How to Talk to Your Child About Mental and Emotional Health

We know that living with juvenile dermatomyositis affects the physical as well as emotional health of our children. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish “normal” behavior and feelings from more difficult ones of depression and anxiety.

This presentation aims to increase understanding and awareness of emotional health and parents’ important role in supporting and encouraging a child’s mental health habits.

Presenters address the rationale and benefits of promoting emotional health in children, impart knowledge of emotional development milestones throughout childhood, and provide practical skills and language to discuss emotional and mental health with children.

Understanding the phases of emotional development in childhood helps parents feel more equipped to manage and promote emotional health in children.

Featuring:

  • Stacey Haynes, PhD Psychologist, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Cure JM Center of Excellence
  • Megan Curran, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics University of Colorado Denver, Attending Physician, Pediatric Rheumatology, Colorado Children’s Hospital
  • Anna Ramsey, BA, working on MSW, Young adult living with JM since adolescence
  • Annie Mitchell, BA in Special Education, Cure JM Board of Directors and Mom to a JM child

Executive Director Update - A Season of Gratitude

Season of Gratitude

I am writing to wish you and your family the very best this Holiday Season. This time of year, especially, I am filled with deep appreciation for all that Cure JM families have accomplished to advance our mission, to improve the lives of children living with JM, and to support the doctors and researchers driving better treatments as we fight for a cure.

Affordable and Accessible Treatments for JM

Affordable and Accessible Treatments for JM

Two special guest speakers, Michelle Vogel, MPA, IV Solutions RX, and Laurel Cherwin, BSN, RN, IgCN, Octapharma, shared information on navigating affordable treatments and care for JM patients.

The FDA’s Ruling on Vamorolone in DMD

You may have heard about yesterday’s FDA ruling, which approved vamorolone as an alternative steroid for use in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Vamorolone is a new steroid alternative with fewer side effects than prednisone. The drug aims to preserve the beneficial anti-inflammatory and muscle-strengthening characteristics of corticosteroids, while decreasing some of the unwelcome side effects, including bone fragility, delayed growth, and behavior changes.

As we learned in yesterday’s announcement, vamorolone was found to be both safe and effective as a therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in its newly approved indication.

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Cure JM supports families, patients, and the juvenile myositis research community.

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