According to the American Immigration Council, there are approximately 44.9 million immigrants in the United States, representing 14% of the US population1. This large body of immigrant population has nearly tripled since 1970 and more than 1 million immigrants are still arriving yearly2. Although the United States is often regarded as the “land of opportunity”, […]
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Mental Health among Asylum-Seeking Migrants: A Critical Topic of Discussion and Suggestions for Improvement
At over 45 million people, the United States houses the largest number of immigrants in the world1. Specifically, according to the US Department of States, there are over 3 million asylum-seeking migrants with more than 300,000 estimated new arrivals in 20212. These immigrants face a multitude of stressors throughout their migration experience. Pre-migration stressors can […]
Vista Hill to Operate Center for Child & Youth Psychiatry in 2023 In San Diego!
TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE PEDIATRIC COMMUNITY: The clinical and administrative staff of SmartCare BHCS’ not-for-profit parent organization, Vista Hill, are happy and honored to have been chosen to further promote integrated system of care services with a County-funded grant to run the Center for Youth & Child Psychiatry (CCYP) in 2023. CCYP provides services […]
Social Media Safety: Suggestions for Families 11/29/22
Our last newsletter, “What Kind of Screen Time Parent Are You?”, offered an opportunity to consider the impact of screen time on our personal and family life. This edition offers some guidance taken from the professional literature about how parents can address the issues. Social networking sites (SNS) have flourished with the advent of technology […]
What Kind of Screen Time Parent Are You? Handout
What Kind of Screen Time Parent Are You? Are you strict on-screen time, or do you feel overwhelmed trying to set limits? What about actually enjoying media with your kids? Take this quiz to learn more about your parenting style when it comes to digital media. My kid(s) use screens…. Never, we’re Luddites For a […]
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury 10/13/22
Also known as self-injury and self-harm, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the deliberate and direct alteration or destruction of healthy body tissue without suicidal intent. This can range from skin cutting or burning to amputation of body parts. There can also be a significant cultural component to the self-injury. While NSSI acts are done without […]
Signs of a Sensory Processing Disorder 9/14/22
Case Presentation 7-year-old boy with chief complaint of “frequent meltdowns”. Additional history: daily meltdowns (crying, hitting) with loud sounds or when asked to wear certain clothing; wants to make friends but poor boundaries and accidentally hurts peers at school when he is playing with them; hard time sitting during seat work at school and prefers […]
Psychodynamics of Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma Experiences 8/25/22
While Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can arise spontaneously from any number of sources, one of the frequent causes of trauma exposure occurs when parents unconsciously re-enact their own trauma exposure(s) with their children. Sadly, most exposures to ACEs do not result in the affected individual (or their parent) receiving optimal psychological support and therapeutic intervention, […]
13th Annual Early Childhood Mental Health Conference – We Can’t Wait!
13th Annual Early Childhood Mental Health Conference – We Can’t Wait! How are the Children? The Path from Healing to Well-Being September 15-16, 2022 Virtual Event via Zoom https://www.earlychildhoodmentalhealth-sandiego.com/ Learning Objectives: Review the neurobiological nature of the developing brain and recognize how it is directly shaped by interpersonal experiences Examine the impact of early childhood experiences […]
Psychotropic Polypharmacy with Children and Adolescents 8/5/22
The challenges of addressing behavioral health problems in children and adolescents remain an ongoing dilemma because of the high incidence of youth with significant problems, coupled with the ongoing difficulties for families and providers in accessing and optimizing care in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. Particularly in the arena of prescribing psychotropic medications, there are […]