Episode 22: A Conversation with Dr. Amani Hassan, Practicing Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist NHS; Faculty Chair, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Royal College of Psychiatrists, Wales, UK

As the US Surgeon General calls for a social media warning label similar to the one on cigarettes and alcohol, we focus on child and teenage mental health in this somewhat longer than usual episode. And about halfway through – we get into a really good discussion on that really big issue: the role of social media in the growing problems of Gen Z and the youngest children – Gen Alpha.

We’re talking about all this with a child psychiatrist from the United Kingdom’s storied but now struggling National Health System. And she has some ideas you probably haven’t heard before. This is one of several episodes revisiting the NHS and it’s ongoing shortages and waiting lists from the standpoint of the doctors who keep it functioning. Often with great difficulty.

If you haven’t heard or watched Episode 11 – perhaps you might want to for the overall story of the NHS and its current woes. A quick refresher: the NHS began in 1948 – more than 75 years ago – and along with the slightly younger Swedish system – is the basic model for taxpayer financed, government controlled, universal health care. Free at the point of use for all.

Many of the NHS doctors that patients see are also its caretakers. Helping their local systems function while they also work in their specialties. Like my guest in this episode - who lives and works in Wales, one of the UK’s four devolved nations.

Dr. Amani Hassan is an experienced practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist  – a consultant, as many doctors are called in the NHS. She also chairs the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales and works as well in learning disability psychiatry. Additionally, Dr. Hassan researches neuro-developmental disorders. She was the Training Program Director (2015 to 2018) of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Wales Deanery.

There is some discussion about mentally disturbed young people. So I’ve included information below on how to get help if you or someone you know needs it – in both the UK and the US.

Note: all episodes are also available in video form on YouTube

IN THE UK: NHS National Suicide Prevention Line

0800 689 5652. 6pm to midnight. Backup: 0800 689 0880

999 for life threatening emergencies. Or go to nearest A and E.

https://www.spuk.org.uk/national-suicide-prevention-helpline-uk/

IN THE US: 988  Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7

Reaches local crisis centers similar to the way  911 functions for all other emergencies.

https://988lifeline.org/