Melaina Uhrig, age 19, has always been a singer. She enjoyed it so much that she joined her church choir and later, the Summit Choral Society children’s choir program. Being in front of and among people never bothered Melaina until she started high school. That’s when she lost joy in almost everything that previously gave […]
Has COVID-19 become the new modern-day cooties?
COVID-19 has taken the world by storm and has disrupted our lives as we knew it. For kids, their activities being cancelled or severely modified, mask wearing and social distancing has left some feeling scared, anxious or at the very least unhappy. Stress and uncertainty can lead to unpleasant effects, such as stigma about certain […]
New pediatric psychologist Dr. Sarah Love found her calling in helping kids
Doctor wasn’t always the path Dr. Sarah Love thought she would take — lawyer and dolphin trainer also made the list. Though growing up she wasn’t sure which exciting career path she’d wind up taking, she was certain helping someone, or something, would be a big part of her role. That someone, turns out, is […]
Family’s gift of life insurance to support behavioral health services
A recent donation of $1 million from Christopher Thompson and his family – made through a gift of a life insurance policy – will be used to support the programs and services in the Mahoning Valley at the Lois and John Orr Family Behavioral Health Center. The center is home to pediatric behavioral health services […]
10 tips to help kids deal with school anxiety
For some kids, anxiety can be short-lived nervousness at the start of the school year. For others, school can be a constant source of stress that can lead to intense anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, school-related anxiety affects 2 to 5 percent of children and teens, commonly between ages 5 […]
How to talk to our kids about racism
Trying to navigate conversations with children about race and diversity can be tricky. But they are important conversations to have. “Kids need to be able to have frank conversations about the world we live in — period,” said Dr. Geoffrey Putt, a pediatric psychologist at Akron Children’s. “It’s not so much that now is any […]