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Education Now

Understanding the Relationship Between Parent and Teen Mental Health

Strategies to better support the mental well-being of parents and caregivers, with a view to preventing anxiety and depression in adolescents

The medical community declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now new research is helping to shine a light on another important aspect of the story — the mental health of parents and the influence of their health on teens. We discuss strategies to better support the mental well-being of parents and caregivers, with a view to preventing anxiety and depression in adolescents.

Guests:

  • William Beardslee, chairman emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Gardner/Monks Professor of Child Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
  • Sherry Molock, associate professor of psychology, The George Washington University
  • Richard Weissbourd, senior lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Kennedy School; director, Making Caring Common Project

Host:

Josephine Kim, senior lecturer on education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Key Takeaways:

  1. Talk openly with teens about mental health concerns. Keep up an ongoing dialogue.
  2. Help teens develop a sense of meaning and purpose, and to feel socially connected.
  3. It takes a village. Schools and faith communities can help foster open dialogue and a shared sense of community.

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