The Clay Center for Young Health Minds, based at Massachusetts General Hospital, is a free on-line educational resource to empower parents and other caring adults to better support the mental, emotional and behavioral well-being of the young people in their lives. In this presentation, Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH, Associate Director of the Clay Center, will offer guidance on how librarians can support child and adolescent mental health during these uniquely challenging times. Will Capriola, who co-leads the Clay Center’s school and community outreach, will share an overview of the Center’s library of resources, which includes English and Spanish educational content on topics like anxiety, depression, learning challenges, and sleep, as well as societal concerns(bullying, digital media etc.), self-care, and resilience-building. Join us to discuss mental health with Dr. Booth Watkins and learn about this free and accessible resource for meeting the diverse needs of students and families.

Bios:

Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH, is associate director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Associate Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program of Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. In addition, she provides clinical care to children, adolescents, and families in the Child Outpatient Clinic and continues to teach and supervise fellows, residents, and medical students. Dr. Booth Watkins specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. Areas of particular interest and expertise are Anxiety Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, student and college mental health, mental health within schools, diversity, inclusion, and suicide prevention.

Will Capriola co-leads School and Community Outreach at the Clay Center for Young Health Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). He collaborates with libraries, schools, and other youth and family-serving organizations to respond to the mental health needs of Greater Boston through education. Will is also the Youth Outreach Worker at the MGH Revere Youth Zone where he helps young people develop life skills and form nurturing relationships through after-school programming. Will is passionate about bringing equity to the forefront of his work and partnerships in the field of mental health.