May Stony Brook CARE Newsletter

Posted Date: 05/12/26 (02:00 PM)
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Stony Brook Children's CARE Initiative logo with colorful abstract figures and hands.

May CARE Newsletter

Supporting Healthy Minds And Bodies, A Monthly Resource for Families

In this newsletter

  • Virtual Parent Workshop: May 27 at 6:15 pm — How to Recognize and Prevent Suicide
  • Behavioral Health: The Question That Can Save A Child's Life 🧠
  • Kids Wellness: Protecting Your Family from Lyme Disease 🌿
  • Research Opportunity: Paid Tick Bite Study — Participation Open🔬
  • Community Education: Free Tick-Borne Illness Symposium — What to Know 🎓

RESOURCES
  • Summer Support: Free Camp for Children Who Stutter 🏕️ 
  • Missed the April Parent Workshop? How Anger Impacts Teens Who Use Drugs & Alcohol (Watch On-Demand)

FREE Virtual Parent Workshop

How to Recognize and Prevent Suicide

Responding to Youth Suicide Risk

Talking about youth suicide can feel overwhelming—but avoiding the conversation can leave families unprepared when it matters most. Join a virtual workshop led by a psychiatric nurse focused on suicide awareness and prevention.

This 45-minute session will offer practical guidance on recognizing warning signs, understanding risk factors, and supporting youth with confidence and care. The discussion will also address the impact of social media, bullying, and increased vulnerability among LGBTQ+ adolescents, along with actionable steps parents and schools can take. A live Q&A will follow.

Workshop Details
🗓 Wednesday, May 27
🕡 6:15 pm
💻 Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
⏱ 45 minutes + Q&A

More About the Expert
Anaximenes Gonzalez, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Assistant Director of Nursing for the Inpatient Child Psychiatric Unit at Stony Brook Medicine, with over a decade of experience in acute and community mental health.

Join Workshop on Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 211 944 655 489 332
Passcode: WT3bi9L7

Dial in by phone
+1 347-630-9468,,498400244# United States, New York City
Phone conference ID: 498 400 244#
Hands held up with 'STOP' on one and 'Suicide' on the other, against a dark background.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Youth Suicide Prevention: The Question That Can Save A Child's Life

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among school-aged children in the US, with suicidal thoughts rising sharply — especially among girls and LGBTQ+ youth.

Contributing factors include depression, hopelessness, bullying (including online) and a lack of connection to school or peers. What’s especially concerning is how often parents don’t see it coming. Many are unaware their child is struggling — even in cases involving suicide attempts.

Mental health professionals stress that suicide is rarely about a single event. It’s often the result of overwhelming emotional pain combined with a child’s limited cope skills.

When kids feel trapped in problems they don’t know how to fix — social pressure, academic stress, family conflict, or depression — they may see suicide as the only way out.

The encouraging reality: there are usually warning signs, and parents can play a critical role in recognizing them.

Recognizing the Red Flags
Pay attention to changes that feel out of character, even if they seem subtle:
  • Changes in sleep: Sleeping much more or less, or trouble falling or staying asleep.
  • Mood shifts: Persistent sadness, irritability, anger, or emotional outbursts.
  • Withdrawal: Pulling away from friends, family, or favorite activities.
  • Decline in hygiene or schoolwork.
  • Risky behaviors: Substance use or acting in ways that feel uncharacteristic.
  • Giving away possessions: Sometimes a late warning sign, especially if the items were meaningful.

These behaviors don’t always mean a child is suicidal — but they do signal a need for conversation.

Asking the Hard Question
One of the most powerful things a parent can do is also one of the most uncomfortable: ask directly — “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”

Asking won't put the idea into their head. For many kids it's a relief to be asked. For them it can feel like relief — proof that someone sees their pain and cares enough to talk about it.

If your child says yes, maybe, or even “sometimes,” your response matters:
  • Stay calm and don’t judge or dismiss their feelings.
  • Avoid statements like “that’s crazy” or “you’ll be fine.”
  • Instead say: “I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way. I’m here for you. We’ll get through this together.”

What to Do Next
If your child expresses suicidal thoughts:
  • Keep talking and listening
  • Connect them with help (school counselor, doctor, or trusted adult)
  • Make your home safer by securing medications and removing potential hazards. If you have a gun, get it and any bullets out of the house.

If your child has a plan or has taken steps toward self-harm, do not leave them alone. Seek immediate help at an emergency room or call 911.

Finally, trust your instincts. If something feels off, ask. Your willingness to notice and listen can make all the difference — and may save your child’s life.

KIDS WELLNESS

Tick Bites Happen: Here's How to Protect Your Child from Lyme Disease

If you live on Long Island, ticks are a fact of life — but Lyme disease doesn’t have to be. Acting quickly after a tick bite can significantly reduce your child’s risk of infection.

According to Andrew Handel, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and the Stony Brook Southampton Tick Borne Disease Resource Center, (who is also known by his kids as "The Weird Tick Guy") prevention and prompt care make all the difference.

Start with Prevention
Children don’t always avoid wooded or brushy areas — so protection is key. Dr. Handel recommends:
  • Using insect repellent with 20–30% DEET on exposed skin
  • Treating clothing and gear with permethrin
  • Performing daily tick checks after outdoor play
Pay close attention to warm, hidden areas like the scalp, underarms, groin, belly button, and behind the knees. Also check clothing and pets, which can carry ticks indoors.

Found a Tick? Stay Calm and Act Quickly
If you find a tick, don’t panic. Most tick bites do not lead to illness, and, children who do develop Lyme disease typically respond well to antibiotics.

Remove the tick promptly:
  • Use fine-tipped tweezers
  • Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
  • Pull straight upward (don’t twist or crush)
  • Place it in a sealed bag for possible identification
Ticks commonly found on Long Island include deer ticks, Lone Star ticks (the females — marked with a small white dot — don't transmit Lyme but can give you a meat allergy known as alpha gal) , and dog ticks. Only deer ticks transmit Lyme disease, so identifying the type can help guide next steps.

Timing Matters
For Lyme disease to be transmitted, a tick typically must be attached for 24 to 36 hours or longer. If you remove a deer tick within that window, your pediatrician may recommend a single preventive dose of antibiotics, which can reduce the risk of Lyme disease by up to 90%.
If more time has passed — or you’re unsure — monitor the bite site and your child’s health closely.

Know the Signs
A classic “bull’s-eye” rash may appear 1 to 4 weeks after a bite, but not always. It’s important to distinguish this from mild redness or swelling that can occur within a day or two (a normal reaction, not Lyme disease).
Watch for symptoms such as:
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle aches
  • Joint swelling (especially knees in children)
In some cases, children may develop complications such as meningitis, though this is less common.

The Bottom Line
Lyme disease can happen more than once — but in children, it is highly treatable and rarely becomes a long-term condition. The key is awareness, prevention, and prompt action.
If you find a tick or notice symptoms, contact your child’s healthcare provider. Early evaluation and treatment offer the best protection — and peace of mind.
 

Research Study: Children with Recent Tick Bites Needed

Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is currently recruiting participants for a research study focused on tick bites in children.

Families may be eligible if their child has been bitten by a tick within the past 14 days. Participation is completely virtual and includes a small blood sample. Families will be compensated up to $50 for participation.

Interested in learning more? Contact Pediatric Infectious Diseases at 631-444-7692 or email Andrew.handel@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Alternately you can scan the QR code to complete a brief form on your phone. A member of the research team will follow up within 24 hours.
 

Learn the Latest on Tick-Borne Illnesses

Join researchers and clinicians from Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine for an informative program on tick-borne diseases, taking place Wednesday, May 27, from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm in the MART Auditorium.

This session will highlight the latest research on illnesses commonly seen on Long Island, including the emerging Alpha-gal meat allergy, and share resources available to help keep our community informed and protected.

Free and open to all. Breakfast and lunch will be provided with registration.

SUMMER CAMP RESOURCE

FREE Camp for Kids Who Stutter Returns to The East End

Camp Dream.Speak.Live Returns This Summer

After a successful debut last year, Stony Brook University’s School of Health Professions, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, is bringing back Camp Dream.Speak.Live. This unique summer program welcomes children and teens who stutter from across Long Island for a confidence-building, community-centered experience.

The camp will run July 27–31 at Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus. Space is limited to 30 participants, and attendance is free.

A Strengths-Based Approach to Stuttering
Camp Dream.Speak.Live is part of a global initiative developed by the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research, founded by Courtney Byrd, a leader in stuttering research and clinical care. Grounded in decades of evidence, the program takes a strengths-based approach to communication.
Rather than focusing on eliminating stuttering, the camp affirms it as a natural and valid way of speaking.

Its CARE Model — Communication, Advocacy, Resiliency, and Education — helps participants build confidence, advocate for their needs, and connect with others.

Building Confidence and Community
Throughout the five-day program, participants take part in structured group activities, guided discussions, and real-world speaking opportunities. Many leave with stronger self-acceptance, lasting peer connections, and — for some — the powerful experience of meeting others who stutter for the first time.

Hands-On Clinical Training
The camp also serves as a clinical training opportunity for graduate students in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. Under licensed supervision, students gain hands-on experience delivering evidence-based care that prioritizes identity, participation, and quality of life.

Empowering Young Voices
Camp Dream.Speak.Live is not designed to “fix” speech, but to empower young people with the skills and confidence to communicate and advocate for themselves in everyday life.
By bringing the program to the East End, Stony Brook continues to expand access to high-quality, inclusive care for children who stutter — close to home.

Register Now
Registration for this summer’s camp is now open. To enroll a child or teen who stutters — or to learn more as an educator or healthcare provider — please contact us using the information below. We welcome all inquiries and participants as we work together to help every child feel empowered to dream, speak, and live fully.

For More Information
Joy Kling
Director of Clinical Education
Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Stony Brook University
📧 joy.kling@stonybrook.edu

📞 631-632-5384

MISSED THE APRIL PARENT WORKSHOP?

View It Below

Presentation slide titled 'How Anger Impacts Communication with Teens Who Use Drugs and Alcohol'.