A global pandemic, school shootings, climate change, war: Children and teenagers are experiencing and being treated for unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression. We talk with founding president of the Child Mind Institute, Dr. Harold Koplewicz, about screen time, suicidal ideation, and testing for ADHD. His latest book is Scaffold Parenting: Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant, and Secure Kids in an Age of Anxiety. Also, Justin Chang reviews the film La Chimera. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is the history behind words causing a lot of debate.
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This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Terry Gross.
There's so many reasons for children to be anxious today, beyond all the standards, childhood problems, theres the setbacks from the COVID lockdown, mass shootings in schools, feelings theyre not measuring up to, the great lives they see represented on social media, fears about the whole planet being in jeopardy.
Its hardly unusual for parents to be unsure how to handle their childs anxiety, depression, learning problems, anger, tantrums.
And it can be difficult for parents to evaluate whether their child should see a therapist or take medication.
My guest, child psychiatrist Harold Koplowitz, has dealt with these issues with many children and their parents.
And there have been times he's been confounded about issues his own children faced.
He's the founding president of the Child Mind Institute.
Its stated mission is transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need to thrive.
The institute also conducts related research.
From 1997 to 2009, he was the first director of the NYU Child Study Center.
Koplowitz recently stepped down from his 25 year tenure as editor in chief of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
His latest book is titled Scaffold Raising resilient, self reliant and secure kids in an age of anxiety.
Doctor Harold Koplowitz, welcome to Fresh Air.
What are some of the problems and anxieties you're seeing now that you can connect to outside problems like the COVID lockdown and its lingering after effects?
How are you seeing that manifest in the children's anxieties that you're seeing?