Category Archives: Schools

Accessing Mental Health Services: The College Edition

September 6, 2021 0 comments Mental Health, Parenting, Schools Birmingham Alabama, college mental health, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, drleesha, Mental Health, mental health awareness, Mental Illness Education, Psychiatrist, student mental health Dr. Leesha

Mental Illness Statistics What we already know according to the National Institute of Mental Health: 1 in 5 adults in the United States live with a mental disorder and those mental disorders range in severity from mild to moderate to severe Young adults ages 18 – 25 years have the highest prevalence of any mental illness at 29.4% Only 38.9% of adults 18 – 25 years with any mental disorder received mental health services compared to 45.4% of adults ages 26 – 49 with any mental disorder Young adults ages 18 – 25 years have the highest prevalence of serious […]

Rooted in the Word: Back-to- School Scriptures for the Kids

July 21, 2019 2 comments Children's Mental Health, Healthy Living, Parenting, Schools, Uncategorized children, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, drleesha, Faith, schools Dr. Leesha

Here’s Comes August Now only a few weeks away, the month of August is always an exciting one in the Cox home. We celebrate three birthdays, my two girls and my husband, and the new school year begins. This year our baby girl starts big kid school, the last run of kindergarten for our brood. Cue the tears. We also have a third grader and a seasoned middle schooler who is starting seventh grade. Our children spend the bulk of their day at school, learning new material and mastering new skills. They also face real challenges, from bullies to academic […]

Bullying and Depression

November 19, 2018 8 comments Children's Mental Health, Health Education, Mental Health, Schools Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, children, Depression, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Mental Health, Psychiatrist, schools, special education Dr. Leesha

Devastating News A few days ago, I learned that 9-year-old Madison Whitsett from Birmingham, Alabama, committed suicide. I have gleaned 3 facts from major news outlets – Madison was diagnosed with ADHD, she was being bullied at school, and she had recently started new medication. Although Madison’s parents have not divulged the name of the medication, some have stated that suicidal thoughts are listed as one of the side effects. I am profoundly devastated by this news. My heart breaks for this precious baby, her family, and the entire community. I thought long and hard about writing this blog post, […]

Back to School Prayer

August 5, 2018 0 comments Faith, Parenting, Schools Birmingham, children, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, education, Faith, Psychiatrist, schools Dr. Leesha

As many of you know, I have 3 children. My son is 7 and my daughters will be 4 and 11 in just a few days. A new school year is rapidly upon us and always rouses mixed feelings in the Cox house and heralds beginnings and endings simultaneously – the end of summer and fall’s arrival; late nights become the morning rush; we swap summer vacation in eager anticipation of winter’s holidays; and the crack of the baseball bat and homeruns turn into quarterback sacks and touchdowns. In preparation for the new academic year, I want to share my […]

3 Tips For When Your Child Worries

March 22, 2018 1 comment Children's Mental Health, Mental Health, Parenting, Schools Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, children, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Parenting, positive parenting, Psychiatrist, schools Dr. Leesha

Honestly, these last 2 weeks have been pretty tough for the Cox family of five. Between my husband hosting the 2017 – 2018 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship at Birmingham Southern College, my son’s weekly baseball practices and games, the daily grind of work and school, and threats of severe weather, we have been stretched thin. On top of that, there have now been 3 school shootings as of this writing – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, Huffman High School In Birmingham, AL on March 7, AL, and Great Mills High School in Great Hills, Maryland on March 20. Each shooting, tragic, and occurring within weeks of the other, my own anxiety escalated. But, this time my oldest was deeply impacted.

HELP! My Child is Struggling in School!

March 7, 2018 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Health Education, Mental Health, Parenting, Schools Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, children, disruptive behavior, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, education, Mental Illness Education, Psychiatrist, schools, special education Dr. Leesha

From kindergarten through high school, our children spend the bulk of their day at school. Within the school setting, they learn new skills and demonstrate mastery of educational concepts, form new friendships and nurture old ones, solve problems, manage conflicts and disagreements, and grow. Not infrequently, however, children begin to experience symptoms of a psychiatric illness that may greatly interfere with his ability to accomplish these tasks at school. The statistics bear out this very real risk of psychiatric illness.

Dr. Leesha | Psychiatrist, Therapist, and Parenting Expert