MAINE, USA — Dr. Brock Libby is a problem solver. Examining X-rays and helping patients improve their physical health is what he went to medical school for.
Now, the adolescent medicine physician at MaineHealth finds himself helping younger patients with their mental health and emotional well-being more and more.
It's an honor, he said, when a patient trusts him enough to share their personal struggles. It also shows that there is a shortage of therapists and mental health specialists across the state, including in Portland—Maine's largest city.
Libby said he'll always try to connect a patient to a therapist if it's a right fit. Sometimes it's not, for a number of reasons.
"It’s a big struggle to get folks to see the right people and having the time and the ability to take that on myself is a lot, but it’s really rewarding when it’s a nice therapeutic alliance," Libby said.
More of his young patients want to talk about their emotions and mental health, he added, which is great, but it also means providers need to know how to best support their patients.
"The number one thing that I recommend to everyone is to listen. ... Let people talk to you, not feel your own inner anxiety of, 'I need to solve this, I need to provide a recommendation, I need to get this off my plate,' just really listen and the more we do that, the better the outcomes are going to be," Libby explained.
That can be a challenge as a medical doctor, or a problem-solver like Libby, because they're trained to track results. In the case of mental health, Libby said it's crucial to listen to the patients and talk to them about what their goals are and "what would getting better look like for you?"
"And then it's really easy to sort of go back to those goals and sort of say, 'How are you doing? How are you feeling?'" Libby said.
Of course, many parents want to be that trusted person for their children to go to with any issues they may have, but Libby said it's OK if they're not, as long as they have a friend, teacher, or an adult who they feel comfortable having tough conversations with.
Helping parents and caregivers facilitate those conversations and navigate the mental health system is the focus of Dr. Christine Crawford's new book, "You Are Not Alone: For Parents and Caregivers."
Crawford is the associate medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, and is also a child psychologist.
"I’m noticing that people are struggling with mental health symptoms and not knowing what to do," Crawford said. "It can be really confusing to figure out where do you start when it comes to getting your kid the help and support that they need."
According to NAMI Maine, 14,000 Mainers between the ages of 12-17 have depression and more than 260,000 people in the state live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals.
Crawford often tells families to check in with their pediatricians about mental health care concerns because doctors like Brock Libby are trained to provide some of that care.
Getting your children to open up about their emotions can be tough, Crawford said, so she suggests parents begin those conversations out of curiosity. For example, "I noticed you're not hanging out with your friends as much, and I'm curious what's behind that?"
"So noticing changes in your kids’ pattern of behavior and then starting a conversation from a place of curiosity as to what they think might be behind the change," Crawford added. "You then have an idea of what steps you can take forward with your kid to make sure they get the help and support they need."
When it comes to youth mental health, the biggest concern for everyone, Dr. Libby said, is the risk of suicide. Again, finding a trusted person for your children to talk to is a crucial step in preventing suicide.
Libby also shared that it's important for parents or adults not to presume they know better, or they know what their children are going through.
"We have to let kids pave their own path and we lose kids when we don’t listen to them and we set them on a trajectory that is not for them, but actually for the people around them," he added.
Preventing tragedy is the goal of George Mageles and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). He is a member of the board of directors for the organization's Maine chapter.
"Many people find suicide as one of the most difficult things to talk about, to start a conversation about, to keep a conversation going," Mageles said.
That's why the organization's "Out of the Darkness" walks are so powerful, he added, because they give Mainers with lived experiences the chance to connect and share stories.
"I was always thinking about that person who maybe had a recent loss and they don’t really know how this is going to sit with them for the rest of their life, and for them to see that they’re not alone, I think is one of the more meaningful parts of the event," Mageles said.
The annual walk in Bangor will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday along the riverfront. Mageles is expecting 1,000 people to attend. He said it's a time of remembrance but also a celebration of the lives we lost and a celebration of how Mainers can come together for a similar cause.
In his work with the organization, Mageles said the pressures for young people today are much greater than what he experienced as a kid. He also encourages parents to listen to their kids and to not demand any answers, but to be patient and be there for them when the time is right.
The Maine chapter of the AFSP will host another walk in Portland next month. You can find more information, access resources, or learn more about suicide prevention here.
NAMI Maine also has a list of resources and support groups. You can find more information here.
To find more details about Dr. Christine Crawford's guidebook, click here.