According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1-in-5 children lives with a mental health condition, but fewer than half receive the care they need. An epidemiologist and public health expert argues that the growing mental health crisis is comparable to the AIDS epidemic that plagued the U.S. in the late 20th century and requires the same level of public health response. He discusses the lessons he learned from launching a citywide mental health initiative for teens and why providing a platform for young people to ask for and receive help could be key to changing the trajectory of the nation’s escalating mental health emergency.
Guest: Dr. Ashwin Vasan, epidemiologist and former New York City health commissioner
Closing the gap
How can parents tell when a child’s physical ailments like headache, fatigue and stomach pain are actually symptoms of anxiety or depression? When a child is anxious and withdrawn, when is it time to seek psychiatric care? Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. John Walkup contends the youth mental health crisis didn’t begin during the COVID-19 lockdown, but rather the pandemic exposed the longstanding disparity between the number of children who need help versus those who cannot access care. He delves into the warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored, why emotional distress often manifests as physical symptoms and how pediatricians could help close the mental health care gap.
Guest: Dr. John Walkup, president, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Breaking the silence
Though the topic of mental health has become more mainstream, misconceptions and stigma continue to hinder many people from seeking care. The chief medical officer of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization discusses why psychiatric care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. She explains why parents should have conversations with children about mental health before a crisis occurs and why no one should be left to navigate mental illness alone. She also addresses fears around psychiatric medications for young people and the promise yet uncertainty of psychedelic therapies.
Guest: Dr. Christine Crawford, chief medical officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness