Let’s Talk Teen Mental Health Workshop

More than 50% of autistic teens meet the criteria for a co-occurring mental health condition, most notably anxiety and depression (Matson & Williams, 2013). We invite you to join Danielle Nolan (MSW RSW) and Bethany Brewin (MSc OT) in a 2-part series to talk about your autistic teen’s mental health and well-being. You will be provided with opportunities to connect with other families and will be given information and general strategies for supporting teen mental health. This workshop is appropriate for families and caregivers of autistic children 13 and over, as well as professionals working with this population.

Part 1: April 5, 2023, 7:00-8:00 PM
The focus of week 1 will be background information on co-occurring conditions, self-regulation, and stress. Parents will be taught parenting strategies for engaging and collaborating with their teens.

Part 2: April 19, 2023, 7:00-8:00 PM
The focus of week 2 will be general strategies for supporting your teen. Parents/caregivers will be shown concrete tools that can be used for promoting positive mental health and improving coping skills in the home and community.

Matson, J. L., & Williams, L. W. (2013). Differential diagnosis and comorbidity: distinguishing autism from other mental health issues. Neuropsychiatry, 3(2), 233. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A325319020/AONE?u=anon~300d929c&sid=googleScholar&xid=37292826
 

Speakers:

Danielle is the Social Worker on Autism Ontario’s newly formed, Subject Matter Expert team. She lives in the East Region and has a particular interest in supporting rural populations. She completed her Master of Social Work designation at the University of Toronto where she gained practicum experience at the Hospital for Sick Children. Over the past 7 years, Danielle has worked in child welfare and children’s treatment. Most recently, Danielle was the social worker in an Autism Hub. She provided brief- and on-going emotional and instrumental support to children with ASD and their families. 

Bethany is an experienced occupational therapist living in Simcoe County. She attended the University of Toronto for her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She has worked with children, youth, and families across Canada, as well as providing consultation services to childcare settings, schools, and community organizations. Bethany has presented on a variety of topics over the years, from fine motor skills to the impact of screen time on early childhood development. She is particularly passionate about connecting with the world around us through mindfulness: engaging our senses to connect with our surroundings. Bethany is part of Autism Ontario's "Subject Matter Expert" team.