NAMI Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine M. Crawford on AI, Kids' Mental Health & Perimenopause

In this episode of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn sits down with Dr. Christine M. Crawford, Chief Medical Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent mental health. From the science behind why deep breathing actually works, to what it means when a teenager stops showing up for their own life, Dr. Crawford brings rare clarity to the conversations most of us have been too afraid, too ashamed, or too overwhelmed to start. How do you finally ask for help when the average person waits 11 years to do it? Closing the gap between the moment symptoms begin and the moment someone reaches out starts with understanding what those symptoms actually look like, and knowing that support is far closer than most people realize. (04:45) Anxiety: What It Actually Is and Why It's Getting Worse Why the word "anxiety" gets thrown around so much that most people don't recognize when they actually have it The physical symptoms of anxiety that go way beyond feeling worried Something Dr. Crawford says about our phones and our nervous systems that is hard to unhear (21:53) The 11-Year Gap: Depression, Kids & What Loved Ones Miss The NAMI data point Karena raises that Dr. Crawford confirms, and what it means specifically for children A shift in a teenager's social behavior that parents almost always explain away as a phase The comments kids sometimes make that are easy to dismiss but are actually red flags for depression (30:26) AI, 988 & the Tools That Actually Work at 3am Dr. Crawford's honest take on why people turn to AI for mental health support, and where she draws a firm line The three-digit number that exists for the exact moments when you don't know who else to call The hormonal changes that can bring on anxiety seemingly out of nowhere, and one supplement that could make a bigger difference than most women expect Guest Resources NAMI HelpLine (https://www.nami.org/nami-helpline/): The NAMI HelpLine is a free, confidential nationwide service that provides one-on-one emotional support, mental health information and resources needed to tackle tough challenges. You can reach the NAMI HelpLine by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), texting “NAMI” to 62640, or emailing helpline@nami.org. The HelpLine is available M-F, 10 AM – 10 PM EST. Resources for people living with a mental health condition (https://www.nami.org/living-with-a-mental-health-condition/) NAMI Family Caregiver HelpLine (https://www.nami.org/nami-helpline/family-caregiver-helpline/): The NAMI Family Caregiver HelpLine is a free, confidential service providing caregiver-led support, tools and strategies, trusted guidance, and connection at every stage of the caregiving journey. You can reach the Family Caregiver HelpLine by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), texting “Family” to 62640, or emailing helpline@nami.org. The Family Caregiver HelpLine is available Monday Through Friday, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM ET. Resources for family members and caregivers (https://www.nami.org/family-members-and-caregivers/) You Are Not Alone For Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health (https://www.nami.org/research/publications-reports/you-are-not-alone/) If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources: Connect with The Big Silence Community Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/audiobook) Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection (https://thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all) Subscribe on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL3RrbvDLuTTGFN4VYzEpw) Donate to The Big Silence Foundation (https://thebigsilence.com/donate) The Big Silence Resource Guide (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/resources) Find exclusive offers from our supporters (https://thebigsilence.com/pages/our-podcast-partners) Show Resources: VISIT THE CHALLENGE PAGE (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/radiate-rise-2026-summer-challenge) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) TONE IT DOWN PODCAST (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-down-podcast) Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)