Children’s mental health during the pandemic

Specialists offer coping strategies to share with families.

June 24, 2021 10:54 AM

The past 15 months have posed a variety of challenges for children and adolescent kids.

With the COVID-19 pandemic sending many to online or hybrid school and disproportionately affecting people of color and other populations, an increased number of children have been facing anxiety and depression or even substance abuse.

Experts from Michigan Medicine's Department of Psychiatry addressed these issues in a webinar on 'Children's Mental Health and the Pandemic', which can be watched in the video above. Specialists include:

Nasuh Malas, M.D., M.P.H., clinical associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, discussed the impact of the pandemic on youth wellness and opportunities for a brighter future.

Angela Fish, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, discussed the impact of the pandemic on special populations, focusing on children with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder.

Charles Graham, Ph.D., LMSW, MA, a clinical social worker in the Department of Psychiatry, presented findings on adolescent substance use in the context of COVID-19.

Elizabeth Koschmann, Ph.D., the director of the Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students program and assistant research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry, focused on promoting child and adolescent wellness during COVID-19, providing resources and recommendations to use.

U-M Addiction Treatment Services offers a wide range of treatment and support for adolescents and their families. Find additional resources for families coping with the mental health aspects of the pandemic here.

For urgent or life-threatening situations, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or call 911

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