Tackling Holiday Mental Health Challenges

HAPPY AFTER THANKSGIVING. JESSICA: LET’S GO. WHAT DOES THIS TIME OF YEAR CAUSE FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP CHILDREN WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? >> NICE TO SEE YOU BOTH. JUST LIKE ADULTS, CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS ARE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE OF SEASONS. WHEN IT’S COLDER AND WE HAVE LESS DAYLIGHT, WE ALL FEEL THAT. AND DURING THE HOLIDAYS, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ENJOY GREAT FUN AND SHARING, BUT IT CAN MAKE THEM FEEL WORSE. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE EXCITEMENT OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS DISSUED AND CHILDREN UNDERGOING ACADEMIC OR SOCIAL STRESS BEGIN TO BE OVERWHELMED. ED: IF THERE IS A CHILD OR TEEN WHO IS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHEN SHOULD A PARENT GET HELP IMMEDIATELY, WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK FOR? >> THE MOST IMPORTANT ALARM RINGINGS ARE WHEN CHILDREN START SAYING THINGS LIKE THEY WISH TO BE DEAD OR THEY WANT TO GET HURT, ESPECIALLY PARENTS SEEING CHANGES IN MOOD, ACTIVITIES, CONCENTRATION, SLEEP OR APPETITE AND WHICH CAN INDICATE THAT THE CHILDREN FEEL OVERWHELMED AND THE STRESS IS REACHING THE LEVEL WHERE THEY NEED INTERVENTION. WHERE THEY ALWAYS SAY ASK THEM DIRECTLY. SEARCH IS NOT THE WAY SHE PLANS IT IN THEIR WEAKNESS AND DOES NOT INCREASE THE FACT THAT THEY WILL DO SOMETHING, BUT SHE TELLS THE CHILDREN WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND UNDERSTAND IT TOGETHER AND WHAT WILL- WE DO TO GET YOU HELP YOU DON’T FEEL THAT WAY ANYMORE. JESSICA: SAY YOU NOTICE THE SIGNS, BUT FINDING HELP CAN BE AMAZING. WHAT SHOULD A PARENT LOOK FOR TO FIND SOMEONE AND WE KNOW SINCE PANDEMIC AVAILABILITY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT. HAS IT GOT EASIER? >> I WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER. WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE A GROWING NEED FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. I SAY TO PARENTS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE SPECIALIZED IN CHILDREN AND TEENS AND SOMEONE WHO CAN GIVE YOU A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF HOW THEY DIAGNOSE THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM AND HOW THEY WILL RECOMMEND TREATMENT AND ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED TREATING YOUR CHILD OR TEEN’S TYPE OF CONCERN A. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THERAPY BETTER SUITABLE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEMS. A GOOD PLACE TO ALWAYS START IS YOUR CHILD’S PEDIATRICIAN. SOME PRACTICES HAVE THEIR OWN INTEGRATED CLINICIANS OR BEST KNOWN PEOPLE. ED: WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IF WE CANNOT ACCESS A PROFESSIONAL OR ARE NOT AT THE LEVEL OF A PROFESSIONAL? >> EVERYONE HAS TIMES WHEN THEY FEEL WEAK OR WORRIED OR FRUSTRATED OR ANGRY OR BORED. TALKING WITH CHILDREN IS PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE FEELINGS, WHETHER IT’S TALKING ABOUT IT WITH SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT YOU, DOING ACTIVITY AND GETTING UP AND BEING MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS. WE TRY TO REINFORCE TO THE CHILDREN THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SENSATIONS TO PASS, YOU CAN ACTIVELY DO ANYTHING TO TRY TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER. JESSIQUE

Tackling Holiday Mental Health Challenges

Updated: 5:10 PM EST November 28, 2022

Anxiety and depression can increase during the holidays. Dr. Erica Lee, a child psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, explains why and when parents should seek help.

Anxiety and depression can increase during the holidays. Dr. Erica Lee, a child psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, explains why and when parents should seek help.