Cincinnati Children’s Center for Heart and Mind Health opens
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has opened a heart and wellness center, the first of its kind in the United States. Established to provide comprehensive psychological support and tailored mental health care to families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD), the Center offers proven therapies focused on promoting physical and mental health. It is designed to help those living with CHD navigate challenges, restore a sense of hope and resilience, and improve general well-being. The center’s team includes psychologists, social workers and child life specialists who are integral to congenital heart care. Care is offered to people of all ages, including expectant parents who receive a prenatal cardiac diagnosis, infants, children, teens, and adults born with a heart. disease and their family members. “Congenital heart disease can profoundly affect families emotionally,” said Nadine Kasparian, MD, a psychologist and director of the Cincinnati Children’s Heart and Mind Center. “Our goal is to support patients and their families through diagnosis, treatment, and transitions, so they feel informed, empowered, and supported at every stage.” In 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a scientific statement to inspire new standards for integrating mental health care into congenital heart centers, and Kasparian was among a group of experts who contributed to the statement, which emphasized the critical role mental health plays. For patients of all ages with coronary heart disease: Resilience is common among people with coronary heart disease, but many also suffer from constant stress and adversity. The American Heart Association statement confirmed that 1 in 2 adults with CHD experience anxiety or depression at some time in their lives and that 1 in 3 parents of children with CHD may develop post-traumatic stress. “There is a deep understanding of the mental health burden associated with CHD and an appreciation of the need for a personalized response,” Kasparian said. “This response must be integrated into routine medical care and accessible when our patients and their families need it most.” The goal of Cincinnati Children’s is to help lead the way in transforming congenital heart care through this new center. Mental health care goes hand in hand, Kasparian said, as we normalize emotional responses to health challenges and reduce the stigma that often surrounds mental health. Research is also integral to the Center for Heart and Mind Health. In the area of parental mental health, along with the Fetal Heart Program at the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute. The center is currently leading or supporting more than 30 studies, conducted in partnership with patients and families. For more information about the Center for Heart and Mind Health, click here.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has opened a heart and wellness center, the first of its kind in the United States.
the Center for Heart and Mind Health It was created to provide comprehensive psychological support and tailored mental health care to families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD).
The center offers research-proven therapies that focus on enhancing physical and mental health. It is designed to help those living with CHD navigate challenges, restore a sense of hope and resilience, and improve general well-being.
The center’s team includes psychologists, social workers and child life specialists integral to congenital heart care.
Care is provided to people of all ages, including expectant parents who receive a prenatal heart diagnosis, infants, children, teens, and adults born with heart disease, and their family members.
“Congenital heart disease can profoundly affect families emotionally,” said Nadine Kasparian, MD, a psychologist and director of the Cincinnati Children’s Heart and Mind Center. “Our goal is to support patients and their families through diagnosis, treatment, and transitions, so they feel informed, empowered, and supported at every stage.”
In 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a scientific statement to inspire new standards for integrating mental health care in congenital heart centers.
Kasparian was among a group of experts who contributed to the statement, which emphasized the critical role the mental health of patients of all ages with CHD plays.
Resilience is common among people with CHD, but many also suffer from constant stress and adversity. The American Heart Association statement confirmed that 1 in 2 adults with CHD experience anxiety or depression at some time in their lives and that 1 in 3 parents of children with CHD may develop post-traumatic stress.
“There is a deep understanding of the mental health burden associated with CHD and an appreciation of the need for a personalized response,” Kasparian said. “This response must be integrated into routine medical care and accessible when our patients and their families need it most.”
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s goal is to help lead the way in transforming congenital heart care with this new center.
“When cardiac care and mental health care go hand in hand, we normalize emotional responses to health challenges and reduce the stigma that often surrounds mental health,” Kasparian said.
Research is also an integral part of the Center for Heart and Mind Health.
She conducts leading research in the field of parental mental health, in conjunction with the Fetal Heart Program of the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The center is currently leading or supporting more than 30 studies, which are conducted in partnership with patients and their families.
For more information about the Center for Heart and Mind Health, click here here.