A FREE WEBINAR for caregivers of school-aged children and teens,
​brought to you by the Missouri Psychological Association and in partnership with 4Jake.

Saturday, April 24    -   8 a.m.  -  10 a.m.  CT

Suicide is now recognized as the second leading cause of death among Americans between 7 and 24 – second only to vehicular and accidental death. Almost three million children have been diagnosed with a serious mental or behavioral disorder. Although the physical effects of COVID-19 have not been as serious for children as for adults, the mental health aspects of the pandemic have been just as severe. 

Our children are struggling. The COVID-19 pandemic has separated children and adolescents from outlets provided by schools and friends and the challenges associated with social media have only grown. They face immense pressure to “fit in” and avoid the shaming and bullying that occurs if they don’t.

Caregivers are struggling as well. Balancing work and childcare is overwhelming. Daily routines have been disrupted. Caring for the emotional wellbeing of one’s self and family while keeping worries — both your children’s and your own — under control is a challenge. COVID-19 exhaustion is a real phenomenon. 

Ignoring these issues only allows them to grow, but talking about mental health and suicide can be uncomfortable and anxiety provoking. It doesn’t have to be.

In this presentation we will help parents and caregivers: 

• Identify ways to discuss suicide with youth based on their age and development 
• Describe risk factors and warning signs of a youth potentially having suicidal thoughts, and ways to try to help them
• Understand ways to talk about mental health with kids

Supporting materials

COMING SOON

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MOPA is proud to partner with the 4Jake organization on this important topic

Jake Dale Johnston, 13, of Nixa, MO, passed away on December 15, 2020. The goal of the 4Jake project is to keep Jake Johnston’s legacy alive through love, mental health activism and reform, and a shared mission of empathy for all humankind.  You may learn more at: www.4jake.org

Speakers

Diana Bastien, PSYD

Dr. Diana Bastien is a licensed psychologist in Missouri and a National Register Health Service Psychologist. She provides clinical services at the CoxHealth Pediatric Center through Burrell Behavioral Health’s Department of Integration and specializes in evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders, OCD, and tics in children and adolescents. Dr. Bastien received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida, and her Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the APA-accredited Florida School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Bastien completed an APA-accredited internship at Royal Oaks Hospital through the National Psychology Training Consortium and post-doctoral fellowship at CoxHealth Pediatric Center and MAPS Child Development Center. She received additional training in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders through the University of Missouri. She has co-authored peer-reviewed papers on various pediatric conditions. Dr. Bastien serves as a mentor to graduate students through the Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology Mentor Match Program.
 
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Sara Wilson, PSYD

Dr. Sara Wilson is a licensed psychologist who has been practicing in Southwest Missouri since 2011. Dr. Wilson worked in private practice for a number of years, followed by work in community mental health, delivering direct care through individual and group therapy and psychological testing and providing clinical and administrative supervision. She serves as an expert panelist for Project ECHO (Child Psychiatry ECHO, Missouri Telehealth Network and University of Missouri Health), is a Supervision Consultant for the National Psychology Training Consortium, and is trained in DBT, TF-CBT, EMDR and PE. In her current role as System Director of Youth Training and Consultation with Burrell Behavioral Health, Dr. Wilson works to provide training programs and clinical consultation, as well as engaging in research and development of programs and protocols to assist with meeting mental health needs of children and adolescents.
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Kristen Thompson, PHD

Dr. Kristen Thompson received her degree in clinical psychology in 2016 from Northern Illinois University, where she earned a special emphasis in child psychology and conducted research on interpersonal violence and mindfulness. She completed internship at the University of Michigan Mary A. Rackham Institute prior to specializing in pediatric psychology during a fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where she worked closely with medical providers in the hospital and in integrated specialty and primary care clinics, providing services to patients with chronic health conditions, traumatic injuries, and developmental and behavioral health disorders. Dr. Thompson joined Burrell Behavioral Health in 2017 and is currently working as the System Director of Pediatric Integration, where she works with community partners to expand access to behavioral health care for children by pairing behavioral health services with the health care children are already receiving. Dr. Thompson is also the director of Burrell’s Youth Focus Clinic, which provides multidisciplinary care to children and adolescents with ADHD.

This training is supported by Missouri Psychological Association. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of MOPA.

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