colleges and holds leadership positions in several key NJ educational organizations.

Highlights include:

• How to identify students at risk before the school refusal behavior becomes entrenched
• Who should be included on a multidisciplinary team to address school refusal
• Ideas for a three-tier intervention plan: school-level, targeted groups, and individual supports
• How to get started and where to focus your efforts first

Will mental health professionals be replaced by robots in 2049? Dr. Michael Lindsey, executive director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty, Policy and Research at New York University, shares his views with Health2049 co-host Jason Helgerson. He imagines the potential of technology for accessibility and scalability in reaching marginalized communities.

 Connect with Health2049:

• Website: https://www.health2049.com

Timestamps:

• Dr. Michael Lindsey’s mental health research background. [02:38]
• Bridging the gap between mental health needs and services. [06:29]
• Complementary mental health services, including A.I., virtual gaming and psychotropic medication. [08:19]
• Fueling that innovation. [14:46]
• How can healthcare professionals maintain a relevant role? [18:47]
• A future focused on prevention. [21:25]
• Marginalized populations need to be a part of technology research. [24:21]
• How will this vision make the world a better place? [27:46]

As we return to full-time, in-person learning, educators expect even more students to struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues that interfere with their ability to learn and succeed in school. It's clear that there is a mental health gap that we urgently need to close in order to address the academic gap from lost learning during the pandemic, and ultimately to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students. Teachers, administrators, and school counselors must be ready to assist these students. So where do we start?

Chris Leonard’s guest is John Reilly, Clinical Director of the Thrive Alliance Group. John is a certified psychoanalyst and a licensed clinical social worker with over 28 years in practice. He also served for 22 years as an owner and administrator of the Sage Day and New Alliance Academy therapeutic day schools. Currently, John provides weekly mental health coaching sessions to cohorts of school personnel. 

In this episode, John shares how this coaching process supports school staff in becoming more confident and more effective in working with students struggling with mental health issues.

Highlights include:

• Why untrained school staff may be reluctant to get involved in matters of student mental health
• The “superpowers” school staff members can develop that help them intervene with both struggling students and angry parents
• Why typical mental health PD is often ineffective 
• What coaching looks like, and how it builds confidence, empathy, and effective intervention skills 
• How schools can use this process to create a culture that supports mental wellness

Dr. Dayna J. LePlatte provides insights  on coping with quarantine, isolation and the importance of mental health during crises.

Dealing with race, equality, and bias is a problem that continues to confound Americans, in large part because we are not even comfortable talking about it. Yet our children and teens are watching events unfold in the world and they have questions, real questions. As educators, we need to support thoughtful dialogue. So how do we talk to our students and to each other in ways that are constructive and productive?

In this episode, Chris talks with LaCoyya Weathington, Assistant Superintendent for Compliance, Equity and Student Services at the Cherry Hill New Jersey Public School District. LaCoyya's background in education spans 27 years with a focus on improving educational opportunities for students, including serving as Director of Education for the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission. 

Highlights include:

• Why the events of this past year have been traumatic for students (and not only for students of color)
• Exploring the notion of “colorblindness” and race as a social construct
• Recommendations for looking at practices, from curriculum decisions to disciplinary actions to hiring practices, to identify systematic bias
• Resources to guide us in looking at our own thinking and behavior
• How to begin an honest dialogue with students and staff of color.

“As an administrator, you can't be the person that's watching on the sidelines and not doing anything. Our role is to set the example for the district. For every person that interacts with us, we're setting an example. So we have to look at our own biases. And we have to be very courageous.”

In 2020, Back To School time looks very different than it has in any other year.  Parents and kids are feeling increased levels of stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.  In this episode, Michael Klinkner gives strategies for parents, guardians, and other adults to reduce stress and help kids succeed and remain physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. 

Michael Klinkner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  He completed his Master of Social Work Degree at West Virginia University after completing his Bachelor’s degree at Washington and Jefferson College.  Michael has received specialty training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Neurolinguistic Programming.  Michael is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Michael has been dedicated to helping people find balance for over 20 years.  In addition to outpatient services, Michael teaches graduate level courses for the School of Social Work at Arizona State University.  Michael provides individual, group and family therapy to children, adolescents and adults. 


Connect with Michael online:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/michael_klinknercounseling/

Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=575483445937256&ref=content_filter

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixDJOg0ppudTvvl3XXQtfw

Website - https://www.evolvecounselingaz.com

Behavioral/mental health resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255

Crisis Text Line: Text "Listen" to 741741

Community Information and Referral Services: Dial 211 or visit 211.org

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

notMYkid Website: https://notmykid.org/

notMYkid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notMYkid/

notMYkid Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notmykiddotorg/

notMYkid Twitter: https://twitter.com/notmykidtweets

notMYkid YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/notMYkidVids

Win This Year show email: WinThisYear@notmykid.org

We've all seen the national news reports declaring this spring's remote learning a disaster. Students and parents were worried about not feeling engaged, lacking socialization, and being just plain bored. Although schools are trying to create safe in-person learning, most will start the year in a hybrid mix of in-person and remote learning.

In this episode, Chris talks with Dr. Nancy Sulla, author of five books on creating student-driven, blended learning environments. Dr. Sulla’s instructional plan for transforming learning is giving teachers an entirely new way to build student engagement, empowerment, and efficacy. Highlights include:

• How a hybrid learning environment can help students struggling with mental health issues.
• The 5 components that students need to get the most benefit from education.
• The “super skills” that teachers need to succeed with remote instruction.
• Why live-streaming is NOT the answer, and the better solution that teachers can easily do on their own.
• One simple thing teachers can do to prepare students to re-enter the classroom in the fall.

Join me for the second conversation with Dr. Michelle Bengtson as we focus on caring for our teen's mental health. I don't know about you, but this is an issue I care deeply about but am not exactly sure how to do it "right." Dr. Michelle brings wisdom and guidance into this challenging topic.

In today's episode we discuss:

• The rise of mental health challenges in our children.
• The different challenges our children have now, specifically with regard to technology.
• How children display depression (it’s not necessarily crying all the time).
• What to ask when our adolescents begin acting out and the clue that they may be depressed.
• What learning to ask good questions can do for their relationships and understanding.
• How to give our children the vocabulary to deal with their emotions.
• How shaping our perspectives can help manage crises.
• When it’s time to make a call to a therapist.

Visit GracedHealth.com/teen-mental-health for all of Dr. Michelle's contact information.

Miss the first episode with Dr. Michelle?

Catch it at GracedHealth.com/DrMichelleBengtson

Do you ever feel shame because you’re not following all the so-called ‘rules’ of healthy living? Would you like to break some of these rules? My new free download combats several health rules we've heard and gives you a bonus rule to keep. Get yours at www.gracedhealth.com/badrules

Receive my free monthly journal full of food, fitness, faith, fun & more

Connect with Amy:
GracedHealth.com
Join the Graced Health community on Facebook!
Instagram: @GracedHealth
YouTube: @AmyConnell

Join GracedHealth+ for virtual community meetups and bonus episodes

Leave a one-time tip of $5

Check out my book Your Worthy Body and signature online class B.COMPLETE

In this episode, Chris Leonard answers questions about what schools can do to encourage healthy social media usage by their students, and prevent the problems that arise from harmful behavior on social media. 

The questions were submitted by school administrators, counselors, and teachers during our recent webinar: “Untangling the Web: How Social Media Affects Mental Health and How to Help.”

Highlights include:

• How to address concerns about suicidal ideation 
• What to do when negative interactions on social media spill over into school
• Getting buy-in from parents on healthy social media habits for students
• Setting consequences for inappropriate actions on social media
• The importance of modeling

In this episode, Chris Leonard talks with Pat Hovey, a leader and innovator among NJ Directors of Special Services. Pat has worked to implement and fund successful programs for students with mental health problems in several New Jersey school districts, as well as serving as an advisor to numerous other districts. Chris and Pat discuss the process of obtaining funding for student mental health support, as well as funding sources.

Highlights include:

• Your first point of contact when looking to fund student mental health programs
• The easiest funding sources that Directors of Special Services already have access to
• Frequently overlooked funding sources you can use for mental health programs
• Strategies for getting buy in from districts leaders to pursue these funding sources