Description:
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 675,000 deaths in the U.S. among which people of color, including Black people, have been overrepresented. This has caused grief and loss among children who have lost their parents and caregivers. Children in this situation are at increased risk of depression especially given additional adversities related to the pandemic including the economic crisis, racial injustice, social isolation, and educational disruption. The presenter will examine the differences between low mood, clinical depression, and bereavement among children and will discuss measures for coping with grief in an effort to prevent episodes of childhood clinical depression.

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Presenter:
Napoleon B. Higgins, Jr., MD is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist in Houston, Texas.  He is the owner of Bay Pointe Behavioral Health Services and South East Houston Research Group. Dr. Higgins received his MD from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and he completed his residency in Adult Psychiatry and his fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He is the Executive Director of the Black Psychiatrists of America, President of the Black Psychiatrists of Greater Houston, and Past President of the Caucus of Black Psychiatrists of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Higgins is co-author of Bree’s Journey to Joy: A Story about Childhood Grief and Depression, How Amari Learned to Love School Again: A Story about ADHD, Mind Matters: A Resource Guide to Psychiatry for Black Communities, and author of Transition 2 Practice: 21 Things Every Doctor Must Know In Contract Negotiations and the Job Search. Dr. Higgins has worked with countless community mentoring programs and has special interest in trauma, racism, and inner-city issues and how they affect minority and disadvantaged children and communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the difference between having a low mood versus issues of clinical depression in children 
• Discuss issues that occur during depression and bereavement in Black children
• Discuss ways to cope with grief while attempting to prevent a depressive episode with children

Who Should Attend?
Mental health professionals, mental health advocates, and mental health caretakers

Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). CEUs are not offered for this session. The webinar slide presentation and recording will be posted to the website.