OPENING PANDEMIC'S BOX: SUPPORTING DEVELOPING ADOLESCENTS

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Developmental tasks of adolescence involve identity formation, building relationships, and achieving independence. This session will highlight some important aspects of adolescent development sports/athletics, racial identity and racism, school and learning, and digital media. Special focus will be given to challenges with COVID-19, including activity cancellation, school changes/virtual schooling, increased awareness of racial and social disparities, and the role of media in social connections. Effects on mental health and well-being and the role of child and adolescent psychiatrists will also be discussed. Methods: Presentations will review the relevant literature and data with didactics, videos, case examples, polling, and interactive discussion. Raymond Pan, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist, will discuss the role of athletics in adolescence, stressors involved with athletics, and issues related to concussions. Brandon Newsome, MD, psychiatry resident, will approach racial identity and racism in adolescence and how COVID-19 has influenced social determinants of mental health. Desiree Shapiro, MD, early-career child and adolescent psychiatrist, will discuss school- and learning-related mental health and explore disparities and injustices. Meredith Gansner, MD, early-career child and adolescent psychiatrist, will discuss media use and screen time in adolescence, effects of the pandemic, and potential risks of excessive digital media while maintaining interpersonal connectedness. Discussants Eugene Beresin, MD, and Liwei Hua, MD, PhD, both of whom are child and adolescent psychiatrists, will synthesize the material presented and facilitate discussion. Results: Participants will 1) recognize the role of sports, racial identity and racism, school and learning, and digital media in the context of normal adolescent development as they relate to identity and relationship formation, as well as independence;2) learn about risks to these areas of development in the context of the pandemic;and 3) identify the role of child and adolescent psychiatrists in addressing the effects on mental health associated with the pandemic’s disruption of expected adolescent developmental milestones. Conclusions: The session focuses on topics relevant to adolescent life (sports/athletics, racial identity and racism, school and learning, and digital media) from a developmental perspective and seeks to educate clinicians on issues related to the topics. ADOL, DEV