Mental and Emotional Health FAQ for Caregivers

Why is emotional/mental health important to our JM kids? Where can I find out more about mental health issues for our JM kids? Where can I learn more about how JM influences anxiety and depression? Where can I learn more about the signs of anxiety and depression in kids and teens? Where can I get […]
Resources for Emotional and Mental Health

Having a chronic and rare disease is a challenging experience for anyone to go through, and especially difficult on children and adolescents.
The Importance of Taking Care of Yourself

Learn about the neuroscience of stress and how stressors impact one’s ability to cope with stress. Learn practices that help build resilience, self-awareness and improve our capacity to build relationships.
Emotional and Mental Health: Getting Help

There are resources available for mental health care though it can take awhile to research them, access them, and follow up on the care.
Impact of Juvenile Myositis on Mental Health

Drs. Kaveh Ardalan, Andrea Knight and Alison Manning discuss juvenile myositis’ impact on mental health.
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.
Emotional and Mental Health Resources: Teens and Young Adults

Besides the normal turmoil of adolescence, having a diagnosis of juvenile myositis can present you with more stress due to changes in body image, medical visits, medicines, etc.
Emotional and Mental Health: General Resources

In order to understand how our families cope with mental health, we collaborated with Andrea Knight MD MSCE, an expert in the autoimmune and mental health fields.
Signs of Depression and Anxiety in Children and Teens

Kids with JDM experience depression and anxiety at 2-3 times a higher rate than their peers. We hope that by outlining the common signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, you are better able to support your children.
Emotional and Mental Health Resources for Parents and Caregivers of Newly Diagnosed Children

As the parent of a newly diagnosed child, you might feel overwhelmed and worried. These are normal reactions. You might want, and need support, from others who have been, or still are, on this same journey.
Resources for Patients Who Have Pain

Here are some resources and recommendations for ways of addressing pain. These come from pediatric rheumatologists and other medical providers/researchers.
Emotional and Mental Health Resources for Experienced Parents and Caregivers

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.