SSRI Exposure in Pregnancy Alters Fetal Neurodevelopment

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Alterations in gray matter and white matter development found in infants of mothers taking SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy.

Teen Arts Exhibition: Beyond Labels And Meds: What It Feels Like To Be Me

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28 teen artists share the power of their creativity in this collection of profoundly moving, courageous, and beautiful artwork.

Medication Overload, Part II: The Explosion of Drugs for Kids

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An analysis of the huge increase in drugs for children, the role of Big Pharma, and a look at the impact on families and communities.
Illustration of a naked person's back with a blue butterfly perched on their shoulder

A Return to Dignity from Psychiatric and Childhood Abuse

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Homebirth was a reflection of how the mental health system should work: Informed person-centered care while respecting your agency.

Adding Fluoxetine to Therapy Not Superior to Therapy Alone in Depressed Teens

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The addition of fluoxetine to CBT did not further reduce depressive symptoms in young people with moderate-to-severe depression.
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“Floss on the Waves”: My Sister’s Journey

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It takes a long time to recover from a psychotic episode, I understand now, and I wish someone had found a way, especially during those early years of her troubles, to give Rachel more space and time to find her own path to health.

Survivors and Families Working Together For Change: A New Project 

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Based on his lived experience, Ron Bassman describes his efforts to create an educational and support program that links families with survivors.

Sam Himelstein – The Impact of COVID-19 and Social Distancing on Adolescents

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Psychologist Sam Himelstein, PhD, talks about the impact of the coronavirus crisis and “social distancing” policies on adolescents, taking a look at the unique needs of teenagers and young adults and the challenges they may present for parents, caregivers, and other family members.

The Wisdom of the Symptom Bearer: It’s Always the ‘Crazy’ One Who Knows the...

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From Medium/Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW: The 'symptom bearer' or 'identified patient' is the scapegoat who carries the evidence of the familial dysfunction.

Embrace the Messiness! An Interview with Pediatrician Claudia Gold

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An interview with Claudia Gold, M.D., pediatrician, infant-parent mental health specialist, author, teacher, and speaker based in western Massachusetts. We discuss the importance of human interaction in child development.

Interview: Is Forced Treatment Deterring Youth from Seeking Mental Health Care?

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Researcher Nev Jones, Ph.D., talks about her study of youth hospitalized against their will, and how their experiences affected their attitudes about mental health treatment and providers.

Reflections on the Silicon Valley Teen Suicides-by-Train: Fifteen Years Later

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A psychiatrist and mom reflects on teen suicide clusters in Palo Alto and discusses alternative ways to address adolescent mental health.

Ben Furman – Understanding and Dealing With Adolescent Rage

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A podcast interview with Finnish psychiatrist Ben Furman in which he discusses adolescent rage and how parents can come to understand and deal with teenagers and young adults who are angry and explosive.

School Discipline is Racially Biased and Increases Misbehavior

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School discipline that punishes minor misbehavior may increase adolescents’ misconduct and lead to racial inequalities in school discipline.

How a Parent’s Affection Shapes a Child’s Happiness for Life

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From Motherly: A number of recent studies highlight the relationship between parental affection and children’s happiness and success.

Listen to the Victims: Senate Holds Hearing on Guardianship

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I have seen the exploitation wreaked by court-appointed guardians. It is up to us to use our voices for those who cannot speak out.

New Tools to Support New Moms: An Interview with Jennifer Barkin, PhD

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A maternal mental health expert shares how perinatal stress and the climate crisis are affecting women’s everyday lives.

What If This Pandemic Is the Best Thing to Happen to Children with Challenges?

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Families may be worried that the stress of lockdown may aggravate their child’s struggles. Yet, we hear some parents say the situation has changed their child for the better. Why might that be? In this interview, Dr. Nicole Beurkens talks about the impact of “quarantine life” on children with different types of behavioral, emotional, and neurodevelopmental challenges.

Some Schools Bringing Back Corporal Punishment; Parents Opt In as Students Protest

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From TODAY: "Corporal punishment signals to the child that a way to settle interpersonal conflicts is to use physical force and inflict pain," said the American Academy of Pediatrics in a 2014 statement.

Interview: How Does Climate Change Affect Youth Mental Health?

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Psychiatric epidemiologist Jennifer Barkin talks about her research on the traumatizing effects of extreme weather events on youth and how caregivers can help them build resilience.
Young professional scientist man wearing white coat over isolated background looking unhappy and angry showing rejection and negative with thumbs down gesture. Bad expression.

Collateral Damage: The Negative Impact of Antidepressants on New Zealand Youth

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Health and wellbeing in young people are trending down in New Zealand. Are antidepressants to blame?
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Engaging “Madness”: A Guide for Significant Others and Families

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Using personal stories from my own family, my new booklet Engaging 'Madness' paints a clear picture of what an alternative healing journey outside the biomedical paradigm can look like.

Changing Brains, Changing Minds: Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal and the Marital Relationship

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As family support people for those caught in the mental health system, our job is to mitigate as much of the trauma as we can.
Close up photo of hands dripping water on a plant outside

To Promote Mental Health, We Must Teach It

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When we are quick to pathologize suffering, yet do not provide the fundamentals for healthy living, it is inhumanity of the highest order.

Q&A: How Can I Motivate My “Deadbeat” Teenager?

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My 19-year-old son has been diagnosed with ADHD, depression, and ODD. He refuses to go to school or get a job; instead, he just hangs around and plays video games. He has prescriptions but refuses to take them. Frankly, he contributes nothing to the household but stress and is a bad role model for his siblings. How can I make him take his meds and shape up?