The Aspen Institute

Behavioral health concerns, such as anxiety and depression are common among adolescents, as is substance use. Half of all behavioral health problems begin by age 14 and youth from 12-20 years of age account for about one-tenth of all alcohol consumed in the United States, with crises such as COVID-19 only increasing challenges. In this peer-to-peer conversation, we will hear from national leaders about how they are innovating to prevent and intervene in adolescent behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. This is the fourth conversation in a four-part dialogue series to inspire visionary change in mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment for children and families in the Nation’s Capital.

Speakers:

Dr. Nauf Azad, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Adult Psychiatrist and Faculty, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Dr. James Ballard, Clinical Director, DC Department of Human Services Family Services Administration
Hilary Cairns, Deputy Administrator, DC Department of Human Services Youth Services Division
Dr. Sharon Levy, Director of Adolescent Substance Abuse and Addiction Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
Dr. Melissa Long, Pediatrician, Children’s National Hospital
Shana Simkin, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Jonah Green and Associates and Clinician and Faculty at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Dr. John Straus, Founding Medical Director of Special Projects, Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program
Dr. Aditi Vijay, Clinical Psychiatrist and Faculty at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital