Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

Recent national surveys show that a significant proportion of college students report having felt overwhelmed, anxious, and lonely during college. If college is supposed to be the “best years of your life” then why are so many students lonely? That’s what Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins dive into today: what’s contributing to feelings of loneliness, when should we worry about it, and what can we do to help? They share tips for parents and caregivers, and college students themselves. Media List Follow along with the conversation. New Surgeon General Raises Alarm About the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United StatesOur Epidemic of Loneliness: Implementing the Surgeon General’s recommendations for parents and caregivers’22-’23 Student Lifestyle SurveyPublications and Reports: ACHA-NCHA III (Spring 2023)Why Is College So Lonely?The Challenges of First-Generation College StudentsSocial Media is Killing Your FriendshipsYour College Student – Conversation StartersPeer Programs in College Student Mental HealthRoy Orbison – Only the LonelyThanks for joining in this conversation. We'll see you back the Third Thursday of every month. Subscribe wherever you stream & leave us a review! Music credit: ‘Only the Lonely’ by Roy Orbison; Publication date, 1961; Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International Original music by Gene Beresin Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All of us have fears – kids and adults alike. Many of us even enjoy a good scare now and again (there’s a reason why horror movies do so well). Most fears – real or imagined – eventually respond to reassurance, emotional calming, or distraction. But when a fear persists, resisting rational or emotional soothing and creating obstacles in daily life, it becomes a phobia. Just in time for Halloween, we’re kicking off our new season with a look at specific phobias in kids. We’re joined by special guest Susan Sprich, PhD of Massachusetts General Hospital to learn more about fears and phobias, and to discuss what treatments work best and what parents can do to help. Media List Susan Sprich, PhDCognitive Behavior Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, PhDCould You Have Samhainophobia or the Fear of Halloween?Types of Specific PhobiaFear of the Dark? 16 Ways to Help Your ChildNature Vs. Nurture, featuring Jordan Smoller, MD, ScDTreatment – PhobiasHow Do You Treat Specific Phobias in Kids?Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale – Revised (CTRS-R)Involving family members in exposure therapy for children and adolescentsThanks for joining in this conversation. We hope to see you back the Third Thursday of every month! Subscribe wherever you stream. Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Music by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript: Hi, this is Gene Beresin, co-host of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple. We’ll have all new episodes for you beginning next month – on the THIRD THURSDAY of every month. We’ve got some great topics lined up for this season: the stimulant shortage, phobias in kids and teens, the benefits on animal therapy, and so much more. Do stay tuned, and we'll see you soon. Subscribe wherever you stream - new episodes every THIRD THURSDAY of the month. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With increasing gun violence and constant media coverage, many kids are scared to go to concerts, to malls, to school. Many adults are feeling the same. Today, special guest Gretchen Felopulos, PhD, the education and training lead for the Center for Gun Violence Prevention at MGH, joins Gene and Khadijah to help us learn more about gun safety, youth suicide, best practices for lockdown drills, talking about guns to those with opposing views, and so much more. Be sure to see the resources, below. Media List Follow along with the conversation. Gretchen Felopulos, PhD (LinkedIn) Center for Gun Violence Prevention (Massachusetts General Hospital) Twitter, TikTok, and Siloization (The Medium) Firearm suicide among America’s youth has hit its highest rate in 20 years, report finds (CBS News) Talking to Kids About Fear and Violence (Mental Health America) Can Community Programs Help Slow the Rise in Violence? (ProPublica) Are active shooter drills worth it? (Vox) Active Shooter Situations: Threat Assessment Teams (TAT) (REMS TA Center) School shooting false alarms, swatting calls put teachers, students and parents on edge (PBS News Hour) Nine Ways to Help Students Discuss Gun Violence (Greater Good Magazine) How to Have a Productive Conversation About Guns with Someone Who Holds Different Views? (The Trace) Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) or “Red Flag” Laws (American Academy of Pediatrics) Activism Is Good for Our Teens (MGH Clay Center) Keep the Peace Contract (Boys Town) About Wear Orange (wearorange.org) Thanks for tuning in. We hope our conversation will help you to have yours. If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Music by Gene Beresin Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The transition to college can be huge for all kids, but for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) there's even more to consider in making it a smooth transition. As parents, how do we best support them? How involved should we be? Special guest Dr. Chris Keary of the MGH Lurie Center for Autism Center joins Gene and Khadijah with helpful advice and answers to these questions and more. Media List Follow along with the conversation. Christopher Keary, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital) MGH Fellowship Program in Autism Spectrum Disorder (Lurie Center for Autism) What is Autism Spectrum? (MGH Clay Center) Transition Planning Requirements of IDEA 2004 (Learning Disabilities Association of America) Autism Resource Central (HMEA)** What are a public or private college-university’s responsibilities to students with disabilities? (ADA National Network) First-of-its-kind law improves college access for students with autism, intellectual disabilities (The Boston Globe) Autism Disclosure and College (Asperger/Autism Network) Not Every Autistic Person is a ‘Savant.’ (The Swaddle) Autism goes to College: Understanding the Needs of a Student Population on the Rise (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders) Anxiety and Depression in Autistic College Students (Cureus) Autism Goes to College, The Podcast Series The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Official Trailer (YouTube) **similar services may be available in other states Music by Gene Beresin Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve reached a point in time where most of our kids have grown up with digital media as a way of life. Social media, instant viral news, e-learning, digital surveillance – it’s all here to stay. And it’s not all bad. But there are some legitimate concerns about how it’s impacting the mental health and safety of young people. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, we revisit some of the most helpful conversations we’ve had about digital media’s impact on our kids and teens. From issues related to body image and gaming disorder, to ways we can help our young digital natives become more digitally vigilant, Gene, Khadijah, and other experts share practical advice for every caring adult. To hear to any of the previous episodes in full or see the resources shared in their write ups, check out our media list, below. Media List Unsettled About Instagram?Body Image and Young People, feat. Holly Peek, MD, MPHGaming Disorder, with Steven Schlozman, MDMedia Literacy and Mental Health, feat. Michael Robb, PhDKids Under Surveillance! with Steve Schlozman, MDBONUS: Asking About Social MediaThanks for joining in this conversation. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! And be sure to subscribe for new episodes every Third Thursday of the month. Music by Gene Beresin Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety. It's rising in our kids and teens. What can we do to help? Today, Gene and Khadijah are joined by very special guest Dr. Kevin Simon, Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the City of Boston. Dr. Simon draws on his experience in child & adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, health policy, and more, to help us talk through childhood anxiety. What’s the right way to respond to a child with anxiety? Why can parental accommodation make things worse? How do we reassure kids whose anxiety stems from legitimate concerns, like community violence or discrimination? What’s the role of mental health education in supporting families? Tune in and share with a friend. And be sure to check out the additional resources below. Media List Kevin M. Simon, MD, LLCDr. Kevin Simon Appointed First Chief Behavioral Health OfficerSt. Peter Claver RC ChurchYRBS Data Summary & Trends Report, 2011-2021What If My Child Has Anxiety?Anxiety to Agency: Empowering Kids to Address Climate ChangeBuilding Mental Wellness in Children: What Parents Can DoSchool Refusal: When Back to School Is a NightmareCollaborative Problem Solving for ParentsAnxiety: Support Your Child at HomeWhat is Cognitive Behavior TherapyDisparities in Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health ConditionsChild Psychiatrist on How to Address Suicide Among Black YouthCalling 988 Can Get You Help During a Mental Health or Substance Abuse EmergencyTune in Third Thursdays for new episodes. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Music by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We often hear about how stigma can prevent treatment for mental disorders and promote feelings of shame or low self-worth among those struggling. Did you know the same is true for obesity? Obesity is a complex disease, and stigma stems from a misunderstanding of what it is, what contributes, and how it can be treated. Today, we're joined by Angela Fitch, MD, a leader in the field of obesity medicine, to help us learn more about what we can all do to support kids who are struggling with obesity and shift the culture around weight bias. We discuss personal biases, effective treatment, and the mental health toll obesity stigma can take on our kids who need us to step up on this issue. Tune in & share with someone you know. Media List Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMAMore About KnownwellConsensus Statement on ObesityWhat Is Body Composition?BMI ≠ Obesity = Excess AdiposityAdipose Tissue (Body Fat)Study: BMI Measurements Should Be Tailored to Race and EthnicityMost Food in America is Hyper-Palatable and ‘Difficult to Stop Eating,’ Scientists SayCBT Is Effective for Childhood ObesityCognitive Behavioral Therapy, featuring Susan Sprich, PhDIs Your ADHD Brain Hard-Wired for Weight Gain?Headless, Hungry, and Unhealthy: A Video Content Analysis of [Persons With Obesity] Portrayed in Online NewsNew guidelines for treating childhood obesity include medications and surgery for first timeWeight Bias: People-First LanguageDigital Media and Body Image Episode produced by Sara Rattigan Music by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From challenges with hair pulling to supporting a child through a regression in toilet training, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer real parent questions in this episode. For each question, they offer clinical insight to help parents better understand what might be going on, and suggestions for next steps and ways to support the child. We think all caring adults will be interested in this discussion. Be sure to tune in. Follow along with the media list below, and if this episode sparks another question, write to us! We’ll include it in a future episode. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! Media List Dr. J. Stuart Ablon: Kids Lack Skills, Not Will to Do Well (YouTube-AccuTrain) Question #1: How to Help With Hair Pulling (01:40) Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania) (AACAP) What If My Child Has Obsessive Compuslive Disorder (OCD)? (MGH Clay Center) Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Closer Look (MGH Clay Center) What If My Child Is Prescribed an SSRI? (MGH Clay Center) Question #2: How to Help My Teenager with Avoidance Behaviors at Home and at School (06:15) Anxiety in Our Children: The Role of Avoidance Behavior (National Association for Child Development) School Refusal: When Back-to-School Is a Struggle (MGH Clay Center) CBT Snapshot: Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Phobias (MGH Clay Center) Question #3: Child Can’t Stop Touching Things When They Walk Around the House (13:05) Overview: Tics (National Health Service) What If My Child Has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? (MGH Clay Center) Question #4: How to Help 5-Year-Old with Potty Training Regression (18:05) Potty Training Regression: What To Do About It (Cleveland Clinic) What Is Collaborative Problem Solving? (Think:Kids) Tips for Dealing with Potty Training Regression (Healthline) Welcome Back (Theme from Welcome Back, Kotter) (YouTube-John Sebastian) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're kicking off 2023 with a special episode of Shrinking It Down featuring *you* our listeners. What questions do you have about the mental health of a child or teen in your life? Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins will answer them on January 19! E-mail your questions: gene@mghclaycenter.org Message us your questions: Instagram (instagram.com/mghclaycenter) or Facebook (facebook.com/massgeneralclaycenter) Leave a voice mail with your questions: (617) 643-1590 (press # to skip the message) We'll see you back here on January 19, and the Third Thursday of every month: Be There, or Be Square (TikTok). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do social issues intersect with youth sports? Tune in to this bonus episode of Shrinking It Down, featuring Dr. Jonathan Jenkins of the Sport Psychology Program at Mass General, for a thoughtful conversation on how societal concerns, including systemic racism, continue to impact our all of our young athletes. Media List Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D, CMPCThe NBA took a stand against police violence. But a second message quickly became clearOur Definition of Social JusticeDr. Chester Pierce10 Important Steps for Parenting Young AthletesInside the lack of racial diversity in lacrosseTitle IX 50 year later: Why female athletes are still fighting for equality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sports can be such a positive space for young people to let off steam, learn important life skills, and build long lasting relationships. There are times, though, when it can be too much, injury strikes, or someone doesn’t make the team they were hoping to. Dr. Jonathan Jenkins joins Gene and Khadijah to discuss all things sports psychology and how best to support our young people in an important area of their lives. Whether your child dreams of being a professional or just likes to play for fun, tune in to learn how parents can promote a healthy mindset around sports and physical activity. Media List Follow along with the conversation. Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D CMPCTed LassoMGH Sport PsychologyGetting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience?Unorganized Youth Sports Is Missing From SocietyHow to Support Youth Athletes When a Sports Injury Derails Their Season10 Important Steps for Parenting Young AthletesMassachusetts Role in Making Golf More Inclusive Subscribe and tune in the 3rd Thursday of every month for new episodes. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! Episode produced by Bianca Dempsey Edited by Sara Rattigan Music by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Content Warning: This episode contains segments of discussion that may be difficult for some audience members to hear. Content such as descriptions of self-harm methods are included. Self-harm is a rising mental health concern that tends to begin in the teenage years. But what are some of the causes and what can we do to help our kids who are struggling? In this episode, very special guest Dr. Blaise Aguirre of McLean Hospital joins Gene and Khadijah to unpack why some kids engage in self-injury, what some of the warning signs are to look out for, and what parents can do at home to manage if their child is self-harming. View the episode transcript here. Media List Follow along with the conversation. Blaise Aguirre, MD3East Continuum of CareDialectical Behavior Therapy – DBT'DBT For Dummies' Offers Insights On Dialectical Behavioral TherapyBrain Changes Found in Self-Injuring Teen GirlsChildren Who Cut ThemselvesBorderline Personality Disorder: A Case of Suffering, Drama and HopeWhat If My Child Has OCD?Low Self-Esteem: Where Does It Come From and What Can Adults Do to Help?Being an Emotional Sponge200 Dad Jokes Episode produced by Bianca Dempsey Edited by Sara Rattigan Music by Gene Beresin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Dr. Gene Beresin always says, music is a universal language. To kick off our new podcast season, and in honor of Gene’s new book, Music, today we’ll look into the ways music can help us heal. Special guest Marisabelle Díaz-Falcón, a board-certified music therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital joins Gene and Khadijah to talk about the ways music therapy helps kids (and adults!) in the hospital. Backed by science, the benefits of music therapy are plentiful, and we’re here to give you tips on how to bring some of these benefits home! Media List Follow along with the conversation. "Better When I’m Dancin'" by Meghan TrainorMusic (Arts for Health)Marisabelle Díaz-Falcón, MT-BCEnd of Summer Playlist 2022Music TherapyCommunity Music Center of BostonCenter for Music TherapyTrauma: What Parents Should KnowGate Control Theory of PainGene’s Mug Like what you hear? Leave us a review and subscribe wherever you stream! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's nearly time for a new season of Shrinking It Down! Co-hosts Gene Beresin, MD, MA and Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH have some great mental health topics and great guests in store for you. But until then, Hold On.... Beginning October 20, tune in the 3rd Thursday of every month for new episodes. Subscribe wherever you stream. See you soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Content warning: Some of the conversation today includes topics that some listeners may find sensitive including sexuality, gender identity, and violence towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community. What is gender identity? How is it different from sexual orientation? And why are pronouns so important? We talk through all of these questions and more in this week’s episode. Gene and Khadijah are joined by special guest, Marshall Forstein, MD, DLFAPA, to discuss some of these common terms we are hearing more and more every day and give tips on how to have conversations with your kids about all of these topics. Tune in for one of our favorite episodes yet! Media List Follow along with the conversation. June is LGBT Pride Month (youth.gov) Reflections on Becoming a Father as a Gay Man (MGH Clay Center) How and why to discuss Juneteenth with your children (The Washington Post) LGBTQ+ Glossary (It Gets Better Project) How To Talk To Your Kids About Internet Pornography (MGH Clay Center) The Impact of Reality TV On Our Teens: What Can Parents Do? (MGH Clay Center) Getting to the Finish Line: Will You Choose Endurance or Resilience? (MGH Clay Center) Supporting Your Child in the Face of Trauma (MGH Clay Center) What is Family Therapy? (MGH Clay Center) Pink Freud & The Transitional Objects - 2020 AACAP Virtual Meeting - YouTube (YouTube) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Today's question: How does Schizophrenia affect a young person and their caregivers? Dr. Abigail Donovan of the Mass General First Episode and Early Psychosis Program joins to help answer. Media List Abigail Donovan, MDFirst-Episode and Early Psychosis ProgramWhat Is Family Therapy?Psychosis in Children and TeensWhat Is the Schizophrenia Spectrum? Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode. Have a question for our docs? E-mail us or tag us on Instagram! Thank you for all you do to support the young developing minds in your life. It really makes a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Today's question: How do you find out if your teenager has undiagnosed ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)? Dr. Gagan Joshi of the Mass General Bressler Cetner for Autism joins to help answer. Media List Gagan Joshi, MDAlan & Lorraine Bressler Clinical Research ProgramA Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD – Shrinking It DownWebinar: “Autistic Burnout,” featuring Sue Ann PienRequest an AppointmentSocial Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode. Have a question for our docs? E-mail us or tag us on Instagram! Thank you for all you do to support the young developing minds in your life. It really makes a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that parents and other adults tend to be the last people teenagers want to talk to about their problems. At this stage of life teens are more likely to reach out to friends in times of need. With this in mind, Valerie Grison-Alsop, founded Give Us the Floor, a nonprofit organization that promotes peer support for teens, by teens. Give Us the Floor launched an app that provides a safe, anonymous space for teens to reach out to each other for support, with guidance from trained teen advisors as well as adult advisors. This week, Gene and Khadijah are very pleased to welcome Valerie as a special guest, as well as Julia Esposito, a Junior Adult Advisor and former participant of Give Us the Floor. They talk about the benefits of peer-to-peer support and why their app has been so successful in helping teens improve their mental health and overall well-being. Media List Follow along with the conversation. Give Us the FloorBeing an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting FriendsGive Us the Floor FAQsHelping Others Shows Differential Benefits on Health and Well-being for Male and Female TeensThere Are All Sorts of Ways of Making Things BetterMassachusetts Actually Has 12 Seasons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Leading up to this month, we received several mental health questions from our Instagram followers. In this podcast miniseries, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins answer them. Tune in to "You Ask, Our Docs Answer!" each Tuesday in May for a short episode answering one of your questions. Today's question: How do you find a therapist for elementary kids with anxiety? Have a question for our docs? E-mail us or tag us on Instagram! Thank you for all you do to support the young developing minds in your life. It really makes a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.