February 24, 2021
Getting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience?
It’s probably safe to say that 2020 has taken quite a toll on many of us. This has resulted in a number of reactions, particularly in our mental health. That being said, now that we have made it to 2021, despite the rollout of vaccinations, we continue in our new and modified routines built to […]
February 10, 2021
Teen Breakup Violence, Part 2: At-Risk Emotions – Shrinking It Down
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 […]
The Challenges of First-Generation College Students
This post on first-generation students is one in a series on college student mental health. Other posts in this series are: College Students of Color: Overcoming Racial Disparities and Discrimination LGBTQ Students in College: Fostering Inclusion, Acceptance, and Safety International College Students: Challenges and Solutions *** Currently, around half of all students attending college are […]
February 3, 2021
Teen Breakup Violence, Part 1 – Shrinking It Down
Content Warning: This 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 crucial part of life for teenagers. In fact, the biggest emotional struggles in high school and college often come from breaking up with friends or romantic partners. […]
January 20, 2021
The Nuts and Bolts of Telepsychiatry, featuring Janet Wozniak, MD – Shrinking It Down
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 […]
January 13, 2021
College Students of Color: Overcoming Racial Disparities and Discrimination
This post is one of a four-part series on college student mental health. The other posts in this series are: LGBTQ Students in College: Fostering Inclusion, Acceptance, and Safety International College Students: Challenges and Solutions The Challenges of First-Generation College Students *** Diversity allows us to embrace humanity in a broader way, and to educate […]
January 7, 2021
Support Kids and Teens Following the Riot In Our Nation’s Capitol
The images of chaos and violence in our nation’s Capitol that many children and teens have been seeing in the media have been disturbing and scary. What’s the impact on our kids? How can we as parents and caregivers help them feel secure in the wake of not just a domestic terrorist act, but one […]
December 23, 2020
Media Literacy and Mental Health, featuring Common Sense Media – Shrinking It Down
Today’s young people are spending more time online than previous generations, and many parents and caregivers worry about how social media is affecting their mental health, and emotional and social well-being. Strengthening social media literacy skills can help us all better use media as engaged and informed consumers. But what does “media literacy” mean, and […]
December 9, 2020
Tackling Racism Internally to Better Serve Our Communities – A Closer Look at Mass General’s 10-Point Plan, featuring Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH
When it comes to structural racism in health care, commitment to change stems from the top in creating physically and emotionally healthier communities. Today, on ‘Shrinking It Down,’ special guest Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH, Vice President and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), joins Gene and Khadijah to help us understand […]
November 25, 2020
The Power of Community Health During COVID-19: A Look at Chelsea, Massachusetts, featuring Mary Lyons-Hunter, PsyD – Shrinking It Down
Since the pandemic, mental health concerns have risen across the country. But in communities that were already underserved, the burden is even greater, as hardships build one on top of the other: risk for illness, food insecurity, being an essential worker, being unemployed, kids not able to go to school, fear of housing evictions, resurfacing […]