Talking to Your Kids about Their Mental Health

Because They’re Kids

Anne Baum sits down with Dr. Monica Lancellotti, a pediatrician with LVPG Pediatrics, and Thespina Godshalk, director of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital’s School-Based Behavioral Health program, to discuss children’s mental well-being and how you can support your child’s mental health and wellness.

Chapters

• 00:01 - Intro
• 1:03 - Importance of mental health of our youth
• 1:28 - Difference between mental health and wellness and mental illness
• 2:40 - Promoting mental health
• 4:45 - How do you know when your child is struggling emotionally?
• 8:25 - Activities to help nurture your child's mental health and well-being
• 10:31 - Supporting your child by "being present"
• 12:23 - How does mental illness affect mental health?
• 13:48 - Diagnosing a mental illness
• 14:57 - Which mental disorders are often seen in children and teens?
• 15:35 - What is the most misdiagnosed mental illness in children?
• 16:32 - Explaining a mental illness diagnosis to your child
• 17:45 - What are signs of anxiety in kids and adolescents?
• 19:13 - Different types of anxiety
• 20:50 - Potential triggers for anxiety
• 22:03 - At what age does anxiety starts for kids?
• 23:02 - Anxiety treatments
• 24:06 - What can untreated anxiety lead to?
• 24:52 - Tricks and tips for helping kids or teens through anxiety attacks or anxious moments
• 26:40 - Signs of depression in youth
• 27:46 - What can cause depression in youth?
• 28:23 - How can you help your child with depression?
• 31:09 - How does your family and your family environment impact mental health and emotional well-being?
• 32:28 - How does does the family environment impact the mental health of kids?
• 33:38 - Effects of divorce on a child
• 35:55 - At what age is a child most affected by divorce?
• 37:42 - Unhappy marriage impact on a child

To learn more about children’s mental health, visit lvhn.org/childrensmentalhealth. For more kid-focused health tips, advice and must-know news about Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at LVHNChildren. And remember, every parent needs a partner through parenthood, so make sure to subscribe or follow Because They’re Kids wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode.