Staten Island doctors to tackle teen mental health issues in weekly video posts

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Physicians at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) are posting weekly awareness videos on social media for parents and teens on critical mental health topics during the month of May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

In the posts, the medical professionals cover hot topics affecting the mental health of young people, including substance use, social media, eating habits and mindfulness.

“Sharing mental health awareness with children and their families is like providing them with a compass in a storm,’’ said Dr. Timothy Sullivan, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at SIUH. “It guides them through the ups and downs, helping them navigate their emotions, understand themselves and each other better, and create a supportive environment where struggles are met with understanding and love.”

Even prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, New York children were experiencing a mental health crisis, hospital administrators said …