Tag Archives: AACAP

The chasm is bigger than I ever imagined…

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Dr. G

Parents of kids with mental health conditions are especially prone to be stigmatized at church because of the lingering belief among many in the Christian community that mental illness is a byproduct of sin, kids who struggle with managing emotions and maintaining self-control are the product of parents who are ineffective or indifferent and much of the mental health profession can’t be trusted. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Drug company marketing ISN’T the cause of the ADHD epidemic

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Dr. G

Is the ADHD epidemic really a product of drug company marketing, or is it a result of our culture and our educational system imposing expectations upon a large segment of our child and teen population that they’re not developmentally prepared to meet? Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Controversies, Families, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What I learned at the child psychiatry meetings…

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Dr. G

I thought I’d share some brief summaries of several studies I found interesting… Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Depression, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why is trauma more traumatizing for some kids?

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Dr. G

Today, we’ll take a look at risk factors for PTSD in kids following a potentially traumatic event… Continue reading →

Posted in Key Ministry, Mental Health, PTSD, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are the medications prescribed to kids and teens with mental illness safe?

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Dr. G

o…what safety concerns associated with medications approved by the FDA for use in kids should be of greatest importance to parents? I’d suggest there are two big ones…along with considerations associated with specific drugs Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Bipolar Disorder, Controversies, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What type of evaluation should a child receive before starting medication?

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Dr. G

Parents need to feel confident that their child’s physician has truly taken the time to understand the causes of their child’s situation and considered a full range of medical and non-medical alternatives prior to moving forward with a treatment plan that includes prescription medication. Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

DSM-5: Recognizing the signs of trauma in kids

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Dr. G

Most importantly for the sake of our discussion, the symptom thresholds for establishing a diagnosis in children and teens have been changed to take into account differences in the ways that trauma is manifested in kids, and a unique set of diagnostic criteria have been established for identification of PTSD in kids ages six and under.
Continue reading →

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Children’s Mental Health Day 2013…a look at the data

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Dr. G

I thought I’d keep it simple today and share this graphic for you from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry… Continue reading →

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Understanding Depression and Comorbidity in Children and Teens

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Dr. G

This is Part Four in our Winter 2013 blog series Understanding Depression in Kids and Teens…A Primer for Pastors, Church Staff and Christian Parents. Today, we’ll look at the phenomena we refer to as “comorbidity”… the propensity for other mental health disorders … Continue reading →

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Kids and Depression…What Does the Data Say?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Dr. G

Suicidal thinking and behavior is very common among youth with depression. Approximately 60% of teens diagnosed with depression will experience thoughts of suicide…30% have made one or more suicide attempts. Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment