Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

By Gene Beresin, MD, MA and Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPHSociety & CultureHealth & FitnessMental HealthRelationshipsParentingKids & Family
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Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple episodes

  • The Death of a Pet

    Last season, we talked about the benefits of pets for our kids' mental health. That unconditional love helps our children build skills and navigate important life lessons. What we don't tend to think about, though, is that one day our pets will be gone. When that happens, do we try to shield our kids from the pain? Would it have been better not to have a pet at all?

    In this episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, co-hosts Gene and Steve kick off our new season in celebration of our furry (and non-furry!) friends. They point out that while losing a pet is really, really sad, it doesn't have to be grim. And even after they're gone, our pets can help to guide our children through one of the biggest challenges we all face at some point in our lives: the loss of a loved one.

    Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about pets that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us.

    Media List

    • Shrinking It Down, The Importance of Pets (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
    • How to Manage, and Help Your Kids Cope, When the Family Dog Dies (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
    • When Your Dog Dies: Reflections on Losing a Best Friend (Psychology Today)
    • The Pain of Losing a Pet (Psychology Today)


    ***

    The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  • When Nightmares Become Reality in the U.S. (Special Episode)

    In research that's been done about kids' fears, one of the most frightening things is losing or being left without a parent.

    Through the events at the U.S. southern border over the past weeks, we have watched migrant children live out their worst nightmares in the most deliberately traumatic way. There are millions of other children who are also watching these events and experiencing their worst fears played out, day after day, through news media and adult conversations. The rest of us have been left feeling emotionally and conscionably horrified, and helpless about what to do next.

    It is important to be aware of and to discuss how these events have affected, and will continue to affect, the children and families who have been separated from each other. We must also address how it is affecting us as a nation. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Drs. Gene Beresin, Steve Schlozman, and Ellen Braaten process all of this, including what we -- individuals, communities, a nation -- can do to get back some of the moral high ground we've lost.

    Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment that we didn't address, we’d love to hear from you. Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org

    Additional reading:

    • A Psychiatrist's National Prescription for Fixing What We've Done at the Border (WBUR's CommonHealth: https://wbur.fm/2luSiPM Photo by: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

    *** The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  • Season Finale: Our Greatest Strengths (S1, Ep 16)
    Did you know that Dr. Ellen Braaten has a mild form of dyslexia and had to work really hard at reading when she was a child? Did you know that Dr. Gene Beresin has always struggled with math?We all have challenges. We all have differences. But some of us have greater challenges than others, and this can be difficult at times for both kids and their families.In the Season 1 finale of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Dr. Beresin, Dr. Schlozman, and Dr. Braaten share a conversation sparked by our short documentary, Greatest Strength: Challenges Met with Courage. The film features the stories of five incredible young people with various differences and disabilities as they showcase their greatest skills and talents.Through both personal reflections and professional experience, the docs talk about ways for families to embrace challenges as both weaknesses and strengths, rather than problems, to help build resilience in kids. They also discuss how learning to accept ourselves for who we are – whether a parent or child – is a challenge that we all face.There is so much we can learn from the young people in our film about self-acceptance, self-esteem, and thriving with what we’re given. Visit our website to watch the film and read reflections from the parents of the young people featured:http://bit.ly/GreatestStrengthThank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about meeting challenges with strength that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org***The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  • Beyond High School (S1, Ep 15)
    Did you know that many young people forego college and go into the workforce after high school? In fact, going to college right away has declined to 66% of high school grads, in recent years, and only 46% of those under age 30 complete an associates degree or higher.There are many different paths to take after high school, but the social pressures that adolescents face during this time can be stressful no matter which road they take.Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steven Schlozman break down the myths associated with attending college or working after high school. They also touch upon changes in relationships with peers and parents as teens grow older. Fortunately, parents can encourage healthy decision-making to make the transition a little easier.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about the period after high school for teens and families that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.orgReading list:-- Where Are All the High-School Grads Going? https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/where-are-all-the-high-school-grads-going/423285/-- Percentage of persons 25 to 29 years old with selected levels of educational attainment https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d16/tables/dt16_104.20.asp-- Educational Attainment in the United States: 2015 - Current Population Reporthttps://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/p20-578.pdf ***The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • Kids, Marches, and the Media (S1 Ep 14)
    Recently, youth-driven marches such as 'March for Our Lives' have received extensive media coverage. While many kids and teens are participating in these marches, what happens to those who want a different outlet? Have adults pressured youth into marching?On this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman are joined by Dr. Ellen Braaten to discuss the effects of activism on adolescence, particularly in a world of media mania. Tune in as they advocate for more student narratives, and highlight ways for kids and teens to be heard beyond marching.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about youth activism that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min
  • Navigating the System (S1 Ep13)
    We're not going to pretend it isn't so. If you're seeking mental or behavioral health services for your child, it can be tricky and frustrating trying to navigate the system. But resources are available.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to offer advice on things parents can do to get the appropriate mental health help for kids who are struggling. Some of this includes is broadening your network "treaters," educating yourself while waiting for an appointment, and advocating for a better system.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about navigating the system that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: contact @ mghclaycenter.org

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min
  • Creativity Gives Our Brains a Boost
    Is creativity important for human relationships? We don't just think so, we know it! Think about it, yourself: What does it mean when you watch a movie with family or create music with friends?On this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman delve into all things creative, including the biological and social impacts of creativity on individuals, kids, and communities. Join the conversation as they weigh in on why humans desire to make things, and how family bonds are strengthened when we spend time being creative together.Want more? Read Dr. Beresin's blog on the benefits of music in, "The Power of Music: To Feel, Heal, and Connect."Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about creativity that we didn't answer, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: [email protected] to our channel and connect with us online:*http://www.mghclaycenter.org*https://www.facebook.com/massgeneralclaycenter*https://twitter.com/mghclaycenter***The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (S1 Ep 11)
    A lot has changed over the years in the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including that we’re getting better at understanding how to recognize it early in kids. And the earlier treatment starts, the more beneficial and effective it will be for children with ASD.But what is ASD, and why do we now consider it a spectrum disorder instead of multiple, separate diagnoses, like Asperger’s and Pervasive Developmental Disorder? What services exist to help children living with autism at all ends of the spectrum?In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin, Dr. Steve Schlozman, and Dr. Ellen Braaten take a deep dive into all of these details and more, including how parents can get access to different services – like occupational therapy, speech therapy, or school accommodations – and specific examples of early developmental signs of ASD of which parents and pediatricians can be aware.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question about ASD that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us at: [email protected]

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min
  • Is Age 27 the New 18? (S1 Ep 10)
    Does turning 18 mark the start of adulthood, or is this milestone simply a cultural construct? These days, researchers say that legal adolescence should continue into the mid-20s.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman break down this phenomenon, its origins and cultural contexts, and how adolescent development and behavior definitely persists beyond the age of 18.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We’d love to hear from you! Send your questions to: [email protected].

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min
  • Hope Beyond Anorexia (S1 Ep9)
    At 14 years old, in the 1980s, Kathleen began seeing Dr. Beresin, an experienced clinician with expertise in eating disorders. Though eating disorders can be potentially deadly, over many years of working on it, Kathleen conquered her anorexia nervosa.In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Kathleen joins Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman to share her story of finding herself, including what gave her hope through many horrible years and a lot of sad stuff. Kathleen talks about the importance of her connections to others struggling with anorexia, her journey with treatment, and how theater helped her along the way. *** Note: This person’s account of his/her personal experience has been published with his/her consent to support the mission of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and let others in similar situations not feel so alone.Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. We’d love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: [email protected].

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min

About Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

From the publisher's feed

"Shrinking It Down" highlights the fact that youth mental health is anything but simple! Child & adolescent psychiatrists Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins help parents…