Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

While the summer is usually painted as time of fun, freedom, and relaxation, for many teens it can feel like the exact opposite — disconnected, isolating, and emotionally heavy. Without the daily structure of school or regular peer interaction, teens can find themselves feeling invisible, left out, or unsure of where they belong. In the season 8 finale, Gene and Khadijah dive into the impact summer can have on teen loneliness. Tune in for practical tips for parents on how to help their teens stay connected, the power of self-care and creative expression, and ways to keep your teen busy this summer!We wish you a connected and relaxing summer! We’ll see you back here in August to discuss the transition from childhood to adult ADHD with special guest Tony Rostain, MD, MA.Media ListSummertime: Making The Livin’ Easy With Kids (MGH Clay Center)Over-Scheduled, Stressed-Out Families (MGH Clay Center)11 Self-Care Tips for Teens and Young Adults (MGH Clay Center)Homepage (4-H)Why Activism Is Good For Teens — And The Country (MGH Clay Center)The Vital Role and Methods of Mental Health Advocacy (Shrinking it Down)

Why are our young people struggling so much? In this special episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, Gene and Khadijah dive into the growing youth mental health epidemic. They explore the sharp rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges among children and teens since the 1980s—fueled by factors like social media, shifting family dynamics, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination. With only about 11,400 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the U.S. for the 14–20 million young people who need care, the workforce shortage is dire. Gene and Khadijah call for urgent advocacy—encouraging listeners to support change through actions like contacting lawmakers, engaging with local communities, joining peer support efforts, and promoting mental health education. Tune in for a candid, compassionate conversation about how we can all help make mental health care more accessible and equitable for our youth.Media ListAddressing the Youth Mental Health Epidemic (Springer)Severe Shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (AACAP)Varying Estimates of Social Workers in the United States: Which Data Source to Use? (NIH)Ways to Help Your Lonely Teen Online Course (MGH Clay Center)Conflict Resolution Course (MGH Clay Center)Active Minds The Power of Peer Support (Shrinking it Down)Why Activism Is Good For Teens — And The Country (MGH Clay Center)If It's Okay To Not Be Okay (See Me Scotland)What’s Up With Everyone? A Youth Mental Health Campaign With Academy-Award Winning Aardman (MGH Clay Center)

Almost everyone knows a picky eater, either from their own childhood or from their child's experiences. But sometimes picky eating goes beyond a simple preference for plain pasta. In this episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah sit down with Dr. Kamryn Eddy to unpack the complexities of ARFID —Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. More than just picky eating, ARFID can significantly impact a person's physical health and social life, leading to growth issues, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional struggles. Tune in to hear more about ARFID, its treatments, and its promising recovery outcomes. Media ListKamryn Eddy, Ph.D. (MGH)ARFID (DSM-5)ARFID (National Eating Disorders Association)Eating Disorders Screening Tool (National Eating Disorders Assocation) 

In 2024, the CDC reported that 1 in 29 middle school and 1 in 13 high school students vaped in the past month. This statistic is especially troubling, given that 9 in 10 adults who smoke daily first tried smoking by the age of 18.In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Dr. Randi Schuster, Director of school-based research and program development at the MGH Center for Addiction Medicine joined Gene and Khadijah to help educate parents and caregivers to best recognize the signs and symptoms of teen nicotine use and restorative strategies being used in schools. Media ListRandi Schuster, Ph.D.  (Center for Addiction Medicine)Center for Addiction Medicine (MGH)iDECIDETruth Initiative: freedom from nicotine addictionSmoking and Tobacco Use | Smoking and Tobacco Use (CDC)Tobacco/Nicotine and Vaping | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)Highlights for the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMSA)My Life My Quit

The Palisades Fire has been devastating California since the start of the year, destroying over 23,000 acres and nearly 5,000 structures. In this special episode of Shrinking it Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins explore the emotional impact of these fires, sharing strategies for parents to help them manage their own and their family's anxieties about the fires.Media ListPalisades Fire  (MalibuCity.org)California Wildfires Response (Red Cross)Breaking News and Kids  (MGH Clay Center)The Psychological Gift Of Giving A Gift (MGH Clay Center)Climate Anxiety and Kids, featuring Elizabeth Pinsky, MD (MGH Clay Center)10 Self-Care Tips for Parents (MGH Clay Center)

Shrinking it Down will return on January 23rd for a special episode on teen nicotine misuse. Happy Holidays and we hope you have a great New Year!

In the recent Advisory, Parents Under Pressure, the US Surgeon General noted that parents are currently more stressed, burned out, and lonely than ever before. The alarming statistics are not all that different than his Advisories on the Youth Mental Health and Loneliness Epidemics that have been escalating since the late 1970s.In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Gene and Khadijah discuss this new advisory and what parents can do to combat these increased feelings of stress and loneliness.Media ListParents Under Pressure (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)Protecting Youth Mental Health (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)Self-Care for Parents (MGH Clay Center)NAMI | National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)Myths About the 12-Step Program (MGH Clay Center)Parental Stress: Practical Tips in Response to the Surgeon General (Clay Center)

Let's be honest, we're all stressed.We're stressed about climate change, world crises, the upcoming election, or even just the common stressors of everyday life: economic pressures, relationship issues, burnout, you name it. So, with all stress, our conversations can easily become more uncivilized.In this episode of Shrinking it Down, Gene and Khadijah discuss the key elements of conflict resolution, strategies for civil conversations, and a special role-play scenario to help demonstrate positive conflict resolution.Media ListPolitical Polarization in the American Public (Pew Research Center)Conflict Resolution - 10 Tips for Families (Clay Center)Parents Under Pressure (U.S Surgeon General)Parental Stress: Practical Tips in Response to the Surgeon General (Clay Center) Episode music by Gene BeresinEpisode produced by Spenser Egnatz

The Special Education system in school can be confusing, especially if you haven’t been through the process with a child before.In part 2 of this series, Gene and Khadijah continue their discussion with Ellen Braaten, PhD, and Eileen Hagerty, Esq, who specialize in learning disabilities and special education law. They discuss evaluation results, advocacy, and the importance of destigmatizing special ed. Media ListLearning & Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) (MGH) Ellen Braaten, PhD (MGH) Eileen M. Hagerty, Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP (KCS Legal) Massachusetts Advocates for Children (Mass Advocates) Navigating Special Education in Schools Part 1: Legal and Practical Tips (Shrinking it Down)Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy (Wrights Law)From Emotions to Advocacy by Pamela Darr Wright and Peter W.D. Wright (Wrights Law)Parents Have the Power to Make Special Education Work (Amazon)Episode music by Gene BeresinEpisode produced by Spenser Egnatz