You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers - by Christine M Crawford (Hardcover)

About the Book

Drawing on her own clinical experience and guidance from leading experts, the author provides a lens through which to understand the many complex factors affecting children's mental health. Analyzing young people from preschool to high school, she shares insights into how mental health conditions may manifest at different ages, what interventions may be necessary, and what to do to help kids thrive.

Book Synopsis

"You are Not Alone is the beacon of hope parents and caregivers need.... Every physician and mental health provider should keep copies of this book to give parents when these issues arise; the insights and hope this book provides will be a powerful tool in the provider's therapeutic toolkit." --Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., author, with Oprah Winfrey, of the New York Times #1 bestseller What Happened to You: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing

"Makes the complex world of children's mental health accessible to all while uplifting the voices and experiences of real parents and caregivers." --Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of the On Purpose podcast

The perfect follow-up to You Are Not Alone: a guide for parents, educators, caregivers, and mental health professionals on how to navigate mental healthcare for the young people in their lives.

A growing number of children and teens in the U.S. are struggling with mental health conditions, but parents, teachers, and other caregivers are often at a loss when concerns arise for their own child. Are your preschooler's constant tantrums typical for their age, or an indication of a developmental difficulty? Is puberty or depression to blame for your pre-teen's challenging behavior? Is my child in the wrong school, or being influenced by the wrong friends? Am I a bad parent or teacher, or am I overreacting? What exactly should I do?

In You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers, child psychiatrist and NAMI's Associate Medical Director Dr. Christine M. Crawford provides a comprehensive, compassionate, and practical resource for anyone concerned about a child's mental health. Drawing on her own clinical experience and guidance from leading experts, Dr. Crawford provides a lens through which to understand the many complex factors affecting children's mental health. Analyzing young people from preschool to high school, she shares insights into how mental health conditions may manifest at different ages, what kind of interventions may be necessary, and what to do to help kids thrive. Throughout, the book channels the collective wisdom of the NAMI community. Parents, caregivers, and young people themselves share personal stories about their paths to recovery, ensuring readers know that they are not alone.

Review Quotes

"All too often, the heartbreak of a child struggling with mental health challenges is magnified by fear, confusion and hopelessness. You are Not Alone is the beacon of hope parents and caregivers need. Writing in a clear, compelling and compassionate style, Dr. Crawford helps explain the complexities of emotional and behavioral problems, and the intricacies of the mental health system. The voices of experts and families with lived experience provide more insights; the combination results in an essential book for anyone living or working with children experiencing mental health problems. Every physician and mental health provider should keep copies of this book to give parents when these issues arise; the insights and hope this book provides will be a powerful tool in the provider's therapeutic toolkit." --Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., author, with Oprah Winfrey, of the New York Times #1 bestseller What Happened to You: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing

"Dr. Crawford provides clear, gentle guidance so that caregivers can take earlier steps to protect their children's mental health and stave off unnecessary pain caused by delayed intervention. Her advice on when to step in, and how, will benefit every child cared for by loving adults who want to do what's best, but are overwhelmed by their circumstances. Not sure where to start? This is the place." --Michelle Icard, author of 8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child a Success

"Dr. Christine Crawford has written a vitally needed and timely guide for parents and caregivers whose children experience mental health issues that require attention or are at high risk for developing and experiencing mental health challenges. Dr. Crawford has provided a comprehensive resource that navigates the many dimensions of supporting children and families with up to date, evidenced-based information for diagnosing and supporting children and adolescents. A particularly exceptional quality of this volume is the great sensitivity and respect given to the journeys of families navigating the confusing and, at times, emotionally overwhelming circumstances they encounter. The voices and lived experience of families and children bring this volume to life by underscoring family systems and a societal perspective about children's mental health and illustrate the complexity and stigma that families and children experience. You Are Not Alone is highly recommended as a resource that will be used frequently by parents and family members, and all caregivers and professionals who have concerns about and who are committed to supporting children's emotional well-being." --Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, author of Uniquely Human

"In this vital resource, Dr. Crawford makes the complex world of children's mental health accessible to all while uplifting the voices and experiences of real parents and caregivers. You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers is an essential guide for those struggling with their children's mental health and looking for a path forward." --Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of the On Purpose podcast

"This book is an absolute necessity. The crisis of children's mental health is a crucial issue of our time, and for anyone who is worried about their child or a young person in their life, You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers is the guide they've been looking for. Dr. Crawford deftly blends her medical expertise with moving and honest accounts from real people to create a resource that will be valuable for years to come." --Michele Borba, Ed.D, educational psychologist and bestselling author of UnSelfie and Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine

About the Author

Christine Crawford, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine. Additionally, she's the Medical Director for the Boston Public Health Commission's School Based Clinician Program in which she provides direct guidance on how best to support the socioemotional wellbeing of children within the Boston Public School System. She is also the Associate Medical Director for NAMI, having been hand-picked by Dr. Ken Duckworth, author of You Are Not Alone. On behalf of NAMI, she regularly engages with the general public, as well as with organizations, companies, healthcare providers, and fellow clinicians and researchers. She is also a trusted source of child mental health expertise for major media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, the Boston Globe, NBC, and Medscape. She makes regular, on-camera appearances for the Today Show, Black News Channel, and local news affiliates of CBS, Fox, and ABC. She lives with her family in Boston, Massachusetts.