Tag Archives: mental health

What’s causing the epidemic of mental illness in kids?

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Dr. G

Here are some of my hypotheses as to why over 20% of U.S. kids meet criteria for at least one mental disorder: Continue reading →

Saddleback’s Gathering on Mental Illness and the Church to be available online…

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Dr. G

The Gathering will be streamed live by the folks from Saddleback so that church leaders, advocates and family members everywhere can participate. Continue reading →

Posted in Key Ministry | Tagged Amy Simpson, church, Kay Warren, Matthew Stanford, mental health, Rick Warren, The Gathering Conference | Leave a comment

Christmas struggles for kids with mental health issues

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Dr. G

Kids with common mental health conditions react to the holidays very differently than do adults. Today, we’ll look at three struggles common during Christmas break among the kids and families we serve, and suggest practical strategies for parents to minimize the impact of the holidays upon their children. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Families, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged anxiety, children, Christmas, executive functioning, holidays, mental health, OCD, parenting, routine, sensory processing disorder, structure, teens | Leave a comment

Nurturing spiritual growth in kids with anxiety…Inclusion Fusion Library

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Dr. G

Rhonda discusses the unique spiritual needs of children who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Social Phobia and Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. Katie and Rhonda cover identification, accommodations and unique spiritual issues for each manifestation of anxiety from the church nursery to the high school youth group.
Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Spiritual Development | Tagged anxiety, Disability Ministry, generalized anxiety, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Katie Wetherbee, mental health, OCD, PTSD, Rhonda Martin, social anxiety, spiritual development | Leave a comment

Complicated kids…teasing out the effects of trauma from mental illness

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Dr. G

One of the challenges we face in treating kids with trauma is sorting out the extent to which the symptoms leading to referral are trauma-related, or associated with some other mental health disorder in which the symptoms are totally unrelated to the trauma. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, PTSD | Tagged children, comorbidity, Inclusion, Key Ministry, mental health, PTSD, trauma | 1 Comment

When do the effects of trauma cross the line into PTSD?

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Dr. G

Kids with PTSD are more likely to have Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Separation Anxiety Disorder, males with PTSD are more likely to have concomitant substance use disorders and Conduct Disorder, with depressive, bipolar, anxiety and substance use disorders occurring more commonly among adults with PTSD. Continue reading →

Posted in Mental Health, PTSD | Tagged adolescents, children, children's ministry, Key Ministry, mental health, PTSD, signs, symptoms, trauma | Leave a comment

Our Broken Mental Health System…a diagnosis

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Dr. G

Here’s a formulation as to why our mental health system in the U.S. is failing so many of the families it was created to serve.
Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged access, barriers to care, broken, church, Key Ministry, mental health, ministry, quality, service delivery, systems, systems of care, treatment services, violence prediction | 8 Comments

The enduring effects of trauma and abuse in childhood

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Dr. G

Christians…and the church can have an enormous impact through helping children to grow up in loving and supportive homes that offer protection (to the degree possible) from toxic stress. Continue reading →