Articles containing: parenting

More than Just a Picky Eater – ARFID

Almost everyone knows a picky eater, either from their own childhood or from their child’s experiences. But sometimes picky eating goes beyond a simple preference for plain pasta.

In this episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah sit down with Dr.

Talking With Your Kids About the Current Chaos

Our kids of all ages are hearing about the current dangers in society on TV, radio, and digital media. They along with parents and caregivers are scared. And for good reason.

Among the present threats include: fears about the economy, access to healthcare, drastic reductions in medical research, war, social outrage, and political unrest.

Teen Nicotine Use

In 2024, the CDC reported that 1 in 29 middle school and 1 in 13 high school students vaped in the past month. This statistic is especially troubling, given that 9 in 10 adults who smoke daily first tried smoking by the age of 18.

In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Dr.

Addressing Your Family’s Anxieties about the California Wildfires

The Palisades Fire has been devastating California since the start of the year, destroying over 23,000 acres and nearly 5,000 structures.

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 second episode in a two-part series on navigating special education in schools. Th first episode focuses on general legal and practical tips for parents, while this episode focused on  working with the IEP team for 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.