You have been on the JM journey for more than a year, possibly much longer, and you are looking for help with your or your child’s emotional and mental health needs. Do you know the warning signs of depression and anxiety? Has your child had a mental/emotional health assessment? Here are some resources for you, your child, and other family members.
At the American College of Rheumatology conference presentation in 2020, Pediatric Rheumatologist Dr. Tamar Rubinstein estimated that “anxiety, depression, feeling suicidal, and other mental health events are likely around 30% for pediatric rheumatic diseases. These rates may be more than double than the general population.” 1
We also conducted focus groups on parent perspectives of our children’s mental health at our 2018 national family conference, the results of which were published in the Arthritis Care & Research Journal in January 2021. The conclusion states, “JM is associated with intense patient and family distress, although resiliency may emerge by young adulthood. Despite existing barriers, increasing access to counseling, peer support groups, and online resources with rheumatology facilitation may be effective intervention strategies.” 2
- 1 Rates of Depression, Anxiety and Suicide Ideation Elevated in Adolescent Rheumatology Population
- 2 Parent Perspective on Addressing Emotional Health for Children & Young Adults with JM
- Sibling Support (Sibshops)
- Anxiety and Depression in Children (CDC)
- Resources in Your State
- Self-compassion, Wellbeing, and Distress in Adolescents and Young Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions: the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties
- Common Coping Styles of Teens Who are Chronically Ill or Disabled
- Self-Help Strategies for Depressed Teens
- At the Hospital: Helping My Child Cope
- After the Hospital: Getting Back to a Schedule
- After the Hospital: Helping My Child Cope
- Después del Hospital: Cómo retomar las actividades diarias
- Después del Hospital: Cómo ayudar a mi familia a superar la situación
Click Here to Join Other JM Parents/Caregivers on FaceBook
“As a Pediatric Rheumatologist, I know that emotional and mental health are important to optimize overall health and integral in chronic conditions like JM. If you have concerns about your child’s emotional health that haven’t been addressed, please let your provider know so you can work together to get the needed help. Kudos to Cure JM for developing a position for a new Mental Health Coordinator to provide and develop more resources for this!”
Susan Kim, MD, MMSc
Pediatric Rheumatologist and Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF Medical School sees patients in the Rheumatology Clinics at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals San Francisco and Oakland sites.
