Mental health experts at Akron Children’s, in partnership with colleagues throughout the community, have been working on solutions to prevent suicide. Now the concern is even greater given the COVID-19 pandemic and the way it has disrupted lives on a vast and historic scale. With so much trauma due to the virus – the death […]
How to talk to our kids about racism
Trying to navigate conversations with children about race and diversity can be tricky. But they are important conversations to have. “Kids need to be able to have frank conversations about the world we live in — period,” said Dr. Geoffrey Putt, a pediatric psychologist at Akron Children’s. “It’s not so much that now is any […]
Akron Children’s hosts open house at its new Behavioral Health Center in Boardman
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Akron Children’s hosted a community open house to celebrate the expansion of its Behavioral Health Center at 6614 Southern Boulevard, Building E, on the hospital’s Beeghly campus in Boardman. The event’s ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer Lisa Aurilio, who recognized Akron Children’s commitment to providing access […]
Helping teens tame that negative inner voice
It’s a struggle sometimes to shut down that voice of negativity in your head. Vulnerable teens especially can fall into the trap of seeing everything through a pessimistic lens. But you can help your teen see things differently, said Akron Children’s psychologist Kevin Triemstra. Reframing negative thinking can have a positive impact on emotional health […]
Grappling with your teen’s phone addiction
The world can be a lonely place without a cellphone. So lonely that some kids have trouble being by themselves or connecting with the world without a screen and touch pad. “With most teens, you can’t separate them from their phones,” said Dr. Sumru Bilge-Johnson, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Akron Children’s. “Children and teens, […]
Separation Anxiety: Making Goodbyes Easier on You and Your Child
Tearful, tantrum-filled goodbyes may be commonplace for you right now. Whether you need to leave your child with a sitter for the evening or drop her off at day care, your toddler might react by crying, clinging to you and resisting attention from others. “Separation anxiety is not easy for parents; it’s never easy to […]
