The Impact of Racism on Pediatric Mental Health
Headlines in the news… and images on social media are filled with the racial violence that continues to plague our country. Children and adolescents are impacted by exposure to this violence, both through witnessing the stories, but also from their own experiences with racism in their communities. Exposure to news coverage and social media may […]
Screening for Autism in Children
April is designated as Autism Acceptance month to raise awareness and promote education about screening, intervention, and advocacy. The Autism Society is encouraging a shift away from awareness and promoting acceptance to help foster change in the way autism is perceived. According to the Centers for Disease Control, rates of autism in the United States […]
Screening for perinatal depression is now more important than ever
Perinatal depression is one of the most common complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth making it twice as common as Gestational Diabetes (CDC, 2018). Not surprisingly, a new Canadian study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has exponentially increased anxiety and depression rates in prenatal women. The study indicates that the higher rates are associated with […]
Early Detection of Pediatric Mental Health Concerns
Primary care providers are often the first line of treatment for children and adolescents experiencing mental health symptoms. The longitudinal care associated with pediatrics and family medicine allows for providers to develop trusting relationships with their patients and families. These relationships offer providers an opportunity to intervene with patients and […]
Helping Children with Fear of Needles and Immunizations
A fear of needles and injections are common among young people and can be a contributing factor to noncompliance with vaccine recommendations. One study found that 63% of children ages 6-17 reported a fear of needles and a second study noted that 40% of children ages 4-16 with Type I Diabetes feared needles. This fear emerges […]
Fears, Phobias and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Fear is a natural part of childhood, and often is appropriate to the situation and the developmental stage of the child. Fear is frequently associated with an emotional response influenced by multiple factors including inherited genetic traits that influence how a child’s brain interprets and manages anxiety. Children also adopt learned behaviors from caring adults. […]
Perinatal Opioid Use
Avoiding Serious Outcomes During the Pandemic and Beyond Substance use during pregnancy and the postpartum period has significant negative outcomes for the mother and her infant including low birth weights, developmental delays, neonatal abstinence syndrome, placental abruption, and maternal death. For women with opioid addiction, mortality has increased ten-fold over the past ten years leading […]
The New Year Brings Change: Identifying and Addressing Pediatric Substance Mi...
Identifying and Addressing Pediatric Substance Misuse January is often associated with setting goals and changing unhealthy habits. This year, you can be the change agent for many teens struggling with substance use. It is a common high-risk behavior in youth associated with poor outcomes. It is often overlooked for the […]
A HOLIDAY MESSAGE: Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others
Over the past eight months it is likely that you have experienced your own sense of distress, anxiety, and loss. Caring for the most vulnerable in Illinois is never an easy task, and this year has taken its toll on the healthcare community like never before. Illinois DocAssist continues its commitment to supporting providers caring […]
Helping Children and Families Cope During the Holidays
Just like everything else in 2020, the holiday season will be different this year. A time that can be stressful for some families, will likely be compounded by social distancing and economic hardship. According to CNBC, one in ten children have a parent who is out of work this year, which will likely impact families’ […]
