My weeks in the middle of October are crowded with patients – often patients I am not supposed to see since they are over 18 and my program does not extend beyond 18 years. These patients, however, know me and I know them. They turn first to someone they know, and I have told them…
“Dr. Beck, have you got a summer reading list ready yet?” When I was asked this question last week, I was taken aback. I had completely forgotten to get a book list together before the summer started. Last summer, one of the more popular handouts I prepared were some reading lists for youth. I made…
For many youth and their families, it is a few years since they’ve gotten together with their relatives. If you are thinking of something to do that is good for mental health, why not consider a family visit? My happiest summer memories are of visiting relatives with my parents and brother and sisters and, in…
Last week, I went to work with 1.3 litre of milk. In Canada, you can buy milk in packages of 4 litres, the 4 litres being divided into 3 smaller bags each containing 1.3 litres of milk. To give you an idea of the size, if you’re not familiar with Canada’s bags of milk, I’ve…
Harm Reduction is a difficult topic to explain to people: parents, educators, lawmakers don’t always understand why I can be satisfied with a youth lowering their drug use when they really need to stop their drug use. Harm reduction can sound like a clinician is giving in – the second to last step before giving…
In the past three weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, more and more of the youth in my practice are talking bout war. Even as NATO emphasizes that they do not want to provoke a global conflict, the teens in my practice already know what the grown-up leaders around the world try to ignore. This already…
I spent the last three days at college convocations and I was reminded of this blog from a few years ago by a friend who gages graduates as I sometimes do – by their shoes! I decided to repost it for all those on stage parties this graduation season. Thank you for taking the time…