Archive for mental health
Talking with your child about loss and death
The death toll from COVID-19 has recently surpassed more than 400,000 in the United States and continues to climb. This means that thousands of children have lost someone close to them — a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a family friend, or even a parent. Some children have lost more than one loved one. Talking ... Read More
Eight tips to help you make it through the winter
It’s officially 2021 and we have two approved vaccines for COVID-19 that are rolling out across the country. While this is great news, the reality is that we’re still facing a few more months of social distancing before we’re able to return to any type of “normal” lifestyle. And in the chill and darkness of ... Read More
Anxiety in kids during COVID-19: What parents should know
Some kids hide in their rooms. Others turn their cameras off during remote learning and don’t want to talk to anyone. Still others feel panicky when they do go out in public. As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, its effects on our mental health may have become increasingly noticeable — especially in children and teens. “My ... Read More
Can the show go on? Song, dance, and other activities during COVID-19
At the start of any typical school year, Kelly Blake is busy meeting with the after-school clubs she runs. This year, however, Blake’s schedule — and her students’ schedules — are full of unknowns. “The school has so many things related to COVID-19 to figure out this year,” she says. “After-school activities are not a ... Read More
Helping athletes cope with the emotional rollercoaster of COVID-19
“The athletes I work with are over this,” says Kimberly O’Brien, a clinical social worker in the Sports Medicine Division. Last spring, when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of organized sports, coaches and athletes assumed they’d be playing again by autumn. Now it’s clear many athletes’ plans will remain on hold through the fall season, possibly ... Read More
Tapping into the mind-body connection to reduce COVID-19 stress
In a dimly lit living room, a staff member lies on a couch, eyes closed, as soft music floats through the air. From a nearby computer screen, the voice of Victoria Klumpp, RN, BSN, IBCLC, comes over a Zoom link as she talks the person through a Reiki session. Klumpp, who is clinical coordinator of the Family Wellness Program ... Read More
COVID and suicidal thoughts: Help for families
Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released stark new figures on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. One in four young adults (age 18 to 24) surveyed reported seriously considering suicide during the previous 30 days — an increase from years past. Rates of suicidal thoughts were also high in ... Read More
Provider Spotlight: Meet Carla Coutinho
Before joining the clinical team at Boston Children’s Primary Care at Martha Eliot, Carla Reis Coutinho was a pediatric nurse in Lowell, Massachusetts. Earlier in her career, she provided educational and career counseling for students who speak English as a second language. What’s your job at Boston Children’s Primary Care at Martha Eliot? As a ... Read More
To college, or not, this fall?
Whether or not to return to college campus is a question many students and their parents are faced with making in the next few weeks. While some schools have made that decision for families by moving to remote learning only or sending students home, many colleges and universities are leaving the choice up to students ... Read More
Racism and children’s health: What providers need to know
It’s easy to feel outdone by racism, especially as the country cycles through stages of tragedy, awareness, and inertia. But with renewed attention to violence against Black people in recent weeks, many health care providers are asking themselves hard questions: Can we create a better world for the next generation?Can the call for racial justice lead ... Read More