Catch-Up on Kids Mental Health

In this month's episode, Janet talks to Sandy Poulson about our work in schools and how our collaborative psychotherapy model helps to bring parents, teachers, and children together. Sandy Poulson is a registered psychotherapist specializing in work with children and teens. She has worked with at-risk elementary school children in the Toronto District School Board and is currently in private pract...

In this episode, Janet talks about the relationship between poverty, mental illness and physical illness during Covid-19. Janet shares how the pandemic has played a large role in exposing the inequalities and the effects of factors like -- no child care, job losses, inadequate housing, access to quality food and those with chronic or serious health conditions -- have on mental health. If you’d lik...

In this episode, Janet talks to Christina Connell about how to identify and talk about depression in children and adolescents. Christina is a registered psychotherapist in Toronto who treats children, adolescents and adults. She’s a graduate and faculty member of the Canadian Institute of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, a graduate of the Institute for the Advancement of Self Psy...

This month's topic looks at how childhood cancer affects the mental health of children and their families. Janet is joined by Tina Hamalainen. Tina is a POGO Interlink nurse with the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Tina’s role as an Interlink nurse is a unique provincial role within Ontario. POGO as an organisation advocates for the needs of pediatric oncology patients and their familie...

In this episode, we explore the anxiety disorder known as selective mutism and why some children can’t find their voice.  Janet discusses common personality traits, co-occurring conditions and common misdiagnoses of selective mutism.  She also shares some ways that parents and teachers can help children who are struggling with this rare disorder. For more information, please read our blog on this...

This month our host Janet Morrison talks about anorexia and bulimia in teens and young women. These are serious eating disorders that can quickly get out of control and become both a physical and mental health problem. During the episode, Janet talks about the core features, causes, and how to recognise the signs of an eating disorder. She reminds us that we need to teach young girls that differen...

In this month’s episode, our host Janet Morrison talks about Teen Suicide. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, approx. 500 Canadian Youth ages 10–24 die by suicide each year and it is the second most common cause of death in 15–19 year olds after accidents. We need to talk about suicide in order to address it, understand it to get to the root of the problem. In this episode, Janet...

This month our host Janet Morrison is joined by Dr Faye Mishna, Professor and former Dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Faye’s research focuses on bullying, cyberbullying and technology used amongst youth. In this episode, Janet and Faye discuss what bullying is, why it happens, and what parents and teachers can do to help. To find out more about Faye...

This month our host Janet Morrison is joined by Professor Charmaine Williams from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto . Charmaine’s research focuses on issues of inequality and how that affects mental health. During this episode, Janet and Charmaine discuss the topic of racism and mental health including internalized and systemic racism, how to talk to children...

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) causes harm, pain and shame in mothers and children. Society is critical and judgmental towards those suffering from the condition, even though 1 in 100 babies in Canada are born with it. Join our host Janet Morrison as she shares facts about FASD, stories of those affected by the disability, symptoms in children and what needs to be done to reduce the stigma...

Because death is frightening to so many of us, it is a topic we rarely discuss, even less so, with children. Join our host Janet Morrison as she explore the best way to talk about death with kids and how to support a child who has lost a loved one. She also discusses the different ways children grieve and the difference between normal grief and traumatic grief. For more information on this topic,...

Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. Learn why it’s probably the most controversial of all diagnoses, how it affects children differently and what to do to support a child who has ADHD. For more information on this topic please visit www.catchpsychotherapy.org and read our written article .

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition first introduced in 1943 by American child psychiatrist Leo Kanner. Join our host Janet Morrison as she shares the latest research on autism including early signs, common traits and the myths about ASD. She’ll also discuss diagnosis, management, treatment and what we know about adults living with autism today. For more information...

Divorce is very common but it remains a highly stressful and painful life transition for all family members. Given the many decisions to be made, details to be arranged, and feelings to be managed, it is challenging for parents to focus on their children’s needs; nevertheless, they must. Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores how to talk to children about separation and divorce. For more inf...

Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores 10 instances when a child should have a mental health assessment by a professional. Learn the general concerns which may warrant further investigation and how to know when something more serious needs to be addressed. For more on this topic please visit our website www.catchpsychotherapy.org and read our written article on this topic.

Starting between two and three years of age, children begin to tell untruths and many continue to tell untruths throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores why children lie and what we can do about it as parents, teachers and caregivers. To learn more about this topic please visit our website www.catchpsychotherapy.org and read our written article...

Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores the topic of trauma in the context of Children's Mental Health. The effects of childhood trauma are catastrophic, causing enormous pain and suffering and creating a significant strain on family, community and government resources. Learn about the different types of trauma children experience and what we can do to support those who are impacted. To learn...

Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores the topic of play in the context of Children's Mental Health. Play and play therapy both foster the ability for children to express themselves and create solutions in the presence of a caring adult. Through active, imaginative play children express their thoughts and feelings, adopt different roles and perspectives, and organize the world on their own t...

Today, we hear the term ‘mental health’ a lot. However, people rarely talk about what constitutes as mental health. Is it the absence of mental illness, the absence of stress? Is mental health the same as happiness? Join our host Janet Morrison as she explores the question: What is mental health and how do we measure it? To learn more visit catchpsychotherapy.org and read our full article on this...

Meet your host Janet Morrison and learn about the topics we'll discuss on this podcast. Janet is a senior lecturer at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and has her own private psychotherapy practice. Janet has worked with foster care agencies across the province, is the past president of the Canadian Association of Psychoanalytic Child Therapists, and is currently...