Thanksgiving is approaching fast; a time of gratitude, reflection, and gathering. But this year feels different. With fear, anger, and uncertainty dominating our world, it’s hard to ask: How are we supposed to give thanks right now?

In this holiday episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah discuss the importance of staying grateful when the world feels chaotic. They talk about the benefits of gratitude on well-being and resilience and the importance of community, learning from the past, and respecting different viewpoints. Tune in for strategies to help your family build gratitude this holiday season through open conversations, stories, and creative expression!

• Illuminated Collage (MGH Clay Center)
• Conflict Resolution Course (MGH Clay Center)
• The Art of Civil Conversations: 9 Parent Strategies (MGH Clay Center)
• Five Parenting Tips for Civility and Coping With the Political Climate (MGH Clay Center)

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is slowly becoming a major part of our society. Everday more and more people begin to rely on AI for a variety of tasks in their daily routines. While most people use AI for innocuous reasons such as answering basic questions like a search engine would, today we’re here to discuss one of the more harmful uses of AI: AI therapy chatbots aimed at our youths. In this episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah are joined by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Andy Clark to discuss the growing role of AI chatbots in mental health support. From lacking empathy and clinical judgement to dangerously endorsing harmful behaviors, we explore the promises and pitfalls of AI Therapy for our young people. Tune in to learn more!

• Andrew Clark, M.D.
• The Risks of Kids Getting AI Therapy from a Chatbot (TIME)
• Adventures in AI Therapy: A Child Psychiatrist Goes Undercover (MGH Clay Center)
• The Ability of AI Therapy Bots to Set Limits With Distressed Adolescents: Simulation-Based Comparison Study (PubMed)
• Harry Harlow Monkey Experiments (Simply Psychology)
• Illinois Bans AI Therapy (National Law Review)
• The Rithm Project

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Today is World Suicide Prevention Day: a time to bring global attention to the urgent public health crisis of suicide and to reaffirm our collective commitment to prevention through compassion, connection, and community.

In this special episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah are joined by Dr. Tony Rostain for a deeply moving conversation about love, loss and healing. Dr. Rostain shares the story of the tragic loss of his son, Julian to suicide - a bright, talented young man who battled anxiety and depression, which were greatly intensified by the isolation he experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his story, Dr. Rostain helps Gene and Khadijah explore the healing power of community, love and remembrance while also reflecting on what helped him process the grief and continue his work in mental health.

• World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 (World Health Organization)
• Anthony L. Rostain, MD, MA (Cooper University)
• Sara Rian Books
• Julian Memorial – Remembering Julian Rostain
• Pack Up Your Sorrows - Richard & Mimi Farina (YouTube)
• I Love You Dad: Words A Father Will Never Hear Again (MGH Clay Center)
• Loving the Gone (Amazon)
• Home | AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
• The Jed Foundation (JED)
• Resources for People who Think About Suicide (National Institute on Mental Illness)
• Preventing Suicide (CDC)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.