Articles containing: parenting

Parents Under Pressure: A Response to the Recent U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health

In the recent Advisory, Parents Under Pressure, the US Surgeon General noted that parents are currently more stressed, burned out, and lonely than ever before. The alarming statistics are not all that different than his Advisories on the Youth Mental Health and Loneliness Epidemics that have been escalating since the late 1970s.

Supporting Youth in a World Riddled by Conflict

Let’s be honest, we’re all stressed.

We’re stressed about climate change, world crises, the upcoming election, or even just the common stressors of everyday life: economic pressures, relationship issues, burnout, you name it. So, with all stress, our conversations can easily become more uncivilized.

Navigating Special Education in Schools Part 2: Working with the Team and Your Child

This is the first blog post in a two-part series on navigating special education in schools. The focus of this first post is on general legal and practical tips for parents. The second post focuses on working with the IEP and your child.

The Youth Mental Health Epidemic: What Parents and Caregivers Can Do

In April 2024, I wrote an editorial in Academic Psychiatry with my colleagues indicating that the leadership of our field had fallen short in satisfying our moral, ethical and professional standards to promote efforts to address the mental health epidemic among our youth.

Adolescent Depression – Shrinking It Down

It’s not always easy to tell whether a teen’s behavior is typical for their age or a sign of depression. In this Parent Strategy Announcement (PSA), Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steven Schlozman explain how parents can assess their child’s behavior, and what to do if they’re concerned.

My Child Was Diagnosed With Anxiety or Depression. How Should I Talk to Her About It?

“Should I use the word anxious or depressed?”  

“Should I talk about it at all with my daughter?”  

“What should I say to my teenage son?”  

“How can I even bring it up?”  

These are just a few of the questions parents ask when their child is given a diagnosis of anxiety or depression.

Anger Management: Ways to Help You and Your Kids Stay in Control

Everyone gets angry from time to time — parents and kids alike.

Anger is a normal emotion that’s part of the “fight or flight” response. This means it’s an emotion that informs us that something in our lives is threatening, frustrating, upsetting, or unfair.

My Son Was Diagnosed With ADHD. How Do I Talk to Him About It?

Question: My son was just diagnosed with ADHD. How do I talk to him about it?

Dr. Braaten’s Answer:

Educating yourself is a great way to prepare for this conversation, and there are a lot of resources on our website to get you started.

Medications: For Better or Worse? featuring Timothy Wilens, MD – Shrinking It Down

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for “Shrinking It Down.”

Many parents of kids struggling with a mental health issue have concerns – even fears – about medication as a part of treatment. Will it help? Will it hurt? What are the side effects? Today, Dr.

Q+A: What Should I Tell My Daughter About Her Dyslexia Diagnosis?

Although some parents worry that “labeling” their children’s problems will somehow damage them or make them feel bad about themselves, the fact is that the majority of people (kids and adults, alike) are relieved to know that what they are struggling with or suffering from has a name.