Tag Archives: Mental Health

Demystifying Psychiatric Hospitalization

What We Know 1 in 5 youth ages 13 – 18 have or will have a serious mental illness 50% of all life-time cases of mental illness begin by the age of 14 Almost 80% of youth with mental illness do not receive treatment Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth aged 15 – 24 90% of those who committed suicide had an underlying mental illness Rate of psychiatric hospitalization for youth are on the rise – nearly 10% of pediatric hospitalizations across the US were for a primary mental health diagnosis in 2009 Common reasons for […]

The 10 Commandments of Healthy Parenting, Part II

April 27, 2017 1 comment Children's Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Cultivating healthy minds, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, harvesting hope, Mental Health, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

4) Exercise the gift of choice Many days all I want is for each of my children to do exactly what I say exactly when I say it and to do it without grumbling, loud and heavy sighs, or 20 questions. This would make my life so much easier; but, oftentimes there are protests and rebuttals. To interrupt the brewing dissension, I offer my children choices. Do you want to wear blue or black shorts today? Do you want chicken or turkey burgers for dinner? Would you rather grab lunch now or go with me to the store to pick […]

The 10 Commandments of Healthy Parenting, Part I

April 24, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Cultivating healthy minds, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, harvesting hope, Mental Health, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

I am the mother of 3 amazing children – 2 daughters ages 2 and 9 and a 6-year-old son. Parenting is simultaneously the most wonderful and challenging experience of my adult life. You might think I would have it altogether – I mean I am a board certified child psychiatrist, right? Well, these 3 have given me a run for my money and manage to do it every single day. While I know all about the science behind normal childhood development and strategies to manage temper outbursts, applying the knowledge and skills firsthand with my own children is brutal, especially […]

Celebrating Life’s Moments

April 7, 2017 0 comments Healthy Living, Mental Health Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Mental Health Dr. Leesha

.Recently, my family traveled to the Ritz Carlton Resort at Reynolds, Lake Oconee for a short get away. My older two children were on spring break, and we were all desperately in need of an escape from the daily grind. And what a fabulous time we had – an opportunity for our family to relax and reconnect. We had no schedule, gorgeous weather, and incredible views of Lake Oconee. Every morning we awakened to a gentle breeze, sunlight dancing across the surface of the lake, and melodious chirping of little birds. Our days and evenings were filled with impromptu dance parties, […]

Depression and the Believer

March 16, 2017 1 comment Faith, Mental Health Birmingham Alabama, Cultivating healthy minds, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

Formidable, disabling, destructive. The word depression conjures up such negative descriptors; but, depression is also very common both in the United States and globally. According to the World Health Organization, 350 million suffer from depression; and, this mental disorder is the leading cause of disability. The statistics are equally staggering for the United State where 9% of American adults have depression, depression is the leading cause of disability for individuals ages 15 to 43, and suicide is the leading cause of death among individuals age 15 to 29, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Stated differently, 15 million American […]

The ABCs of Self-Esteem

February 15, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Cultivating healthy minds, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, harvesting hope, Mental Health, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

I have 3 wonderfully exuberant children — a 6-year-old son and 2 and 9-year-old daughters. Much like their fabulous mother, they each possess a strong sense of identity and self-worth. Most of the time, they tackle life and the challenges that life brings with enthusiasm, courage, boldness, and an unwavering belief in their unique ability to accomplish whatever task is at hand. But sometimes they falter. They become doubtful of their intelligence, talent, and mental and physical fortitude. In these moments, their momentum is stalled; interrupted; or, worse, irrevocably destroyed. I struggle to comfort them in these moments. I seek the […]

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