Beginning as a teen and continuing through her years at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, Dr. Georgette Constantinou noticed that people – fellow classmates and even older adults– often reached out to her for help in solving their personal problems. “I wanted to be a pediatrician since the age of 12 but it just […]
The value of close teen friendships
Childhood friendship may come and go, and seem superficial from an adult point of view. But don’t underestimate the value of friends to a young person’s well-being. In fact, a study published in Child Development in August found that strong adolescent friendships can have a positive effect on mental health for years to come. Those […]
Is Your Child Anxious? Here Are Signs of a Disorder
Dr. Laura Markley, a psychiatrist in the Division of Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology at Akron Children’s Hospital, explains anxiety disorders in kids. Disorders can be hard to spot. But early identification and treatment is key. Q: Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems. Everyone experiences anxiety, so what distinguishes a disorder from normal […]
Don’t Let Your Teen’s Disdain Knock You Off Course
Adolescence has a way of rewriting the parent-child relationship. The kid you pushed on a swing is gone, replaced by a bigger, more volatile version who seems to loathe you at times. In a fit of anger, she might even blurt out she hates you. That kind of talk hurts. But in these times it’s […]
Bigger than stranger danger: Social media and teens
How are parents supposed to monitor activity and protect their teens from online predators when using social media?
Innovative mental health program turns 10
Akron Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program has been a lifesaver for teens in crisis. The program teaches troubled teens experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges valuable life skills while keeping them in the community, and avoiding psychiatric inpatient hospitalization. It can also help transition those teens who are hospitalized back to home and school.
