Young People Facing Anxiety, Depression During Pandemic Offered New Hope — and a New Program — with Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Children and adolescents never infected with the COVID-19 virus are displaying some of the most severe pandemic-related complications. Rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts have risen considerably among young people across America, including in New Jersey, since the pandemic began in early 2020.
Featured Speaker:
Dr. Thorpe is double Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. She has identified and treated patients with various disorders, including ADHD, depression, psychosis, mood, anxiety, personality, and eating disorders, for many years.
Currently, Dr. Thorpe is a practicing psychiatrist at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, where she evaluates and treats patients of all ages. She has in-depth experience in treating children, adolescents and adults in various settings, including outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric units, the emergency room, intensive outpatient programs, group homes and partial hospitalization programs.
Michelle Thorpe, MD
Michelle Thorpe, MD, is a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry. She graduated from Ross University School of Medicine, where she completed her medical degree. She also graduated from Montclair State University, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master’s Degree in clinical child psychology. Dr. Thorpe graduated from a four-year psychiatry residency program at Bergen Regional Medical Center in 2012. Afterward, she completed a two-year Fellowship Program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where she held the title of Chief Fellow in her final year.Dr. Thorpe is double Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. She has identified and treated patients with various disorders, including ADHD, depression, psychosis, mood, anxiety, personality, and eating disorders, for many years.
Currently, Dr. Thorpe is a practicing psychiatrist at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, where she evaluates and treats patients of all ages. She has in-depth experience in treating children, adolescents and adults in various settings, including outpatient clinics, inpatient psychiatric units, the emergency room, intensive outpatient programs, group homes and partial hospitalization programs.
Transcription:
Young People Facing Anxiety, Depression During Pandemic Offered New Hope — and a New Program — with Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Prakash Chandran (Host): In the time of COVID, it can be difficult for those who have spent extended periods away from their school, their peers, and their friends. At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, there's a new program to help children, teenagers, and young adults facing anxiety and depression during the pandemic. And we're going to learn more about it today.
Let's talk about it with Dr. Michelle Thorpe, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for Bergen New Bridge Medica Center. This is Wellness Waves, a Bergen New Bridge Medical Center podcast. My name is Prakash Chandran. So, Dr. Thorpe, really great to have you here today. You know, I just wanted to start by asking how exactly has COVID-19 affected the mental health of children, teens and young adults?
Michelle Thorpe, MD (Guest): Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. I truly appreciate it. COVID has been very difficult for our young population, our children and adolescents. Unfortunately, it has been a life changer. Many of our children experienced quite a bit of anxiety and depression due to the isolation and the just drastic change in their lifestyle. It hit everyone by surprise and children really took it the hardest, having to stop school so abruptly, having to stop their social engagements, missing the time spent with their friends and their loved ones. The pressure of having to do school online, the pressure of their family members and friends being ill, or possibly getting ill from COVID; truly it made a big impact on the children and teenagers.
Host: Absolutely. And one of the things that I was talking to my friends about and I'm a parent, is that we actually don't know what the lasting effects of this pandemic will have for children because they've gone through this. And in many ways they're still going through this and we might not see a lot of the effects for years to come. Is that something that you're seeing as well?
Dr. Thorpe: Oh, yes. Yes, definitely. You know, as adults, we have experiences to draw on that often help us get through these difficult times and children are so limited with the amount of experiences they have. So many of them dealt with it in the best way that they could. So many of them did not, unfortunately.
And we're really just starting to see the impact and the outcome, at this time. Children are starting to go back to school right now, which of course brought quite a bit of anxiety to most most children. And we're starting to see an intense impact on that where the children are coming into the ER or for outpatient appointments and really verbalizing this inability to cope properly.
Host: What are some of the signs or symptoms that you see from that, that inability to cope? Is it, are there outlashes, is there physical harm? Maybe you can talk at a high level about some of those things.
Dr. Thorpe: Oh, sure. Yeah. Every child is so different and every child has responded so differently to this trauma. But we are seeing definitely quite a bit of high level of anxiety where children are having difficulty with sleep, with eating, difficulty going back outside with their peers. Sometimes children will be behaving differently than their norm. So, a child who is usually very quiet may start to act out and become more aggressive or vice versa. A child who is very aggressive or usually outgoing, may become very isolative and not be able to respond appropriately to socializing with their peers.
Often I tell parents to watch out for any subtle changes such as difficulty with appetite, difficulty with sleep, crying more, being more irritable, anything that as a parent you know, kind of makes you think that something is not right with your own child.
Host: Yeah, that makes sense. So let's kind of move on to what parents can do about it. And talk to us a little bit about this new program at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.
Dr. Thorpe: Oh, yes. So we knew the need was there. There's, as a Child Psychiatrist most in trying to find avenues for children to get help. And we have instituted a new program, an intensive outpatient program. The name of it is The Hope and Resiliency Center For Youth. This is a program for adolescents ages 13 to 17.
However, we are going to be looking at children 11 and 12 years old on a case by case basis. And this program is going to be very intensive. It's a three-day program Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 in the afternoon until 7:00 o'clock at night. It's a wonderful program. We have started already and we're getting really good results and feedback. Children will partake in group therapy, recreational therapy, art therapy, play therapy. They will see a psychiatrist, myself, weekly for medication management. There is stack time. It's a socialization time. It's something to engage the children to help them get back into the community.
Host: So that sounds pretty amazing. You mentioned group therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and things of that nature. How did you construct or put together this program?
Dr. Thorpe: Yeah. I've worked in many different facets of of child psychiatry, such as inpatient, outpatient, group homes, ER, so, I've taken all of my experiences along with the experiences others yeah, that I'm working with; we put together this program that we will be using to not only help children with therapeutic needs, but also with social needs.
Host: And what kind of results have you seen with the children who have received the treatment in this new program?
Dr. Thorpe: We are getting very good feedback from the children. They are first of all, enjoying it. And I find that so important for a child because therapy and psychiatric care should never be something that is cumbersome. It's something that I want them to enjoy and to engage in. So, they really enjoying it. They, and they are, they're finding that they are able to communicate better with their peers and their family. Medication wise, we're definitely monitoring them very closely, which is nice. So, any changes needed, can be done on a even a daily basis with the children. And I've had good feedback from parents also saying that they have noticed that their children are acting differently and able to handle stressors differently and communicating more with them. So, very positive at this point.
Host: So, if a parent is listening to this and they're thinking, hey, you know what, this is maybe something for my child. Maybe you can talk a little bit about two things. The first is maybe the signs that they might look for to let them know that their child really needs something like this. And the second thing is maybe the age group or demographic that you serve best.
Dr. Thorpe: I always tell parents, just be very aware. Use your eyes and ears. As a parent, you know, your child best. So, just looking for any change, even if it's a subtle change. Often children and adolescents have a hard time asking for help, either they can't identify their feelings properly, or they don't know how to ask for help. Or they're embarrassed to ask for help. So, I always tell parents too, to be very aware of what's happening, even if your child's is not asking for help. If as a parent, you're nervous, you're scared, you just know something is not right; definitely reach out. Always first step could be the ER if needed if you don't know where to start. Or call the community resources, such as our Access Center for our programs that we have here for the children and adolescents. Often parents are also afraid to get the children help even if a child is asking for help. And at that point, I think it's apparent you have to push away your fears. And the difficulty with engaging in the, in this process also, and listen to your child.
Host: Yeah, absolutely makes sense. And you know, the second piece of this question is who do you serve best in this program? Is it, you know, children over the ages of 10, up to teens, maybe talk a little bit about that.
Dr. Thorpe: Yes this specific program, this IOP that we have started, yes, we are going to be serving mostly adolescents and teenagers. So from about 11 years old, until 17 years old. Also it is primary a a psychiatric program. So, if a child is dealing with substance abuse as the primary diagnosis or issue, we have another program for that here in our hospital. And the name of that program is The Teen Thrive Program.
Host: So that's The Teen Thrive Program. And the one that you're discussing today is The Hope and Resiliency Program for the Youth. Is that correct?
Dr. Thorpe: Yes, that's correct. And if a parent is confused as to which program the child's would be appropriate for just call our Access Center and we can help with that.
Host: Calling that Access Center is the best way for them to get the information, right?
Dr. Thorpe: That's correct.
Host: That makes a lot of sense. So, you know, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our audience or to just give parents to help them mitigate their child's stress at home?
Dr. Thorpe: Yeah. As parents we are going through a lot also, so I think number one is to get yourself some help if needed as a parent, because it's very important. Our children will often feed off on what we are experiencing and the vibes that we are giving as parents. So, definitely get help if you yourself are going through a difficult time. Engage more with your child, whether it's through something that, that you and your child can find that you enjoy doing together or just a simple walk together or eating at a favorite restaurant, just something that you can talk to your child and observe your child in a comfortable in it and a relaxing setting. And there's definitely help out there. So, although it's a very scary and fearful time for everyone, there's help and you don't have to go through it alone.
Host: Well, that is fantastic advice, Dr. Thorpe and I think a perfect place to end. Thank you so much for your time.
Dr. Thorpe: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
Host: That's Dr. Michelle Thorpe, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. For more information, you can call that Access Center that Dr. Thorpe was talking about 24/7 for mental health and substance abuse services at 1-800-730-2762. If you found this podcast to be helpful, please share it on your social channels and be sure to check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. Thanks for checking out this episode of Wellness Waves. My name is Prakash Chandran. Thank you so much. And we'll talk next time.
Young People Facing Anxiety, Depression During Pandemic Offered New Hope — and a New Program — with Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Prakash Chandran (Host): In the time of COVID, it can be difficult for those who have spent extended periods away from their school, their peers, and their friends. At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, there's a new program to help children, teenagers, and young adults facing anxiety and depression during the pandemic. And we're going to learn more about it today.
Let's talk about it with Dr. Michelle Thorpe, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for Bergen New Bridge Medica Center. This is Wellness Waves, a Bergen New Bridge Medical Center podcast. My name is Prakash Chandran. So, Dr. Thorpe, really great to have you here today. You know, I just wanted to start by asking how exactly has COVID-19 affected the mental health of children, teens and young adults?
Michelle Thorpe, MD (Guest): Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. I truly appreciate it. COVID has been very difficult for our young population, our children and adolescents. Unfortunately, it has been a life changer. Many of our children experienced quite a bit of anxiety and depression due to the isolation and the just drastic change in their lifestyle. It hit everyone by surprise and children really took it the hardest, having to stop school so abruptly, having to stop their social engagements, missing the time spent with their friends and their loved ones. The pressure of having to do school online, the pressure of their family members and friends being ill, or possibly getting ill from COVID; truly it made a big impact on the children and teenagers.
Host: Absolutely. And one of the things that I was talking to my friends about and I'm a parent, is that we actually don't know what the lasting effects of this pandemic will have for children because they've gone through this. And in many ways they're still going through this and we might not see a lot of the effects for years to come. Is that something that you're seeing as well?
Dr. Thorpe: Oh, yes. Yes, definitely. You know, as adults, we have experiences to draw on that often help us get through these difficult times and children are so limited with the amount of experiences they have. So many of them dealt with it in the best way that they could. So many of them did not, unfortunately.
And we're really just starting to see the impact and the outcome, at this time. Children are starting to go back to school right now, which of course brought quite a bit of anxiety to most most children. And we're starting to see an intense impact on that where the children are coming into the ER or for outpatient appointments and really verbalizing this inability to cope properly.
Host: What are some of the signs or symptoms that you see from that, that inability to cope? Is it, are there outlashes, is there physical harm? Maybe you can talk at a high level about some of those things.
Dr. Thorpe: Oh, sure. Yeah. Every child is so different and every child has responded so differently to this trauma. But we are seeing definitely quite a bit of high level of anxiety where children are having difficulty with sleep, with eating, difficulty going back outside with their peers. Sometimes children will be behaving differently than their norm. So, a child who is usually very quiet may start to act out and become more aggressive or vice versa. A child who is very aggressive or usually outgoing, may become very isolative and not be able to respond appropriately to socializing with their peers.
Often I tell parents to watch out for any subtle changes such as difficulty with appetite, difficulty with sleep, crying more, being more irritable, anything that as a parent you know, kind of makes you think that something is not right with your own child.
Host: Yeah, that makes sense. So let's kind of move on to what parents can do about it. And talk to us a little bit about this new program at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.
Dr. Thorpe: Oh, yes. So we knew the need was there. There's, as a Child Psychiatrist most in trying to find avenues for children to get help. And we have instituted a new program, an intensive outpatient program. The name of it is The Hope and Resiliency Center For Youth. This is a program for adolescents ages 13 to 17.
However, we are going to be looking at children 11 and 12 years old on a case by case basis. And this program is going to be very intensive. It's a three-day program Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 in the afternoon until 7:00 o'clock at night. It's a wonderful program. We have started already and we're getting really good results and feedback. Children will partake in group therapy, recreational therapy, art therapy, play therapy. They will see a psychiatrist, myself, weekly for medication management. There is stack time. It's a socialization time. It's something to engage the children to help them get back into the community.
Host: So that sounds pretty amazing. You mentioned group therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and things of that nature. How did you construct or put together this program?
Dr. Thorpe: Yeah. I've worked in many different facets of of child psychiatry, such as inpatient, outpatient, group homes, ER, so, I've taken all of my experiences along with the experiences others yeah, that I'm working with; we put together this program that we will be using to not only help children with therapeutic needs, but also with social needs.
Host: And what kind of results have you seen with the children who have received the treatment in this new program?
Dr. Thorpe: We are getting very good feedback from the children. They are first of all, enjoying it. And I find that so important for a child because therapy and psychiatric care should never be something that is cumbersome. It's something that I want them to enjoy and to engage in. So, they really enjoying it. They, and they are, they're finding that they are able to communicate better with their peers and their family. Medication wise, we're definitely monitoring them very closely, which is nice. So, any changes needed, can be done on a even a daily basis with the children. And I've had good feedback from parents also saying that they have noticed that their children are acting differently and able to handle stressors differently and communicating more with them. So, very positive at this point.
Host: So, if a parent is listening to this and they're thinking, hey, you know what, this is maybe something for my child. Maybe you can talk a little bit about two things. The first is maybe the signs that they might look for to let them know that their child really needs something like this. And the second thing is maybe the age group or demographic that you serve best.
Dr. Thorpe: I always tell parents, just be very aware. Use your eyes and ears. As a parent, you know, your child best. So, just looking for any change, even if it's a subtle change. Often children and adolescents have a hard time asking for help, either they can't identify their feelings properly, or they don't know how to ask for help. Or they're embarrassed to ask for help. So, I always tell parents too, to be very aware of what's happening, even if your child's is not asking for help. If as a parent, you're nervous, you're scared, you just know something is not right; definitely reach out. Always first step could be the ER if needed if you don't know where to start. Or call the community resources, such as our Access Center for our programs that we have here for the children and adolescents. Often parents are also afraid to get the children help even if a child is asking for help. And at that point, I think it's apparent you have to push away your fears. And the difficulty with engaging in the, in this process also, and listen to your child.
Host: Yeah, absolutely makes sense. And you know, the second piece of this question is who do you serve best in this program? Is it, you know, children over the ages of 10, up to teens, maybe talk a little bit about that.
Dr. Thorpe: Yes this specific program, this IOP that we have started, yes, we are going to be serving mostly adolescents and teenagers. So from about 11 years old, until 17 years old. Also it is primary a a psychiatric program. So, if a child is dealing with substance abuse as the primary diagnosis or issue, we have another program for that here in our hospital. And the name of that program is The Teen Thrive Program.
Host: So that's The Teen Thrive Program. And the one that you're discussing today is The Hope and Resiliency Program for the Youth. Is that correct?
Dr. Thorpe: Yes, that's correct. And if a parent is confused as to which program the child's would be appropriate for just call our Access Center and we can help with that.
Host: Calling that Access Center is the best way for them to get the information, right?
Dr. Thorpe: That's correct.
Host: That makes a lot of sense. So, you know, is there anything else that you'd like to share with our audience or to just give parents to help them mitigate their child's stress at home?
Dr. Thorpe: Yeah. As parents we are going through a lot also, so I think number one is to get yourself some help if needed as a parent, because it's very important. Our children will often feed off on what we are experiencing and the vibes that we are giving as parents. So, definitely get help if you yourself are going through a difficult time. Engage more with your child, whether it's through something that, that you and your child can find that you enjoy doing together or just a simple walk together or eating at a favorite restaurant, just something that you can talk to your child and observe your child in a comfortable in it and a relaxing setting. And there's definitely help out there. So, although it's a very scary and fearful time for everyone, there's help and you don't have to go through it alone.
Host: Well, that is fantastic advice, Dr. Thorpe and I think a perfect place to end. Thank you so much for your time.
Dr. Thorpe: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
Host: That's Dr. Michelle Thorpe, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. For more information, you can call that Access Center that Dr. Thorpe was talking about 24/7 for mental health and substance abuse services at 1-800-730-2762. If you found this podcast to be helpful, please share it on your social channels and be sure to check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. Thanks for checking out this episode of Wellness Waves. My name is Prakash Chandran. Thank you so much. And we'll talk next time.