Written by: Marina Doering, Art Therapist for Franciscan Children’s Self-injury in adolescents is receiving increased attention in the media and across the mental health field as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our daily lives Incidences of self-harm are most prevalent in those experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts as an outlet for the overwhelming feelings that they are experiencing. Adolescents are boarding in hospital emergency rooms throughout the country as they wait for space to open up in treatment facilities. Occasionally, the road in short-term treatment is ..read more

Blog written by Shoshana J Fagen, PsyD – September 2021 Back at the beginning of my career, part of my job was to consult for a head start program. The majority of the referrals were for 4-year-olds who wouldn’t lay still during nap time or for 3-year-olds who were hitting their friends. However, the referral that stands out the most was for a 4-year-old girl who had made a series of statements that her teachers found very alarming. Throughout the first few weeks of her enrollment, she made statements about wanting to be dead and wanting to kill herself. Her teachers were right to be concerned ..read more

Making sure that individuals have access to mental healthcare can improve lives and communities. Having access to mental health resources has been shown to reduce or eliminate the risk of suicide, legal issues, family conflict, employment issues, substance use and further mental and physical health problems. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Together for Mental Health, check out our incredible Behavioral Health Services program at Franciscan Children’s:   Behavioral Health Services (BHS)  Written by Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Kelly ..read more

Every year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. That is why it is critical for everyone to join together to raise awareness of and advocate for improving our nation’s mental health care system and resources. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Together for Mental Health, check out our incredible inpatient mental health programs at Franciscan Children’s: Inpatient Mental Health – Unit 1  Written by Director of Behavioral Health Nursing, Anne Barry ..read more

Blog is written by: Anna Lingan, CWI School-Based Therapist |Site Manager for Winship Elementary School, and Jane Carper, CWI School-Based Therapist | Site Manager for Higginson Lewis School. At the start of the summer, many of us were hopeful that we would be returning to “normal,” or closer to what life felt like pre-COVID-19 at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Now that we are at the beginning of the new school year, we find ourselves still in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. With the new Delta variant and the coinciding return to school it makes sense that we are feeling just as much ..read more

According to the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, up to one in five children in the U.S. experience a mental health disorder every year. Symptoms often begin in early childhood, though some may develop during the teenage years. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Together for Mental Health, check out our incredible school-based mental health programs at Franciscan Children’s: Kids Healthy Minds Initiative (KHMI) Written by: Director of Kids Healthy Minds Initiative, Carol Nash Kids Healthy Minds Initiative (KHMI) is a mental health education program design ..read more

Written by clinical psychologist, Dr. Dan Clark CASL – Coordinated Autism Service Line at Franciscan Children’s The Coordinated Autism Service Line (CASL) at Franciscan Children’s is a program within the Behavioral Health Services Department that aims to identify autism in children as early as possible. The CASL also works with parents or guardians to find appropriate services to help children with individual needs. Research shows that providing early intervention and therapy for children with autism is critical for their progress and long-term well-being. The CASL program at Franciscan Childr ..read more

Written by: Marina Doering, Art Therapist for Franciscan Children’s   Art therapy is not only a great way to reduce stress, but it has also been found to improve or restore a patient’s functioning and sense of personal well-being. It is a distinct discipline that utilizes visual media, the art-making process, and materials as vehicles for therapeutic purposes.   Art has been a form of communication and self-expression for thousands of years, but only became a form of therapeutic treatment in the 1940’s. The benefits of art therapy have been seen in people of all ages, helping to impr ..read more

Blog written by Emily Strainchamps, LICSW – September 2021 Franciscan Children’s Behavioral Health Services As a clinical social worker, I’ve sat with many adolescents and children struggling with feelings of suicide.  These are four questions that I consider when thinking about suicide risk in these age groups: Are they dealing with layers of emotional pain and stress? Do they believe that their situation can be changed? What is their capacity for verbalizing complicated feelings? Do they actually want to die, or do they want to escape? I believe that for most people, it is not the int ..read more

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! This month focuses on creating awareness and discussion about mental health in minority communities to increase their access to mental health care and treatment. This month also presents an opportunity to reflect on how the behavioral health system can connect more effectively with people across different cultural backgrounds and experiences. Minorities have been facing disparities in healthcare and mental healthcare for decades. In the United States, minorities are more likely than whites to delay or never seek mental health treatment. After ent ..read more