Mental Health Goes to School

Apr 04 2024
Mental Health Goes to School Podcast artwork

A special education teacher and a child and adolescent psychiatrist talk to experts and each other about mental health and illness at school. We want to know more about how educators and mental health care providers can work together to prevent and treat mental illness in young people. Educators and schools are at the center of this crisis, along with families and communities struggling to find answers. We want to learn from people who are creating solutions and share these ideas with our listeners.

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E13: Dr. Shivana Naidoo - Talking it Through

Apr 04 2024 71 mins  
Note: This episode discusses mental health crises and mentions suicide. If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide, know that you are not alone and help is available. You can call or text “988” - the National Crisis/Suicide Hotline. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dr. Shivana Naidoo is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with a broad range of e

E12: Lori Krinsky: NAMI - You Are Not Alone

Feb 29 2024 45 mins  
E12: Lori Krinsky: NAMI - You Are Not AloneLori Krinksy joins Candida and Jo-Ann to discuss her involvement with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Lori is her local chapter's president (volunteer) and walks us through NAMI’s national, state, and local programs and resources. NAMI is volunteer-driven, with some paid staff at the national and state levels. The 600 loc

E11: Jacqui Springer, Transition to College

Feb 01 2024 47 mins  
In Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Jacqui Springer, Assistant Dean for Student Support and Advocacy Services at the University of Rhode Island, we focus on the transition to college and learning what supports are available and what students and families should consider when applying to college.The most important thing is for students to have honest conversations with providers,

Episode 10 - Dr. Jacqui Springer: Returning to School from Hospitalization

Jan 11 2024 29 mins  
Candida and Jo-Ann talk with Dr. Jacqui Springer, Assistant Dean for Student Support and Advocacy Services at the University of Rhode Island. Our discussion focuses on the transition back to school from hospitalization or partial hospitalization for mental health treatment.In most cases, the need for a higher level of care for a student does not come as a surprise - there is usuall

Episode 9 - Increased absenteeism isn’t just a bad habit. Curiosity and communication can help.

Dec 28 2023 42 mins  
In this episode Jo-Ann and Candida spin off from our last interview about school avoidance, digging a little deeper into the high rates of chronic absenteeism being seen across the country since COVID-19. Public discussions have tended to focus on this problem as one of kids and families falling into bad habits since the pandemic. In our experience and reading we have found that th

Episode 8 - School Avoidance: It’s real and it’s not a crime w/ Jayne Demsky

Nov 16 2023 56 mins  
School refusal or avoidance is a real problem that is not the same as not liking school. Some students miss school for weeks, months, or even entire academic years. The reasons students avoid or refuse to attend school are rooted in anxiety and are not just a desire to do something else. It’s not playing hooky.Jayne Demsky started her journey with school refusal when it became a

Episode 7 - Jo and Dida Talk ADHD Meds

Oct 05 2023 37 mins  
Medical treatment of ADHD is often a key support for student success. Jo-Ann and Candida talk about ADHD: what it is and how medications can be part of a multi-pronged approach to treating ADHD. The discussion includes reviewing some of the most common medications prescribed and potential benefits for some children with ADHD. The hosts remind listeners that anything spoken about in

Episode 6 - School nurses working on the frontlines of school health and safety w/ Robin Cogan

Sep 21 2023 53 mins  
School nurses and school health and safety are intertwined and yet often misunderstood. The role that nurses play in the school environment varies across states and districts - although far too many schools and districts have no or too few school nurses. Feeling safe is fundamental for students to be able to learn and for teachers and others to help students learn. Unfortunately, s

Episode 5 - Back to School with Jo-Ann and Candida

Aug 31 2023 27 mins  
Back to school articles and tips are everywhere this time of year - with great ideas for helping your child or teen navigate the start of the school year to set them up for success. But when mental health needs are in the mix, some of these tips may sound impossible to approach, let alone put into practice. Organizational tips that make sense for many children and families may not

Episode 4 - Increasing Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity in Mental Health w/ Damian Travier

Aug 10 2023 54 mins  
Black, LatinX, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities have historically been under-resourced in mental health services, and school settings reflect that. The average number of students managed by each psychologist or counselor is 1200 or more - leading to deeply inadequate supports for mental health needs. Furthermore, the ranks of mental health professionals working in the