Resources for Emotional and Mental Health

JM Families and Medical Professionals

Having a chronic and rare disease is a challenging experience for anyone to go through, and especially difficult for children and adolescents.

To understand how our families cope with mental health, we collaborated with Andrea Knight, MD MSCE, an autoimmune and mental health expert. We surveyed Cure JM patients and parents on the “Mental Health Needs of JM Patients and Potential Interventions” and found that 28% of JM adolescent and young adult patients reported depression and 33% reported anxiety. These percentages are two to three times higher than the 2016 national average of depression in adolescents (12.8%) and young adults (10.9%), according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Downloadable Flyer: Mental and Emotional Health FAQs for Caregivers

Downloadable Flyer: Emotional Health and JM

Researchers do not know whether mental health problems in JM are caused by the underlying illness (from inflammation and vasculitis), the treatments, genetics, or the challenge of living with a chronic and rare disease. But, we do know that patients, physicians, and researchers rank mental health as an important research priority for Cure JM.

The following information will help you better understand the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety and how to get help. Please consult a physician if you have any concerns about your child, yourself, or your family.

JM-Related Factors Leading to Depression and Anxiety

  • Worrying about flares
  • Stress on the family
  • Changes in appearance
  • Living with chronic disease
  • Pain, fatigue, weakness, and disease symptoms can cause depression
  • Juggling multiple appointments
  • Coping with unpredictability of disease
  • Taking multiple medications with psychiatric side effects
  • Infusions, injections, procedures, and surgeries can be traumatizing or at a minimum, highly stressful
  • Transitioning from pediatric to adult care
  • Feeling alone / isolated due to rarity of JM
  • Lack of understanding from friends and relatives about JM

Learn the Signs of Depression and Anxiety in Children and Teens

Getting Help

Psychologists

Psychologists have advanced degree in psychology and help people cope effectively with mental health or emotional issues. They generally provide talk therapy (psychotherapy) and other evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. They cannot prescribe medications (except in Louisiana and New Mexico) but frequently work in collaboration with primary care physicians or psychiatrists who can prescribe medications.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are qualified medical doctors specializing in treating mental health issues and disorders. Psychiatrists differ from other mental health professionals in that they may prescribe medications, and they offer additional therapies for severe depression, such as a newer treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Psychiatrists may also conduct physical examinations and order and interpret lab tests and brain image scans, such as CT scans and MRIs.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine in psychiatry, using video conferencing, is a validated and effective practice of medicine that increases access to care, especially for those with physical limitations or severe anxiety disorders. “The American Psychiatric Association (APA) supports the use of telemedicine as a legitimate component of a mental health delivery system to the extent that its use is in the patient’s best interest and is in compliance with the APA policies on medical ethics and confidentiality.”

Hospital Social Workers

Some hospitals have social workers who help patients, and their families understand their illness, work through the emotions of a diagnosis and treatments, and provide counseling about the decisions that need to be made. Social workers can be essential members of interdisciplinary hospital teams and often provide mental health services.

School Counselors/Psychologist/Social Worker

Many public schools have a full-time or part-time counselor, psychologist, or social worker with who students can talk about social and emotional concerns. These counselors can counsel the students, provide information, and recommend outside referrals.

Antidepressants/Medication

Medications can play a role in treating depression and anxiety, along with “talk therapy.” Antidepressants are commonly used to treat depression and anxiety, with the most popular type called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Cure JM Foundation does not endorse or recommend any particular drug, supplement, or herb. For more information on medications for depression and anxiety, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health.

Support System of Family and Friends

Having family and friends who you can rely on and talk to about your feelings will go a long way in helping you cope with JM.

Support Groups

Joining a support group of people who have been through similar experiences as you can help you feel less alone. Join Cure JM now.

Join a Cure JM Chapter

Cure JM has 15 regional chapters that hold meetings and events.
Learn more about local chapters here.

Attend a Cure JM Conference, Walk, or an Event

Cure JM holds regional and national conferences, as well as regional walks and events, which are a great way to meet others with JM.
Upcoming events

Mindfulness / Meditation / Yoga / Massage

Relaxation techniques can help with stress and depression.

Exercise

Physical activity can help reduce stress and alleviate depression. Consult with a doctor before starting any exercise program.
Watch Exercise is Medicine featuring Sue Maillard, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Pediatric Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Pain.

Practice Good Sleep Habits

It’s important to get enough sleep, and it helps to go to sleep and wake up on a consistent schedule.

Eat Nutritious Foods

Nutritious foods are important for physical and mental health. Our brains function best when they receive proper fuel. Contact your doctor or hospital social worker to arrange a consultation with a nutritionist.

About Insurance

The Affordable Care Act expanded coverage for mental health care, and many insurance companies now cover a portion of, or a certain number of, “talk therapy” sessions and medications. Check your insurance enrollment materials or call your insurance company for more information.

Resources for Families

Hotlines in the United States

The telephone numbers below are provided by “Psych Central,” an independent mental health online resource run by mental health professionals.

Suicide Lifeline

The Suicide Lifeline 800.273.8255 provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in emotional distress and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741

TXT 4 HELP

Text the word “safe” and your current location including address, city, and state to 4HELP (44357) which allows you to text live with a mental health professional: www.nationalsafeplace.org/txt-4-help.

National Help Line for Substance Abuse

800.262.2463

National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline

800.662.4357

Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention

800.931.2237

National Youth Crisis Hotline

800.442.HOPE (4673)

Research


Sources

Knight, Andrea. Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Myositis Patients & Potential Interventions. 2018 Update on JM Care & Research. June 2018.

Prevalence of Depression in Adolescents. National Institute of Health. 2016. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml

Predictors of depressive symptoms in parents of chronically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. 2011.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21454321

Knight, Andrea et al. CARRA Mental Health Workgroup. Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Myositis Patients & Potential Interventions. 2018 Update on JM Care & Research. June 2018.

Muir, Emily. The Rare Reality: An Insight into the Patient and Family Experience of Living with a Rare Disease. Jan. 2016
www.raredisease.org.uk/media/1588/the-rare-reality-an-insight-into-the-patient-and-family-experience-of-rare-disease.pdf

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified mental health or healthcare provider. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.

Natalia in her Team Natalia Shirt

Natalia’s Story

Natalia is seven years old, and in January 2021, she began experiencing pain. Everyday tasks were difficult. Natalia’s parents, Lindsay and Matt, reached out to

Community Advisory Board

Cure JM’s Community Advisory Board plays a vital role in representing JM families from diverse backgrounds to help support this cutting edge research project. Cure JM CAB members are the link between the greater JM community and the project’s research team, working together to ensure that the needs of the entire JM community are understood and addressed.

Join Cure JM

Membership is free and we’ll connect you with a network of support, encouragement, and resources.

Cure JM supports families, patients, and the juvenile myositis research community.

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