U-M Mott Children’s poll: Nearly 50% of parents say pandemic negatively impacted their teens’ mental health
Mental health experts say that isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic exacerbates depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for at-risk teens. He said that the pandemic created new mental health issues for some, but for others exacerbated existing issues. According to the poll, parents said changes in social interactions over the past year seemed to hit their children the hardest. Giving them space for some quiet time, creative time or music time can be helpful to their mental health. Almost one in four parents in the Mott Poll say their teens were experiencing negative changes in their sleep since the pandemic started.
Annual Save A Heart Gala at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital goes virtual
Annual Save A Heart Gala raises funds for congenital heart research, families of patients at U-M's C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Center’s annual Save A Heart Gala has gone virtual this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Now in its 28th year, the event raises funds to support congenital heart research and families whose children with life-threatening heart conditions receive treatment at Mott. The Save A Heart Virtual Gala will kick off on Thursday at 7 p.m. The annual campaign coincides with Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week and American Heart Month in February.
Santa makes virtual visits to pediatric patients in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR – Though this pandemic has canceled most yearly events and traditions, Santa isn’t one of them. The man in the red suit and Mrs. Claus made virtual visits from the North Pole via Zoom to sick children at Michigan Medicine C.S. Child and Family Life staff made the cherished yearly visit possible by bringing Santa room to room on an iPad. “Because of their health conditions, visiting Santa isn’t possible for many of them, let alone during a pandemic. We are so thankful to the donors who are giving the gift of time to keep the tradition alive this year.”Related reading:
Spirit Halloween to host annual ‘reverse trick-or-treating’ event at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
ANN ARBOR – Spirit of Children will be continuing its tradition this year by bringing Halloween fun to young patients at Michigan Medicine C.S. During the “reverse trick-or-treat” event, Mott child life specialists will deliver special care packages with activity books, treat bags, assorted costumes and crayons donated by the organization to Little Victors. The nonprofit arm of Spirit Halloween supports Child Life programs that aim to make hospitalization more comfortable for children and their families. Over the last five years, Spirit of Children has donated more than 1,000 costumes to Mott Children’s inpatients and their siblings at Halloween parties. Music therapists and child life specialists at Mott have also partnered with Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan to host a virtual Halloween party that will feature a special Monster mash video.