Child Mind Institute

"All self-confident children with ADHD share one thing: They grow up surrounded by people who celebrate their value and offer unconditional support. There are countless ways you can help your child recognize their worth. Start by weaving these confidence-building practices into your day-to-day parenting." - Larisa (Lara) Litvinov, Ph.D., of the Child Mind Institute https://lnkd.in/e4AGb656

To strengthen youth mental health systems, the perspectives of young people are essential to improving the solutions that truly support them. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, you’ll meet members of our newly formed Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) from South Africa, Greece and Brazil, who explore what mental health fitness means in different contexts and how collaboration strengthens systems globally. For Jennifer, from South Africa, transformation involves the co-creation of healthy spaces where young people can grow, build resilience, develop agency, and flourish. Mental health challenges, she says, are deeply influenced by social, economic, and cultural conditions, and real growth happens when solutions are shaped within those contexts and through knowledge exchange. Jennifer is passionate about ensuring under-represented youth voices are amplified, including young people living with disabilities. She also initiated a safe space that works to empower inner-city young women. Learn more about our work with youth: https://lnkd.in/eiqcPyzW Founding support for the SNF Global Center is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI). (snfghi.org)

When children are chatty at home but have trouble speaking up at school or in other social situations, this can be a sign of selective mutism. Children with SM aren't being defiant — anxiety can make speaking feel impossible, even when they want to communicate. But with the right support, they can find their voice. Brave Buddies® is an evidence-based intensive program helping children ages 3–12 with selective mutism build confidence and communication skills. Spots are limited — learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eSXvc4fx

What if autism heterogeneity reflects fundamentally different underlying biological mechanisms, rather than variation along a single spectrum? A cross-species study just published in Nature Neuroscience, bringing together teams from the Child Mind Institute, the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, and international collaborators, takes on this question directly. https://rdcu.be/fi4V4 By linking brain connectivity patterns across 20 genetic mouse models with a large human imaging dataset, including the transformative open-science resource ABIDE, Marco Pagani, Adriana Di Martino, Alessandro Gozzi, and colleagues identified two highly replicable autism-related biological subtypes: - Hypoconnectivity-dominant, associated with synaptic dysfunction pathways. - Hyperconnectivity-dominant, associated with transcriptional and immune-related alterations. Work like this moves the field closer to biologically informed stratification and precision medicine. It may help explain why some interventions work well for some individuals but not others, and why autism cannot be understood through a one-size-fits-all model. It is also a powerful reminder of what large-scale open science efforts like ABIDE can make possible when combined with rigorous translational neuroscience. #AutismResearch #Neuroscience #PrecisionMedicine #FunctionalConnectivity #OpenScience #ABIDE

On Monday, we gathered with an incredible community of supporters for our 2026 Spring Luncheon for an inspiring afternoon of conversation, connection, and shared commitment to supporting children and families.   This year’s conversation, “Future-Proofing Your Kids: Empowered Parenting in the Digital Age,” sparked an honest and thoughtful discussion about the challenges families are navigating today, raising children in an increasingly digital world. We are always thankful to Ali Wentworth for moderating such an engaging conversation, and to Lisa Damour, PhD, and Dr. Dave Anderson for sharing practical, compassionate guidance and clinical insight with our guests.   Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we raised essential funds that will help to continue expanding access to care, advancing research, and supporting children and families who urgently need these services.   There's still time to be part of it. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, all gifts will be matched. Visit https://lnkd.in/ehZwMQzW to double your impact.

From lived experience to leadership, young people are leading transformations in mental health care today.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and members of the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute’s Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC), are raising awareness on mental health across contexts and what meaningful collaboration requires for sustainable solutions that meet the needs of young people. Spyros, a young leader from Greece, highlights how a shared commitment to youth mental health care can represent a shift from “pockets of innovation to a culture of quality”, transcending borders. He believes global collaboration is the bridge that allows solutions to be shaped, shared, adapted, and standardized to ensure no one is left behind. His passion for the arts continues to shape how he connects creativity, youth voices, and broader systems change.  Learn more about our work with youth: https://lnkd.in/eiqcPyzW. Founding support for the SNF Global Center is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI). (snfghi.org) 

Many children with ADHD and related challenges struggle in traditional summer programs — not because they can’t succeed, but because most day camps are largely unstructured and offer inconsistent support. Now in its 10th year, the ADHD Summer Program is intentionally different. This therapeutic program for children ages 5 to 10 is highly structured, with clear routines, consistent expectations, and continuous guidance throughout the day. Each element of the program is purposefully designed around how children with ADHD and related challenges learn, regulate emotions, and connect with peers. Over four weeks, children receive real-time coaching from expertly trained staff as they practice essential social, emotional, and self-regulation skills in meaningful, real-world situations. Progress is actively monitored, reinforced, and celebrated — helping children build confidence, independence, and a genuine sense of pride in their accomplishments. ☀️ Sign up for the open house here: https://lnkd.in/ekZctVYN

80% of children with anxiety never receive treatment. Statistics like this drive what we do and it’s why this #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth we’re proud to have partnered with The More You Know and Dreamworks Animation on this PSA reminding kids and adults that sometimes, a few deep breaths can go a long way.   Thank you to everyone who helped bring this message to more families!

Across countries and contexts, young people are bringing fresh perspectives to how mental health is understood and supported.   May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we asked members of the new Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) at the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute to share their ideas on mental health fitness.   For young changemaker Denny, from Brazil, a better future for youth mental health can be achieved when countries come together towards achieving the same goal — hope for real change.  Denny is passionate about education, creativity, and speaks multiple languages. Through their passion for learning about different cultures and societies, Denny actively supports vulnerable communities and non-governmental organizations by encouraging youth leadership and promoting better mental health care systems.  Learn more about our work with youth: https://lnkd.in/eiqcPyzW  Founding support for the SNF Global Center is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI). (snfghi.org)