How do you help children with the stigma associated with mental illness?

Most children aren't aware of the stigma associated with mental illness, so the challenge is usually with teens, says HealthMaker Jamie Howard, PhD. In this video, she explains how she likes to instill hope and be very open with patients.

Transcript

00:00

I think sometimes people can be concerned that we do magic or there's some type of secret stuff that we're thinking.

00:10

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00:24

It's more challenging for teens and adults. Children, fortunately, don't know yet that they should be ashamed for seeking health

00:31

care for mental health issues. And of course, they shouldn't be ashamed. No one should be. It's health care. That said, what I like to do is instill hope.

00:38

And most evidence-based treatments are not unending treatments. They're treatments that last for six months or so.

00:46

And we have specific goals. And I like to have teens and parents be very aware of what the goals are and how we're

00:53

doing in tracking our progress toward meeting those goals. So it's a very sort of face valid you're in control too.

01:00

Let me know if something's bothering you or if you are feeling discouraged by this process.

01:07

I think sometimes people can be concerned that we do magic or there's some type of secret stuff that we're thinking.

01:17

And I try to be very open and say exactly what I'm thinking to decrease that worry.