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  • Mask Statement Final 8.18.21 PDF

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    A group of psychologists, social workers, and pediatricians from Northeast Tennessee signed a letter to reassure parents that wearing masks does not harm children's mental health and can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. They provided resources from organizations like Zero to Three, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the American Psychological Association on promoting children's well-being during the pandemic. The letter encourages seeking help from the Tennessee Statewide Crisis Hotline if experiencing anxiety, depression or substance abuse and concludes that masking children can help keep them in school this year.

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    A group of psychologists, social workers, and pediatricians from Northeast Tennessee signed a letter to reassure parents that wearing masks does not harm children's mental health and can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. They provided resources from organizations like Zero to Three, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the American Psychological Association on promoting children's well-being during the pandemic. The letter encourages seeking help from the Tennessee Statewide Crisis Hotline if experiencing anxiety, depression or substance abuse and concludes that masking children can help keep them in school this year.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    3K views3 pages

    Mask Statement Final 8.18.21 PDF

    Uploaded by

    Slater Teague
    A group of psychologists, social workers, and pediatricians from Northeast Tennessee signed a letter to reassure parents that wearing masks does not harm children's mental health and can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. They provided resources from organizations like Zero to Three, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the American Psychological Association on promoting children's well-being during the pandemic. The letter encourages seeking help from the Tennessee Statewide Crisis Hotline if experiencing anxiety, depression or substance abuse and concludes that masking children can help keep them in school this year.

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    of 3

    August 18, 2021

    To Our Community:

    We are psychologists, social workers, and pediatricians from across Northeast Tennessee who want
    to support parents as they guide and protect their children during COVID-19.

    We want to reassure parents there is no known connection between wearing a mask and poor
    mental health, such as depression, among children or teens. We feel confident children and teens
    who wear masks in the classroom can do so without risk for harm and doing so will reduce the
    spread of COVID-19.

    Research shows that COVID-19 has increased behavioral or emotional problems for some children
    and adolescents; however, experts agree that the specific causes of those concern are major
    changes and events such as:
    • family economic loss and loss of resources,
    • trauma around the loss/sickness of a family member,
    • isolation,
    • and major disruption of routine, particularly school attendance.

    Parents should know that decades of family science research shows that even when families face
    major challenges such as these, children who are supported by strong family leadership, including
    loved ones who consistently nurture, guide, and protect them, will fare well.

    Parenting during this pandemic has been very hard. The uncertainty and disruption in our lives has
    increased demands on caregivers. We offer our community the following resources:

    • A national non-profit that promotes scientifically based guidance for early childhood
    development, Zero to Three, advises that young children do best with routine and
    consistency and that mask-wearing is a safe and developmentally appropriate expectation
    even for younger children. It is important for caregivers to “keep it simple, not scary” when
    talking to children about masks.
    • The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers guidance to families on how to keep
    children safe and promote resilience during the pandemic and how to notice signs of distress
    at different developmental stages.
    • The American Psychological Association offers information for those caring for loved ones
    during COVID-19 including young children, teens, and older adults.
    • Since parents’ well-being is so closely linked to child well-being, we strongly encourage you
    to seek help if you are experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, or substance
    abuse. Call the Tennessee Statewide Crisis Hotline (855-274-7471; 855-CRISIS-1) or talk to
    your doctor.

    Let’s keep our children in school this year by helping them mask up!

    In Health,
    Jodi Polaha, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Professor, ETSU Family Medicine;
    Director, Institute for Integrated Behavioral Health
    Matthew Tolliver, PhD, Licensed Psychologist
    Assistant Professor, ETSU Pediatrics; Assistant Director, Institute for Integrated Behavioral Health
    Tom Burns, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Kingsport
    Courtney Lilly, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Elizabethton
    K. Ramsey McGowen, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, HSP, Professor Emeritus,
    Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, James H. Quillen College of Medicine
    Heather Beaudry, PhD. Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Laura Freeman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
    Michael R. Floyd, EdD, Licensed Psychologist, Jonesborough, Emeritus Professor, Family Medicine
    James H. Quillen College of Medicine
    Andrew H. Bloch, PsyD Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Martha Rubenstein PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Private practice, Kingsport
    Bess Lewis, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Thomas E. Schacht, PsyD, ABPP, Professor Emeritus, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
    James H. Quillen College of Medicine
    Jessica Turner, Ph.D., HSP Licensed Psychologist; Johnson City
    Brandi Johnson, LMSW, Licensed Master Social Worker, Johnson City
    Gayatri Bala Jaishankar, MD, FAAP, Professor, Department of Pediatrics. Medical Director,
    Pediatrics Clinic, ETSU HEALTH, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University
    Karen Schetzina, MD, MPH, FAAP, Professor and Chief, Division of Academic Pediatrics,
    Department of Pediatrics; Director, Child and Family Health Institute, ETSU
    Eric Roth, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist,
    Roth Neuropsychology and Behavioral Health Associates, Johnson City
    Judith G Tudiver, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Jerome Cook, PhD, Licensed Psychologist; Johnson City
    Maureen Bibby, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Jonesborough
    Adam Love, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist
    Jennifer Correll, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Julie Culligan, PhD, FAIHM, NBC-HWC, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Savannah LeBarre, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist, Marion, Virginia
    Christine Adler, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Kerry Holland, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Dan Jones, PhD ABPP, Counseling Center, ETSU, Chief Psychologist and Director
    Judy B. Millington, Ph.D., Retired Clinical Psychologist, Kingsport
    Donald Larkin PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Johnson City
    Bridget R. Jeter, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Bristol, VA
    Mandi Deitz, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Newport
    Demetrio Macariola MD, Professor in Pediatrics, Quillen Medical College-ETSU
    Jodi Gage MD, FAAP, Assistant Professor, ETSU Pediatrics, Associate Program Director
    Dianna C. Puhr, MD, FAAP, General Pediatrician
    Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
    Resources

    Zero to Three: A national non-profit that promotes scientifically based


    guidance for early childhood development advises that young children do
    best with routine and consistency and that mask-wearing is a safe and
    developmentally appropriate expectation even for younger children.
    • https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3593-mask-up-talking-to-
    young-children-about-wearing-masks

    The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers guidance to families


    on how to keep children safe and promote resilience during the pandemic
    and how to notice signs of distress at different developmental stages.
    • https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-
    sheet/parent_caregiver_guide_to_helping_families_cope_with_the_c
    oronavirus_disease_2019.pdf

    The American Psychological Association offers information for those


    caring for loved ones during COVID-19 including young children, teens,
    and older adults.
    • https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/parenting-caregiving

    Tennessee Statewide Crisis Hotline:


    • www.tngov/crisisline
    • 855-274-7471 (855-CRISIS-1)

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