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Category: Parents

Pharmacogenomic Testing in Mental Health Care: Practical Guidance for Pediatric PCPs
Pharmacogenomic Testing in Mental Health Care: Practical Guidance for Pediatric PCPs

January 29, 2026

With genetic testing becoming more popular and accessible, many primary care providers wonder whether pharmacogenomic testing (analyzing DNA to understand medication response) is worthwhile when making treatment decisions for patients with mental health conditions.  REACH faculty member and clinical psychopharmacologist/psychiatric pharmacist Lynn Crismon, Pharm.D., FCCP, FASCP, DABCP, BCPP, says he is regularly asked about this

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Social Media & Pediatric Mental Health
Social Media & Pediatric Mental Health

December 17, 2025

Insights from Dr. Jasmine Reese based on an episode of REACHing Solutions, a new podcast series from The REACH Institute Social media is woven into nearly every part of young people’s lives. Recent data shows that about 93% of U.S. teens (ages 13–17) use at least one social media app. For many kids and teens,

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Bullying and Pediatric Mental Health: What Primary Care Clinicians Should Know
Bullying and Pediatric Mental Health: What Primary Care Clinicians Should Know

November 25, 2025

“Kids seldom come into your office and say, ‘I want to talk about bullying,’” explains REACH faculty member Ron Marino, DO/MPH. “Often, as clinicians, the only indication we have that a child is being bullied are changes in their behavior or new mental health symptoms. It’s our job to notice these changes and take appropriate

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Adult ADHD: A Family Affair
Adult ADHD: A Family Affair

October 23, 2025

“Most primary care providers aren’t new to seeing adults with ADHD,” explains Kathleen McCoy, DNSc, who specializes in family psychiatric mental health and integrative care. “What’s changing is our understanding of the condition and how to help adults manage it well, often while also supporting their children with ADHD.”  More than half of the estimated

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Culturally Responsive Parent Empowerment and Children’s Mental Health
Culturally Responsive Parent Empowerment and Children’s Mental Health

July 23, 2025

“Parents want to feel like they’re part of the solution for their child’s mental health needs. As pediatric primary care providers, we can help make that possible by being thoughtful in how we navigate cultural differences,” explains Noor Jihan Abdul-Haqq, MD, a REACH faculty member and pediatrician with her own practice in Oklahoma City, OK.

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How Social Media is Impacting Teens
How Social Media is Impacting Teens

May 10, 2025

The most important question that we can ask teens isn’t if they use social media, it’s how. Just last May, the Surgeon General’s advisory on social media use in youth exposed some shocking statistics: Among 13 to 17-year-olds, up to 95% use social media, with 35% saying they use social media “almost constantly.”

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How Clinicians Can Partner with Schools to Support Pediatric Patients
How Clinicians Can Partner with Schools to Support Pediatric Patients

January 30, 2025

“Clinicians who are aware of and know how to direct parents to obtain services for children within the school system can make an enormous difference for patients and families,” explains Dr. Mark Wolraich, MD, a REACH faculty member and retired professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The challenge for clinicians

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Navigating Parent Concerns About Children’s Medications
Navigating Parent Concerns About Children’s Medications

July 22, 2024

“Many parents’ biggest concern about starting their children on medication is committing to an intervention they won’t be able to stop in the future,” explains child and adolescent psychiatrist Laurence Greenhill, MD.  Research shows that parental beliefs and concerns are a top contributing factor to whether children and adolescents receive proper treatment for mental health

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When parents’ mental health affects children
When parents’ mental health affects children

January 23, 2024

“When we’re thinking about children’s mental health, we’re also thinking about the health of the family unit,” explains Alyx Holden, MD. “In order for children’s neurobiology to develop, they need the support and context of healthy caregivers.”

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August 7, 2026

Helping children with mental health concerns can be complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone. REACHing Solutions is The REACH Institute's podcast for pediatric clinicians, featuring practical conversations, expert insights, and real-world strategies to…

August 3, 2026

A look inside recent REACH trainings, where clinicians and health care systems are learning together, building practical skills, and strengthening their ability to support children and families.

July 29, 2026

Join thousands of clinicians who have strengthened their confidence and expanded their skills through REACH's evidence-based mental health trainings.

July 28, 2026

What’s one of the most important clinical skills for improving child mental health care? According to REACH founder Peter S. Jensen, MD, it’s measurement-based care. By combining standardized rating scales with clinical judgment and meaningful conversations…

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