Episode 198: Childhood Trauma with Dr. Lulu
An epidemic of extreme proportions has hit the world, and it is not Covid-19. The rate of childhood suicide is skyrocketing and the reason behind it is undiagnosed trauma per Dr. Lulu. Depression is not the only reason someone may fall into thoughts of suicide, but trauma is the one common link.
Suicide claims the life of one person every 20 seconds. Why? Is it because of the increase of childhood trauma through events like divorce, death, bullying both in person and electronically? The instances of potential trauma have increased as the world becomes a smaller and smaller place.
This increase in the number of children having thoughts of suicide in the face of trauma means that trauma-informed care is essential in pediatrics. Rather than asking a child or their parents about what is wrong, ask what has happened to them.
A child of divorce is more likely to commit suicide. A child who has been abused is more likely to commit suicide. A child who feels unwanted, neglected, or abandoned is more likely to commit suicide. We need to start asking the right questions at the right time and realize that the words you hear aren’t always the emotions being felt.
Dr. Lulu shares her own incredible story and what happened that made her want to dig deeper into this epidemic. She is now an in-demand speaker sharing this message all over the world as well as sharing her knowledge in her books. Listen as Dr. Lulu and I discuss the increase in childhood suicide and what we as physicians can and should be doing to help.
In this episode:
[01:52] Welcome back to the show, Dr. Lulu!
[02:04] Dr. Lulu shares her background when she first met Errin and how she pivoted her career.
[05:06] Dr. Lulu discusses suicide in children and that the roots of suicide being trama.
[06:52] Dr. Lulu asks if mental illness is the reason for suicide why is the use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicine is going up but so are suicides?
[08:15] Covid-19 doesn’t kill someone every 20 seconds, but suicide does.
[10:03] People don’t want to think kids can be traumatized enough to commit suicide.
[11:52] Have you ever asked yourself if the world would be better off with you dead?
[12:54] Suicide is a series of traumatic events. You can’t give a person a pill for that.
[14:49] Listen, as Dr. Lulu describes what a trauma-informed provider means to her.
[19:41] Errin tells her residents, I don’t care where they come from or where they are going, in this moment, we need them to feel safe.
[20:40] The question isn’t what’s wrong with you; it’s what has happened to you.
[23:13] Dr. Lulu shares her books available now on Amazon.
[29:26] Errin speaks about having conversations with her children about racism while watching Dr. Lulu’s videos she did on her book.
[30:16] Thank you so much for being on the show again!
[31:54] Errin shares her kick of encouragement for today!
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How To Raise Well-Rounded Children
A Teens Life: Looking at Teen’s Lives Through Their Daily Struggles
How To Teach Your Children About Racism: A Letter From A Black Mother to White Parents
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