Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health

In this month’s episode, Janet Morrison talks to Andrea Warnick, an educator, registered psychotherapist, nurse, and thanatologist.

Andrea offers compassionate support to individuals facing serious illness, dying, or the death of a loved one. With 25 years of experience, she understands the importance of this support for integrating grief and thriving in life.

Janet and Andrea discuss the need for open communication about death and illness within families, the importance of preparing children for loss, and strategies to help children articulate their feelings. Andrea stresses that grief is a lifelong process that integrates into your life, rather than something to 'get over', and through education, storytelling, and community support we can help children to grieve healthily.

You can find out more about Andrea and her work on her website.

If you’re a parent or educator looking for resources or training to better understand and support children who are grieving, please visit KidsGrief.ca
For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month’s episode, Janet Morrison talks with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, an Atlanta-based physician, trainer, and consultant.

Specializing in integrating alternative and traditional medicine, Dr. Clairborne trains individuals in organizations to learn how to communicate effectively and fulfill personal goals while meeting organizational outcomes. She is the author of the Wellness Blueprint, co-author of Conscious Anti-racism, and host of the Black Mind Garden podcast.

During their conversation, Janet and Dr. Clairborne discuss family conflicts and the dynamics of the different relationships that are involved. They also explore the impact of trauma on communication, self-care, and understanding boundaries in conflict resolution.

To learn more about Dr. Clairborne and her work, visit https://drmaiysha.com/
For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month’s episode, Janet interviews Dr. Giovanni Foti, a seasoned clinical and forensic psychologist to discuss conduct disorder in children and teens.

Specializing in children, teens, and families, Dr. Foti has worked with various clinical and forensic settings that have included outpatient, secure treatment, youth justice, and private practices.

Janet and Dr. Foti discuss the criteria and possible risk factors that may lead to a conduct disorder diagnosis. Dr. Foti also highlights that conduct disorders are behavior-based and how early intervention with well-targeted treatments and family support lead to better outcomes.

Dr. Foti recommends the website https://livesinthebalance.org/ for more information on supporting children and teens with conduct disorder.

To learn more about Dr. Foti and his work visit www.hhpg.ca and www.amindfulchange.com.
For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In episode 40, Janet delves into the effect of social media on the mental well-being of young people with returning guest, Dr. Daniel Zdzieborski. A Clinical Psychologist with experience in hospitals, schools, community and private practice settings, Dr. Zdzieborski specializes in treating children and adolescents with mental health and neurodevelopmental concerns.

Together, Janet and Dr. Zdzieborski examine how children’s engagement with social media platforms can nurture connections and foster independence, yet at the same time create a deceptive sense of community. This dual dynamic can potentially give rise to mental health challenges, such as feelings of isolation and alienation.

They also explore how the increased use of social media interferes with sleep patterns, triggers social comparisons, and contributes to the formation of unrealistic expectations about life. This is especially prevalent in children and adolescents. Dr. Zdzieborski shares how our societies have developed so fast that we have not been able to adapt on an evolutionary level.

To learn more about Dr. Daniel Zdzieborski and his work, please visit his website.
For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In episode 39, Janet talks to Dr. Jessica Gomez, a licensed psychologist and executive director of Momentous Institute, a leading youth mental health research and services organization located in Dallas, Texas.

Under Dr. Gomez’s leadership, Momentous Institute has pioneered breakthrough programs that are proving successful in strengthening the mental health and well-being of children and families. Her work at Momentous Institute highlights how early intervention can help young people better understand and manage their emotions and relationships.

Throughout this episode, Janet and Dr. Gomez discuss the importance of teaching social emotional intelligence to children and youth and the benefits of building those skills early on. They explore what social and emotional health is and its impact on relationships, academic performance and a child’s behaviour at school and home.

To learn more about the work they are doing at Momentous Institute visit their website.
For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month’s episode, Janet speaks with Dr. Debra Stein, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Garry Hurvitz Sickkids Centre for Community Mental Health. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in supporting newcomer children, youth, and families, addressing resettlement and acculturation concerns.

As an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Dr. Stein lectures on refugee mental health to diverse audiences. She also serves as a Subject Matter Expert for CAMH's Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project.

During the episode, Janet and Debra discuss the types of families that Debra supports, how their experiences differ depending on where they come from, the concerns they are facing and the value of social support. Find out more: http://kidsnewtocanada.ca/ For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month's episode, Janet welcomes Eva Marszewski, a lawyer and the Founder of Peacebuilders International. Peacebuilders is an organization dedicated to using restorative practices to keep young people away from the criminal justice system and guide them toward a brighter future and Eva’s work through them has earned her the Order of Ontario and the Law Society Medal.

During this episode, Janet and Eva explore the trauma associated with young people going through the court process. They discuss the challenges faced by these youths, especially those that are particularly vulnerable, and the ways Peacebuilders can offer support. Eva also shares the organization’s plans for the future to support young people in the courts.

You can find out more about Peacebuilders and the work they do on their website.
For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month’s episode, Janet engages in a conversation with Dr. Carmen Logie, a faculty member at the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and the Canada Research Chair in Global Health Equity and Social Justice with Marginalized Populations.

Carmen's ongoing research centers on HIV testing and treatment across Canada, Uganda, and Jamaica, with a particular focus on how stigma contributes to substandard care and outcomes among marginalized groups. These groups encompass refugee and displaced youth, LGBTQ communities, Indigenous youth, and sex workers.

Throughout the episode, Janet and Carmen delve into the daily stressors experienced by LGBTQ individuals and their profound impact on the mental well-being of young people, often manifesting as self-hatred and internalized stigma. Carmen underscores the significance of supportive communities and encourages young people to seek connections and positive self-identification as essential sources of help.

For more thought-provoking discussions on stigma and related topics, Carmen hosts a weekly podcast titled Everybody Hates Me: Let’s Talk About Stigma.

For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month’s episode, Janet welcomes Ulrica Jobe, an educator, counselor, and workshop facilitator with extensive experience working with parents, children, families, and teachers. Ulrica is the founder of True Compass, an organization with a mission to support social-emotional learning and provide family coaching and counseling services. She also serves as the Parent Coach on staff at The Giving Tree, a counseling center in Toronto.

Janet and Ulrica engage in a conversation about the concept of ‘parent coaching’ and delve into the specific challenges that children face and how having a parent coach would help in these areas. She explains that her role involves equipping parents with tools to respond to their children rather than merely reacting to their behaviors. She places significant emphasis on effective communication, nurturing parent-child relationships, and demonstrating to children that parents are also human, prone to mistakes, and learning alongside them.

For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.

In this month’s episode, Janet welcomes Catherine Lau, a registered psychotherapist and certified art therapist from The Giving Tree, a counseling center in Toronto. 

As an expert in applied behavior analysis, Catherine works with families and individuals of all ages experiencing challenges, including acquired brain injury, depression, anxiety, and complex medical conditions. 

During their conversation, Janet and Catherine explore what art therapy is and what makes it unique compared to other therapy approaches. They explore how art therapy can be both directive and non-directive, depending on the needs of the child or adolescent, and how it is especially useful for those who have a hard time expressing themselves. They also discuss how art therapy can be used in family therapy and how to approach the process with curiosity, focusing on the process rather than the final product. 

For more information on the work we do at CATCH, please visit our website.