Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2021 - 54

Corners of the PCSO

Reach Out
I encourage you to get to know some mental
health clinicians in your community. By learning
about their work, you will be better positioned
to make an appropriate referral when needed.
They can also help you reflect on how to address
mental health issues in your practice.
Create an Atmosphere of Secure Support at the
Top
If your staff feel well-supported by you and each
other, this security will be palpable to patients.
Insecure patients and chaotic families benefit
greatly from exposure to caring and secure adult
authority figures. If you are struggling emotionally, or if you simply want to examine your own life,
be sure to seek out your own therapist or clinician.
Doing so is not a sign of weakness but rather
demonstrates emotional maturity and self-awareness. Furthermore, if you establish that mutual
support and emotional check-ins are an important
part of the orthodontic workplace, then your team
will maintain greater cohesion and emotional
stability over time. This will be a win-win, because
not only will your staff feel better, but patients
and their families will sense it too.
Keep Reflecting
By staying aware of behavioral health issues and
continuing to reflect on how your practice does or
does not address them, you can gradually develop
processes that work for you, your staff, and your
patients. Although your priority is of course to
manifest healthy and beautiful smiles, with deliberate reflection you can also support the whole
patient. After all, to heal means " to make whole. "
In Summary
The pandemic is causing significant collateral
damage to child mental health. If you put some

energy into becoming informed about these
issues and applying your knowledge to your practice, you can serve as a valued stabilizing force for
community welfare.
References
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Njai R, Holland KM. Mental health-related emergency department visits among children aged <18 years
during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States,
January 1-October 17, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly
Rep 2020;69:1675-1680.
3. Perou R, Bitsko RH, Blumberg SJ, et al.; Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mental health
surveillance among children-United States, 2005-2011.
MMWR Suppl 2013;62:1-35.
4. Ghandour RM, Sherman LJ, Vladutiu CJ, et al. Prevalence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in U.S. children. J Pediatr 2018;206:256267.
5. Danielson ML, Bitsko RH, Ghandour RM, Holbrook
JR, Blumberg SJ. Prevalence of parent-reported ADHD
diagnosis and associated treatment among U.S. children and adolescents, 2016. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol
2018;47:199-212.
6. Lenzenweger MF, Lane MC, Loranger AW, Kessler RC.
DSM-IV personality disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biol Psychiatry 2007;62:553564.
7. Volkert J, Gablonski TC, Rabung S. Prevalence of
personality disorders in the general adult population in
Western countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry 2018;213:709-715.
8. Ivey-Stephenson AZ, Demissie Z, Crosby AE, et al.
Suicidal ideation and behaviors among high school
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PCSO Bulletin Spring 2021

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2021