The Ann Ottney Cain Lecture in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Lessons Learned from COVID-19: It Takes a Community to Support Youth Mental Health
Monday, May 6
4 - 5:30 p.m.
Online
Nurses may receive 1.5 contact hours for participating in this educational activity.
COVID-19 left many mental health issues in its wake. It was a naturally occurring experiment that demonstrated what happens in the lives of children and adolescents when school and community support are taken away. COVID-19 also showed what occurs with family structure when additional stress is layered over parents and caregivers in underresourced communities. We are now tasked with rebuilding the structures that support child/adolescent well-being and resiliency. This presentation will examine some of the key research conducted during COVID-19 regarding the intersection of youth mental health and social connections. We are now unpacking some of this data, particularly the role of loneliness and uncertainty in youth dysphoria. The task ahead is building healing and supportive communities, neighborhoods, and schools and assisting families with developing and solidifying their children's resiliency skills. Model community programs and critical strategies will be presented. Understanding the relationship between stress, resiliency, and social connectedness is the basic platform for forging involvement in community programs that support youth mental well-being as well as extending that supportive focus within our own families.
As a teacher/practitioner at RUSH University College of Nursing, Kathleen R. Delaney, PhD, APRN, PMH-NP, FAAN, professor emerita, has blended her academic, clinical, and research roles. Her clinical work focuses on child mental health and children with complex trauma. Her research has focused on creating safe and healing psychiatric environments. Delaney has authored policy statements on child mental health focused on reducing stigma, prevention, and bringing mental health services to the community settings. For 10 years, she served as editor of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.
This lecture is part of the 2023-24 Dean's Lecture Series.