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.

• Randi Schuster, Ph.D. (Center for Addiction Medicine)
• Center for Addiction Medicine (MGH)
• iDECIDE
• Truth Initiative: freedom from nicotine addiction
• Smoking 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Palisades 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)

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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!

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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.

• Parents 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)

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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.

• Political 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 Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

• Learning & 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 Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to a new season of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple!

For our season premiere, Gene and Khadijah are joined by two special guests who specialize in learning disabilities and special education law – Ellen Braaten, PhD, and Eileen Hagerty, Esq, – to do a deep dive on the special education system. On part 1 of this two-part series, they provide legal and practical tips by discussing the definitions, rights, and processes involved in special education evaluations

• Learning & Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) (MGH)
• Ellen Braaten, PhD (MGH)
• Eileen M. Hagerty, Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP (KCS Legal)
• Massachusetts Advocates for Children (Mass Advocates)
• Coping With ADHD: How A Young Man And His Mom Are Managing The Path To Success (MGH Clay Center)
• Our Greatest Strengths, Part 2 (Shrinking it Down)
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (US Department of Education)
• Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) (US Department of Education)
• Intro to Processing Speed (MGH Clay Center)
• What are the Best Treatments for ADHD (MGH Clay Center)
• Dyslexia 101 (MGH Clay Center)
• What is Autism (MGH Clay Center)
• Massachusetts Advocates for Children Helpline (Mass Advocates)

Episode music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stories matter, especially when it comes to children's mental health and wellbeing.

For our season finale, Gene and Khadijah are joined by two special guests from Barefoot Books – book editor Lisa Rosinsky and children’s author Joelle Retener. They explore how stories help kids to make sense of the world in all of its confusion and beauty by taking a closer look at Marley’s Pride, a new children’s book about overcoming big anxieties and realizing the power of community. Plus, stay tuned to the end to hear everyone’s favorite children’s book!

Media List

• The Importance of Stories for Child Health (MGH Clay Center)
• Barefoot Books - About Us
• Joelle Retener
• Marley’s Pride (Goodreads)
• Mindful Kids Card Deck (Barefoot Books)
• Berry Song, by Michaela Goade (Goodreads)
• Little Witch Hazel, by Phoebe Wall (Goodreads)
• The Snowy Day, by Jack Keats (Goodreads)
• The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams Bianco (Goodreads)

We wish you a story-filled summer! We’ll see you back here in October on the Third Thursday of every month. Until then, be well.

Episode music by Gene Beresin

Episode produced by Spenser Egnatz and Sara Rattigan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.