Strength Through Connection

Leveraging Insights from Diverse Fields to Create Comprehensive Solutions for Complex Challenges

We've got some sticky problems we need to solve to help kids with mental health concerns and their families.

For instance, many kids are experiencing mental health concerns with some needing crisis hospitalization. But, when the kid is ready to go home, how do we help parents know what do to?

We don't. Most hospital-to-home transitions leave families scared and unprepared to know how to help their kids once back at their house. (I know, kind of unbelievable.)

In today's interconnected world, challenges for children and families are rarely confined to a single domain. That's why drawing insights from diverse fields is crucial to creating comprehensive solutions.

We can better understand the issues at hand by bridging disciplines like psychology, education, public health, and even fields like data science or urban planning. This interdisciplinary approach allows us to see connections and opportunities that might be missed when working within traditional silos.

For example, combining insights from neuroscience, education, and social work can lead to more effective interventions for children experiencing trauma. Or, integrating economic perspectives with family studies can help us design more sustainable and impactful support programs.

In my research on supporting families during adolescent mental health crises, I've drawn insights from multiple disciplines to develop a more holistic approach. By combining perspectives from clinical psychology, family systems theory, and public health, I'm forming a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges families face-->which is critical if we are going to drive change and innovate to make healthcare access a match to what families need.

Here are some ways I try to do that. I would love to hear your strategies!

• Cultivate a multidisciplinary network that extends beyond your immediate field.
• Practice 'intellectual cross-pollination' by regularly exploring ideas from various disciplines.
• Utilize systems thinking tools to map out how different insights interconnect and impact child and family well-being. (here is a link that helps with learning about systems thinking: https://thesystemsthinker.com/introduction-to-systems-thinking/)

What connections have you discovered between different fields in your work? How has this connection helped your work?