KidzDocTalk

Childhood Mental Health

Episode Summary

On the season 2 premiere of KidzDocTalk, Dr. Jennie and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Sarah Dienstag Becker, discuss recognizing mental health disorders in children, behavioral techniques, treatments, coping mechanisms and more.

Episode Notes

This episode covers the following topics:

• The difference between a child psychiatrist and a child psychologist
• Outpatient settings vs in hospital
• Biopsychosocial model (the interconnection between biology, psychology and socio-environmental factors) and how each plays a role in children's health and development
• Strategies caregivers/parents can use to recognize mental health disorders in children and what to look for
• Normal variants vs. what needs attention
• What to bring up at your child's next pediatrician appointment
• Treatment options
• Brain behaviors when mental health disorders go untreated
• Parental hesitation
• How genetics play a role in mental health and the impact of parents own mental health on children
• Building up children's self esteem
• Mindfulness
• Psychotherapy
• Specific & General Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

About this episode's guest:

Dr. Sarah Dienstag Becker, MD is the co-chief fellow of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health in Long Island, NY. She completed her medical training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she was selected to join the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society. Dr.  Becker completed her training in adult psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center. She also received a degree in pedagogy from the Ministry of Education in Israel after completing her studies at Beth Jacob of Jerusalem.  Her clinician interests include the treatment and management of eating disorders.