Handing mental health challenges of the holidays

HAPPY POST-THANKSGIVING. JESSICA: LET’S GET INTO IT. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR THAT BRINGS ON FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP CHILDREN WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? >> GREAT TO SEE BOTH OF YOU. JUST LIKE ADULTS, CHILDREN AND TEENS ARE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE IN SEASONS. WHEN IT IS COLDER AND WE ARE GETTING LESS DAYLIGHT, WE ALL FEEL THIS. AND AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYING THE GREAT FUN AND SHARE BUT IT CAN MAKE THEM FEEL WORSE. THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE EXCITEMENT OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS WORN OFF AND KIDS EXPERIENCING ACADEMIC OR SOCIAL STRESS START TO GET OVERWHELMED BY IT. ED: IF THERE IS A CHILD OR A TEENAGER HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHEN SHOULD A PARENT GET , HELP RIGHT AWAY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK FOR? >> THE MOST IMPORTANT ALARM BELLS ARE WHEN KIDS START SAYING THINGS LIKE THEY WISH THEY WERE DEAD OR THEY WANT TO HURT THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY PARENTS SEEING CHANGES IN MOOD, ACTIVITIES, CONCENTRATION, SLEEP OR APPETITE AND THAT CAN INDICATE KIDS ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED AND THE STRESS IS GETTING TO THE LEVEL WHERE THEY- NEED INTERVENTION.EL WHERE THEY- I ALWAYS SAY ASK THEM DIRECTLY. RESEARCH IS NOT THE WAY IT PLANS IT IN THEIR MILD AND DOESN’T INCREASE THE FACT THAT THEY WILL DO SOMETHING BUT IT TELLS THE KIDS WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO GET YOU HELP SO YOU DON’T FEEL THIS WAY ANYMORE. JESSICA: SAY YOU NOTICE SIGNS BUT FINDING HELP CAN BE OVERWHELMING. WHAT SHOULD A PARENT LOOK FOR IN FINDING SOMEONE AND WE KNOW SINCE THE PANDEMIC AVAILABILITY HAS BEEN TOUGH. HAS IT GOTTEN ANY 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 ARE HAVING A GROWING NEED FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. I SAY TO PARENTS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN CHILDREN AND TEENS AND SOMEONE WHO CAN GIVE YOU A CLEAR EXPLANATION FOR HOW THEY DIAGNOSE THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM AND HOW THEY WOULD RECOMMEND TREATMENT AND ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED TREATING TYPE OF CONCERN YOUR CHILD OR TEENAGER HAS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THERAPIES BETTER SUITED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEMS. A GOOD PLACE TO ALWAYS START IS YOUR CHILD’S PEDIATRICIAN. SOME PRACTICES HAVE THEIR OWN EMBEDDED CLINICIANS OR KNOWN THE BEST PEOPLE. ED: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IF WE CAN’T GET TO A PROFESSIONAL OR WON’T GET TO THE LEVEL OF A PROFESSIONAL? >> EVERYONE HAS TIMES WHERE THEY FEEL LOW OR WORRIED OR FRUSTRATED OR ANGRY OR BORED. SPEAKING WITH KIDS, THAT IS PART OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE FEELINGS, WHETHER TALKING IT OUT WITH SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT YOU, DOING AN ACTIVITY AND GETTING UP AND BEING MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS. WE ARE TRYING TO REINFORCE TO KIDS THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FEELINGS TO PASS, YOU CAN ACTIVELY DO SOMETHING TO TRY TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER. JESSIC

Handing mental health challenges of the holidays

Updated: 5:10 PM EST Nov 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.