Expert Panel to Discuss Anxiety and Depression on Friday

Pre-school age kids don’t tend to show signs of depression and anxiety, but by the time children reach the third grade, Dr. Sharon Campbell said, experts usually can identify a child who is struggling a bit.

Campbell, psychology department coordinator at , provides outpatient care to children ranging in age from pre-school to 18. But she said medical experts alone can’t do the job.

“We tend to rely on the parents for identifying kids who need help,” Campbell said. “The school has also been helpful in recognizing some symptoms based on the interactions with kids and changes in behavior.”

Parents, educators and the general public are invited to attend a panel discussion by experts on “Signs, Signals and Support: A Conversation about Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents.”

Campbell said everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the event, which takes place Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the on Blackburn Road.

Presented by Youth Connect, the event will feature four experts who will talk about the symptoms, diagnoses and treatment of anxiety and depression as they manifest themselves in children of all ages. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Slated to appear on the panel are:

• Dr. Debrin Goubert, psychiatrist and owner of
• Paula S. McCommons, EdD, director of the STAR Center at UPMC; 
• Patrick McElfresh, PhD, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh; and 
• Sheree Kaiser, MSW, LSW, from .

Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. 

Campbell said anxiety was the highest statistic among youths, students who sometimes go unnoticed.

“They tend to perform well in school and are compliant with rules.”

Research shows that children with untreated anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse. Anxiety disorders also often occur with other disorders, such as depression, eating disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

With treatment and support, children can learn to successfully manage the symptoms of anxiety and depression and live a normal childhood, according to ADAA.

Friday’s event is free and open to the public, and was coordinated by representatives from Laughlin Children’s Center, , and Youth Connect.

Youth Connect is a group of concerned adults and students from schools and organizations in the Sewickley area working to provide information, resources and support that young people need to avoid risky behaviors and enjoy their teen years.  

If you go

What: A panel of four experts will discuss “Signs, Signals and Support: A Conversation about Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents."

When: 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday

Where: Sewickley Valley Y’s Community Activity Center on Blackburn Road

Cost: Free

For more information on Youth Connect or the upcoming presentation, visit www.youthconnectnews.blogspot.com, or email youthconnect@hotmail.com.