On Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, The Ohio State University Office of the Chief Wellness Officer will host an important discussion that every parent should hear.
“Depression and Anxiety in Children and Teens: What Every Parent Must Know” will be from 10-11 a.m. on May 7 in 168 Newton Hall, located at 1585 Neil Avenue.
The free lecture will be presented by Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, Ohio State’s associate vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing. Melnyk is a world-renowned authority and author on the topic of child and adolescent mental health and will share strategies for preventing, identifying and seeking help for depressive and anxiety disorders in today’s youth.
According to Melnyk, one in four American children and teenagers suffers from a mental health disorder that disrupts functioning at home, at school and with peers, yet less than 25 percent of affected children receive mental health treatment.
“If left untreated, mental health problems can lead to chronic illnesses that are more difficult to treat,” explained Melnyk. “Our ultimate goal is to prevent these conditions, but we also want to help parents identify the warning signs of anxiety and depression and give them the proper resources so that they know where to turn for help should their child develop a mental health problem.”
Participants may join via livestream at carmenconnect.osu.edu/mhd-talk. Ohio State users should log into CarmenConnect with their Ohio State account. Others may login as a guest. For detailed login instructions, visit go.osu.edu/carmenconnect-quickstart.
