Being a child isn’t all fun and games. Children are constantly faced with new challenges and social pressures, not to mention their growing bodies are changing rapidly. Once they hit adolescence, the hormonal changes associated with puberty may also cause feelings of sadness or frustration, making kids moody or irritable. For some kids, this moodiness […]
Family says counseling, open communication key to strong mental health
For Cohen Pierce, it was triggered by the transition to middle school. For his younger sister Lila, it was most apparent the morning of test days. The “its” in both cases were mental health concerns. Cohen’s depression manifested as changes in his personality. He went from his normal happy-go-lucky self to feeling down and negative […]
Teen suicide: What parents need to know
Dr. Laura Markley, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Akron Children’s Division of Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology, answers questions about teen suicide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents in Ohio. According to the 2020 Ohio Child Fatality review, more teens and young adults in the U.S. die from suicide than […]
Family’s gift of life insurance to support behavioral health services
A recent donation of $1 million from Christopher Thompson and his family – made through a gift of a life insurance policy – will be used to support the programs and services in the Mahoning Valley at the Lois and John Orr Family Behavioral Health Center. The center is home to pediatric behavioral health services […]
How parents can help kids build resilience in uncertain times
This past year has been anything but easy for parents and families alike. With an ongoing pandemic, there’s no better time than now to begin practicing self-care and wellness strategies to promote resilience in children. Resilience teaches kids the skills to cope, how to recover from hardships with confidence and optimism, and better prepares them […]
Gun safety: Keeping guns out of children’s hands
Today, nearly 2 million kids nationwide live in homes with unlocked, loaded guns, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Not to mention, gun sales have increased amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic. There’s no doubt gun safety is paramount — perhaps now more than ever. Parents may not realize the risk of serious injury […]
