How to Talk to Your Child About Mental and Emotional Health

We know that living with juvenile dermatomyositis affects the physical as well as emotional health of our children. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish “normal” behavior and feelings from more difficult ones of depression and anxiety.

This presentation aims to increase understanding and awareness of emotional health and parents’ important role in supporting and encouraging a child’s mental health habits.

Presenters address the rationale and benefits of promoting emotional health in children, impart knowledge of emotional development milestones throughout childhood, and provide practical skills and language to discuss emotional and mental health with children.

Understanding the phases of emotional development in childhood helps parents feel more equipped to manage and promote emotional health in children.

Featuring:

  • Stacey Haynes, PhD Psychologist, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Cure JM Center of Excellence
  • Megan Curran, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics University of Colorado Denver, Attending Physician, Pediatric Rheumatology, Colorado Children’s Hospital
  • Anna Ramsey, BA, working on MSW, Young adult living with JM since adolescence
  • Annie Mitchell, BA in Special Education, Cure JM Board of Directors and Mom to a JM child

Getting the Diagnosis. Megan Curran, MD

Getting the Diagnosis

It often takes a bit of time for children with juvenile myositis (JM) to get a proper diagnosis. This is due to the fact that

Walking Strong, Empowered by unity

Walking Strong – Empowered by Unity

Like other teens new to the JM journey, Catie Beth Caldwell and Madi Cook were two individuals who felt alone at the beginning of their journeys. Catie Beth was diagnosed just before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold of the world as we knew it. With this came feelings of isolation and loneliness. These emotions were commonplace for many teens but were only compounded by teens new to a rare disease diagnosis. These first years of the “new normal” were difficult to navigate.

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