June 25, 2025 Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on How to Support LGBTQ+ Children’s Mental Health As part of June’s Pride Month, the Child Mind Institute has released a list of resources on how to support LBGTQ+ children’s mental health. Learn More One of the most important ways to support LGBTQ+ children is being aware of their mental health and emotional well-being, the Child Mind Institute wrote. Much like other teenagers, LGBTQ+ youths are vulnerable to anxiety and depression, especially if they are under pressure or do not feel accepted. The Child Mind Institute’s resources include information on how to protect the mental health of LGBTQ+ children as well as signs of teen-onset mood disorders of which parents should be aware. Also included among the resources are steps that caregivers should take if they are concerned about an LGBTQ+ youth and advice on how parents can support their children who are coming out or struggling with confusion about their sexual orientation or gender identity. The resources also explore gender dysphoria, an extreme emotional distress that people can experience when their assigned sex and gender identity don’t match up. Lastly, the Child Mind Institute provides some tips for staying in communication with children in the tween and teenage years that can help them feel safer talking about challenging topics, such as sex and gender. The resources include: Mental Health Challenges of LGBTQ+ Kids How to Support LGBTQ+ Children How to Support Kids Who Are Questioning What to Do If Your Teenager is Depressed Quick Guide to Gender Dysphoria Tips for Communicating with Your Teen 10 Parenting Tips for Preteens and Tweens
June 9, 2025 Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on Black Families and Youth Mental Health The Child Mind Institute recently released resources centered around mental health issues relating to Black families and youth as part of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Barriers to Treatment Many parents face challenges in finding the right therapist for their child, the Child Mind Institute wrote, and this can be particularly difficult for Black parents. A history of misdiagnosis and mistreatment of Black patients in the mental health care system as well as a shortage of Black mental health professionals have all contributed to these challenges. Therefore, the Child Mind Institute wrote, it can be difficult for Black parents to find a provider with whom they can entrust their child’s well-being. The institute’s recent study on the topic explored the views and experiences of Black families and young adults seeking mental health care and identified key barriers to care. Resources The institute’s resources include discussions on the importance of cultural competence in therapy for Black children – such as roadblocks that Black parents face when trying to find the right therapist – and why young Black men are less likely to seek professional care than their female counterparts. The resources include clinical experts, educators, and church leaders talking about ways to support and encourage Black adolescent boys to seek treatment when they need it. Another resource covers how study participants felt that mental health professionals were too quick to prescribe medication and includes clinicians weighing in on how to talk to parents who might be skeptical about medication. The Child Mind Institute’s resources include: Black Parents and the Importance of Cultural Competence in Therapy Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Black Adolescent Boys Why Are Black Parents Concerned About Medication Treatment? Misdiagnosis of Mood Disorders in Black Teenagers Why Do Black Children with Autism Get Diagnosed Late? Getting Family Members on Board with Treatment How to Find a Telehealth Provider for Your Child
May 26, 2025 Child Mind Institute Lists Best Books on Mental Health for Children As part of national Mental Health Awareness Month, the Child Mind Institute has released a list of the best books of 2024 for children that tackle topics relating to mental health. Learn More Clinicians at the Child Mind Institute reviewed more than 60 titles while compiling the list and eventually narrowed it down to 20 books. The books on the list involved storylines or themes that helped children to understand and handle mental health challenges. The list breaks down the books by topics: anxiety, mindfulness, feelings, sadness and depression, OCD, ADHD, autism, eating disorders, and parental addiction. The lists included Anxiety The Worry Monster (Dr. Catherine Cook-Cottone) What to Do When You Worry Too Much (Dawn Huebner, PhD) Invisible Isabel (Sally J. Pla) Unstuck (Barbara Dee) Mindfulness A Tiny Difference (June Tate) Today (Gabi Snyder) Feelings Bea’s Bad Day (Tom Percival) The Hare-Shaped Hole (John Dougherty) My Thoughts Have Wings (Maggie Smith) Cranky (Phuc Tran) A Terrible Place for a Nest (Sara Levine) Sadness and Depression The Cat Who Couldn’t Be Bothered (Jack Kurland) Gray (Laura Dockrill) A Voice in the Storm (Karl James Mountford) OCD The Very Best Me (Marin Canaday) Puzzled (Pan Cooke) ADHD That Always Happens Sometimes (Kiley Frank) Autism Henry and the Something New (Jenn Bailey) Eating Disorders Louder Than Hunger (John Schu) Parental Addiction Breaking Into Sunlight (John Cochran) For the entire list and the descriptions of the books, visit the Child Mind Institute’s website.
February 12, 2025 Child Mind Institute: Parenting in a Complex World The Child Mind Institute will host its upcoming spring luncheon “Parenting in a Complex World” in May. Learn More The luncheon’s theme will focus on how children and parents can cope during challenging times. It will include a conversation with award-winning journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer, Dr. Adam Zamora of the Child Mind Institute, and moderator Ali Wentworth. All donations raised during the event will sustain the Child Mind Institute’s efforts to improve the mental health of children and families through clinical care, science, and public education. The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 12. Registration is now open.
February 10, 2025 Child Mind Institute Offers Resources on Monitoring Teen Social Media Behavior The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources on how parents can – or whether they should – monitor their teen’s social media behavior. Learn More While some might argue that monitoring a teen’s social media behavior is an invasion of privacy, others would say that doing so is necessary amid growing concerns about cyberbullying and the negative effects that social media can have on self-esteem. The Child Mind Institute’s list of resources includes tips and tools for monitoring one’s child’s social media use. It also provides information on how to know when a child is ready for a social media account and useful strategies to help get them started. The resources also cover the potential negative effects of social media on teens and methods to shield them from harm. There’s also information on how to recognize the signs if one’s child is being cyberbullied and when to intervene as well as advice on enforcing time limits for social media and video games. Resources The Child Mind Institute’s list of resources includes: How Much Should You Monitor Your Teen’s Social Media? When Are Kids Ready for Social Media? How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers How to Help Kids Deal with Cyberbullying Healthy Limits on Video Games Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages
January 27, 2025 Child Mind Institute Shares Resources on Teen Depression The Child Mind Institute recently shared a variety of resources on how to combat teenage depression, which it noted has been on the rise. Learn More According to the institute, prolonged sadness or irritability has become more prevalent among teenagers. Its resources tackle antidepressant medication, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and behavioral activation, which uses activity to combat depression. The Child Mind Institute also explores the recent increased use of ketamine to alleviate depression symptoms when used in a controlled setting. It also writes about the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation, a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic impulses to stimulate a brain region that is underactive with those suffering from depression. The full list of resources includes: What to Do If You Think Your Teenager is Depressed Depression and Anger Medication for Kids with Depression Acceptance and Commitment Therapy What is Behavioral Activation? Ketamine Treatment for Depression TMS Treatment for Depression
November 14, 2024 Paths to Equity: Addressing Mental Health Disparities for Black and Hispanic Youth Fort Health and the Child Mind Institute will host a free webinar that addresses mental health outcomes among Black and Hispanic youth. Learn More The goal of Paths to Equity: Addressing Mental Health Disparities for Black and Hispanic Youth is to provide actionable advice for caregivers, educators, primary care providers, and communities to address challenges. The suicide rate among Black youth is rising faster than other racial or ethnic group in the United States. At school, Black and mixed-race students are 3.5 times more likely to be suspended than their white peers. Hispanic youth are 60% more likely than their white peers to report poor or reduced mental health, but are 43% less likely to receive care. Topics The webinar’s topics will include: Examining the causes of mental health disparities among Black and Hispanic youth Discussing how schools, culturally competent care, early intervention, and practical skills for caregivers can help improve outcomes Learning about available resources and programs The webinar will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Registration for the webinar is now open.
September 20, 2024 Child Mind Institute: On the Shoulders of Giants Scientific Symposium The Child Mind Institute will explore the rapidly evolving landscape of anxiety care and the potential of next-generation treatments during a free virtual event. Learn More The 14th annual On the Shoulders of Giants Scientific Symposium will feature Dr. Rachel Klein, who will highlight recent breakthroughs in understanding anxiety disorders. She will also discuss the disorders’ underpinnings and the applications of findings toward new treatments. The presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion among experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, and digital therapeutics, who will examine the future of anxiety care and its implications for patients. The event will also delve into cutting-edge approaches poised to redefine treatment and improve outcomes. The event will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Registration is now open. Continuing medical education (CME) credits for psychiatrists and continuing education (CE) credits for psychologists are available to registered participants.
May 16, 2024 Speaking Up: Helping Children with Tourette’s Self Advocate The Child Mind Institute will host a free webinar on May 23 that focuses on how children struggling with mental health challenges and Tourette’s can self advocate. Learn More It is estimated that .06% of children struggle with Tourette’s – and 83% of them live with at least one mental health disorder. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Child Mind Institute is hosting a roundtable with the Tourette Association of America and Fort Health that includes experts and teenagers who are living with Tourette’s. Topics that will be discussed include: The importance of self advocacy for children who struggle with mental health challenges or Tourette’s Strategies to help children advocate for themselves Ways parents and schools can support self advocacy Insights from teens thriving with Tourette’s or other challenges More Details The webinar will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. Registration is now open.
August 31, 2022 Taking the Stress Out of Back-To-School: For Parents The Child Mind Institute recognizes that the new school year can bring new challenges for parents and educators alike. Parents play an important role in building a positive learning support at home through being responsive to children’s learning challenges or behavioral problems. Register Here About the Event The Child Mind Institute will be hosting a virtual session on Helping Your Child Manage Back-to-School Stress. This hour-long call with expert clinicians will help parents learn how to use reinforcement and validation to support children in managing their anxiety. Specific coping strategies will be shared, along with information about how to tell when to seek professional support. This event will take place on Wednesday, September 14 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be hosted by Katie Peinovich, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker for the School and Community Programs team at the Child Mind Institute. Ms. Peinovich provides evidence-based trauma treatment to children in the New York City public school system and works with parents, teachers and school administrators to deepen their understanding of childhood trauma, its impact, and how to connect affected children with high quality care. Participants must pre-register for this webinar and will receive an invitation to their email.
