Sara Harmon

Child Psychiatrist and Pediatrician. Child Advocate. Views are my own.

[American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry @AACAP]

What happened in Atlanta Tuesday evening is a tragedy, and comes after a year of rising xenophobia towards Asians and Asian-Americans. AACAP stands together with our Asian American community.

https://t.co/P233n9S5W1

[Benjamin D. Hoffman, MD, FAAP @AAPPres]

The entire pediatric community is shocked and heartbroken over the shooting of Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson in Austin, Texas. We grieve with her family, her colleagues, and her patient community, who have lost a caring pediatrician, friend, and mother. https://t.co/JgNTwZSo9z

[Governor Josh Shapiro @GovernorShapiro]

We are all in this together and need everyone on board to stop spreading #COVID19.

Wear a mask when you leave home and quarantine for 14 days after you’ve been to a hotspot state.

[Governor Josh Shapiro @GovernorShapiro]

Today I’m announcing new statewide #COVID19 restrictions, effective 7/16:

🔹 All indoor dining: Reduced to 25% capacity
🔹 Bars: Open for sit-down meals at tables only, bar service prohibited
🔹 Telework: Mandated (if possible)
🔹 Gatherings: < 25 people indoor, < 250 outdoor

[Child & Adol Psych Med Students & Residents @CAP_MSR]

How wonderful. Thank you @NIH @NIAIDNews for providing #MedTwitter & everyone the opportunity to engage especially during the reflective time of #MinorityMentalHealthMonth #DiversityAndInclusion. We will be sure to tune in. @AACAP @APAPsychiatric @PsychResChat @PsychSIGN

[Joe Biden @JoeBiden]

This Fourth of July, one of the most patriotic things you can do is wear a mask.

[JAACAP Journals @JAACAP]

#COVID19 has resulted in widespread changes to our lives. #JAACAP is asking you to complete a survey to inform us what you believe are the most crucial research priorities to ensure the health and well-being of children and families. Take the quick survey: https://t.co/ZeiRPL2P8c

[justin schreiber @jschreiberdo]

Congrats to all the new Peds, psych and triple board residents and CAP fellows! You are all going to be great and we can’t wait to work with you! Make sure to join @CAP_MSR and @AAPSOPT

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@childpsychvt @jschreiberdo Haha oh my gosh you were quicker with the meme but I was contemplating the exact same reference #Hamilton #JAACAPConnectChats

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@JAACAP Thank you for including us!

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

Having a lot of fun discussing psychiatry @ schools and love this idea for a future #JAACAPConnectChats

[justin schreiber @jschreiberdo]

@saralharmon @KristenDurbinMD @JAACAP Seems like the utilization of standardized test continues to be with limited data driven support and worsening mental health impact, sounds like a good topic for a future #JAACAPConnect article #JAACAPConnectChats

[justin schreiber @jschreiberdo]

@KristenDurbinMD @saralharmon @MrMockWHS @Chama_MD @JAACAP @ChildrensPhila Would be great if we could normalize mental health services through the school to #reducestigma and get more to access care #JAACAPConnectChats

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@jschreiberdo Also- I'd throw out there that, similar to a patient where the problem is ALWAYS someone else, if a family's "problem" is with many school staff at many levels, consider that perhaps you don't have a "reliable historian". Reaching out to school can still help.

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@jschreiberdo On the mental health side, I've had luck getting a parent to sign a release and directly communicating myself (in a non-confrontational way) with the school to get more clarity. I also encourage families to document everything. #JAACAPConnectChats

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@childpsychvt @JAACAP @uvmchildpsych As a teacher, it was dispiriting to see what felt like a lack of involvement of parents. I think another role for psychiatrists might be to help teachers re-frame their perception of students & families to reduce frustration and burnout in teachers. #JAACAPConnectChats

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@KristenDurbinMD @JAACAP It broke my heart how anxious my students were over standardized tests. As you know, schools receiving funding based on "improvement" on standardized testing so there is enormous pressure in low-income schools for students to perform #JAACAPConnectChats

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@Chama_MD @KristenDurbinMD @JAACAP This is very tough. I don't think families should be obligated to share their child's personal health information with schools if they elect not to. @drsharonhoover perhaps knows more about legislative proposals/solutions?

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@pedipsych One practical piece of advice that might be more generally applicable would be to prioritize one or a few interventions and really work with the school to get them in place. IEPs are LONG and hard to read and follow perfectly.

[Sara Harmon @saralharmon]

@pedipsych Sometimes there is a mismatch in school setting and child (like parents who are expecting a "therapeutic school" level of services in a mainstream classroom). New school setting can make a huge difference. But this obviously doesn't always apply. #JAACAPConnectChats