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September is such a bittersweet month, isn't it? While some families are still thinking about vacation plans at the beginning of the month, back to school season is upon us. And while settling back into a routine can be something to look forward to, the very thought of school can cause a crippling sense of anxiety in some children. This month, we've decided to put a spotlight on anxiety and depression in children, with some informative articles from our experts on the subject.

In other reading, we've reached out to you our readers, to ask you about what you would like to see in the new MCH hospital, in a section called Our New Hospital. As always, you will find articles about our Heroes, MCH News and some answers from our Specialist in this edition.

Happy reading!
The editorial team at Where Kids Come First

While still in his mother's womb, baby Alexandros' intestines had moved into his left chest cavity, constraining his left lung and pushing his heart out of place. Doctors feared he wouldn't survive the trauma of delivery, but surgery performed when he was just three days old changed his life. [+]

Depression in Kids

Anxious children: Treating a crippling disorder

Children and Sleep

What should parents do if they think their child may be depressed? We asked Dr. Lila Amirali, psychiatrist at the Montreal Children's Hospital today to find out. To learn more about depression in children, sign up for Mini-Med school at the MCH! Dr. Amirali will be presenting a longer and more detailed explanation of depression in children on October 27th. [+]

MINI-MED SCHOOL

Starting October 5th, 2010, you can spend 1½ hours a week with six leading medical specialists from the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre. If you are naturally curious about science and medicine, or if you'd just like to listen in on a series of stimulating lectures, Mini-Med is the school for you! [+]

DR. ALICE CHAN-YIP NAMED TO THE ORDER OF CANADA

On Wednesday, June 30th, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced the appointment of Dr. Alice Chan-Yip of the Montreal Children's Hospital to the Order of Canada. [+]

GLEN CAMPUS PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS:
JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 10TH AND 11TH!

The MUHC invites all of its employees, their families, friends and neighbours to an event marking the beginning of construction at the Glen Campus. Make a note of September 9, 10 and 11 on your calendars, because you won't want to miss this! [+]

A BANNER DAY FOR THE NEW MUHC AND SHRINERS

The Shriners held a press conference in July at which officials unveiled the preliminary design for their new hospital at the Glen. This announcement represents much more than a new hospital; it represents the enrichment of exceptional pediatric orthopaedic care and research, and the strengthening of our longstanding ties with this fine institution's professionals and patients. [+]

SEND US YOUR IDEAS

We asked some of our patients and their families to give us examples of things they would like to see at the new Glen campus, the site of the new Children's hospital. Some of you had some very creative ideas that we'd like to share. If you are a patient or a friend of the Children's and have ideas about what we can improve at the new hospital, or better yet, what great things we should keep – let us know! Email us at info@thechildren.com with your ideas and a picture – or send us a message via Facebook! [+]

Do you have a question of a general nature that you'd like to ask our specialist? If your question is selected, the answer will be published in the next edition of the newsletter.

Ask a question [+]

My toddler has been going to the potty for two weeks to pee. However, she doesn't ever want to pass stool on the potty or the toilet, and only has bowel movements in her diaper or while she is sleeping. It almost seems like she is holding it in all the time and she becomes constipated. What can I do?

R : The age of your toddler is not mentioned but I am guessing around 2-2.5 years old. As you are attempting to 'potty train' your child, withholding stool or retentive behaviour is not uncommon. Nor is it uncommon for a child to be trained for urine and not stool. Naturally, if the child is displaying retentive behaviour she will become constipated. [+]

A research team led by Dr. Nada Jabado, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at MUHC's Montreal Children's Hospital, and Dr. Jacek Majewski at McGill University has proven for the first time that it is possible to identify any genetic disease in record time thanks to a powerful and reliable exome sequencing method. The exome, a small part of the genome (< 2%), is of crucial interest with regard to research on genetic diseases as it accounts for 85% of mutations. The results of the team's research have just been published in the journal Human Mutation. [+]
Your child or teenager will exhibit clear signs or symptoms of depression that will be evident to you as a parent.

False: According to Dr, Lila Amirali, psychiatrist at the Montreal Children's Hospital, depression in childhood or adolescence is usually preceded by a traumatic event. This event could be the loss of a parent, or a divorce, and could likely affect the entire family unit. "Because the whole family may be reeling from the pain of the event in question," she explains, "it may not be evident that a child is experiencing depression because all of the parties involved are very much involved in their own pain." [+]
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