Women in Children's Mental Health: Anna Freud's Legacy Lives On

I’ve been spending some time reflecting on this piece by Anna Freud regarding the great women who shaped our understanding of children’s mental health. History shows us that women have often been the original architects of psychological discovery, yet all too often, that contribution is overlooked, claimed by others or allowed to go uncredited. It is vital that we continue to champion a culture where the contribution of women is respected and the true authors of our progress are recognised.

As we continue celebrating Women's History Month, Excelsior alumna and globally recognized speaker Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II shares an important reminder: seeking mental health support is a sign of strength, not weakness. In this clip of her conversation with Excelsior Center for Social Justice founding director and chief diversity officer Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, she outlines three steps to help overcome the stigma around getting help and why having open conversations about mental health matters. Watch the full conversation and join us in continuing the dialogue. https://lnkd.in/ef9Uc9xS

South Asian women in New Zealand who have navigated trauma healing in the past five years are invited to take part in this research. Share what helped, what didn’t, and help improve future support.

The use of girls’ social media is often discussed in terms of risk. But social media can also be a space where girls build resilience, too. Drawing on emerging evidence from Ghana and Nigeria, this article explores how social media can simultaneously be a space of vulnerability, aspiration, and resilience, and why policy conversations need to reflect that complexity. Many thanks to Ronda Železný-Green, PhD and Miriam Temin for their useful feedback in shaping this piece! This blog is the second in a series that explores how adolescent girls’ engagement with social media intersects with mental health, resilience, and equity in low- and middle-income countries. Find the link to the first blog in the comments.

Women Who Changed the Way We Care: Dr. Virginia Satir Virginia Satir believed that healing rarely happens in isolation. As one of the earliest pioneers of family therapy, Satir shifted the focus of treatment beyond the individual and into the dynamics of the family system. She explored how communication patterns, roles, and unspoken expectations shape emotional health — and how strengthening those patterns can create lasting change. Her work helped establish family therapy as a respected clinical discipline at a time when it was still emerging. Through models like the Satir Change Process, she also offered a framework for understanding how people and organizations move through disruption, uncertainty, and growth. At the center of her philosophy was a simple but powerful belief: self-worth matters. Satir emphasized that improving communication and connection within families could restore dignity, rebuild trust, and foster resilience across generations. This Women’s History Month, we recognize Dr. Satir for expanding the lens of mental health care — reminding us that relationships, communication, and compassion are foundational to healing. #womenshistorymonth #virginiasatir #mentalhealth #mentalhealtheducation

Let’s talk about the word difficult. In clinical history, women were institutionalized for expressing anger. For grieving too loudly. For not complying. For wanting autonomy. In family systems, women are often expected to carry the emotional labor and keep the peace. When they stop doing that, it gets uncomfortable. Fast. In relationships, setting boundaries can shift dynamics that were built on self-sacrifice. That shift can feel threatening to people who benefited from the old version of you. And when you are a woman navigating trauma, racial oppression, addiction recovery, or LGBTQIA+ identity, the pressure to shrink gets layered. There is personal trauma. There is relational trauma. There is systemic pressure. So when a woman says no. When she leaves. When she names harm. When she takes up space. That is not pathology. That is agency. As a trauma-informed therapy practice in Chicago, we work with many women unpacking shame around being labeled too much. Too sensitive. Too intense. Too emotional. Most of the time, what we actually see is a nervous system that adapted to survive and is now learning how to exist without self-abandonment. This month we honor the women who were called difficult. They moved history forward. If you are looking for trauma therapy in Chicago rooted in liberation, depth, and accountability, we are here. Link in bio to connect. #WomensHistoryMonth #ChicagoTherapist

We are proud to partner with Odyssey Impact in support of Grace Institute’s mental health programming. Through their partnership, our participants have greater access to the resources and support they need to build confidence, navigate challenges, and thrive both personally and professionally. At Grace, we know that wellbeing is essential to long-term success. We are grateful to work alongside an organization that shares our commitment to empowering women on their path to economic independence. Thank you, Odyssey Impact, for investing in our participants and alumnae.

Our March meeting of the ProVisors East Bay Women’s Affinity Group centered around a simple but powerful theme: Health is Wealth. The conversation focused on how we each prioritize health across mind, body, and soul — and the importance of making space for it in the middle of full professional and personal lives. What made this meeting especially meaningful was the opportunity for everyone to share personal recommendations and practices that support their overall well-being. The range of perspectives was thoughtful, practical, and inspiring. One thought that stayed with me: We all have different physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs — and honoring that is part of staying well. These kinds of conversations are a great reminder that success isn’t just about what we do professionally, but how we support ourselves along the way. I’m curious to hear from others who attended — what was your favorite takeaway or recommendation from the discussion? With: Julia Holian, Jennifer Bennett, Stephanie Shaterian, Alana Grice Conner, Morvareed Salehpour, Esq., Allison Kvikstad, CFP®, CDFA®, Crystal Shanks, Dale Marie Golden, Elaine Betts, Mary (Wallis) Ballin, CFP®, CDFA®, Belle Walker, Lia Whisler Seara, CFP®, CDFA®, AIF®, & Janice Nugent

#CAMH26 Up to 75% of mental ill-health emerges before the age of 25. That's why everything @Orygen does is focused on improving mental health outcomes for young people. As the largest clinical research organisation focused on youth mental health in the world, Orygen believes in advancing progress through innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration. Through a unique blend of research, clinical care, training and advocacy, Orygen is working to translate new discoveries into real-world solutions that impact young people sooner. To keep up with research outcomes, free resources and other news from Orygen, you can follow them on LinkedIn or subscribe to email updates via: https://lnkd.in/gxbG7inM Orygen's suite of resources is also free to access anytime: https://lnkd.in/gx9_VCS5 #BronzePartner #CAMH26 #ChildAndAdolescent

Youth mental health has been gaining global attention, but attention alone won’t ensure young people have the support they need. That’s where the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health comes in. In 2025, the Coalition, including our partners at Pinterest, helped elevate youth voices and call for greater investment in mental health systems around the world. The newly released "Perception of Youth Mental Health Report" shares insights from thousands of young people across the globe. Their message is clear: stigma remains, access to support is uneven and prevention must be prioritized. Advancing youth mental health demands cross-sector collaboration, sustainable financing and meaningful youth inclusion in policy decisions. 👉 Explore the report to hear directly from young people and learn how, together, we can take action: https://lnkd.in/eGq9gFPh