Scoliosis & Youth Mental Health Program
Mental health support for children & teens with spine conditions
Pediatric Spine Care
For pediatric patients with scoliosis and other spine conditions, the burden of physical symptoms and rigorous medical care—whether this means surgery, medication, bracing, or a combination of treatments—can take an emotional and psychological toll.
An estimated 1 in 6 children in the United States suffer from a mental disorder, an instance even higher in children with chronic medical illnesses*, and children and adolescents dealing with scoliosis, in particular, have shown higher rates of:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Eating disorders
- Body image concerns **
At Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Orthopedics, our goal is to integrate compassionate mental health support with cutting-edge spine care. Our experts take a holistic approach to scoliosis treatment, ensuring that your child's mental wellbeing is cared for along with their physical needs.
*Psychological and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Youth with Serious Physical Illness
** Pediatric Spine Surgeons Report High Mental Health Burden and Limited Support for Scoliosis Patients
What we offer
- Comprehensive mental health screening – Our team provides pediatric patients with mental health assessments via the PROMIS tool to gage psychological needs and wellbeing ahead of treatment.
- Help with referrals – If indicated by a child's screening score, or if requested by their family or provider, we can assist with seamless referrals to mental health professionals within the NewYork-Presbyterian network or externally. Many of our partnered mental health providers have undergone Scoliosis for Mental Health Provider Training by Scolios-us, ensuring effective care tailored specially to pediatric spine patients.
- Patient and family education – We're here to help through each step of your child's treatment. Our knowledgeable staff can connect you and your family with scoliosis resources including blogs, support networks, and videos.
Julia Rakin is the Mental Health Coordinator for Columbia Pediatric Orthopedics, where she plays a vital role in supporting the emotional and psychological well-being of our orthopedic spine patients.
She earned a BA in Psychology from American University, and her work experience is centered around social and human services, currently focusing on pediatric mental health. Julia integrates mental health best practices into pre-operative and post-operative care to support pediatric spine patients, ensuring surgical patients and their families are fully supported throughout the process. Julia assists families and caregivers with connections to the tools, resources, and mental health clinicians they need to navigate their care journey and treat the whole patient.
Go To Guides for Mental Health Resources (downloadable)
- Internal Resources (Columbia, NYP & Weill Cornell)
- Community & Internal Resources (Clinicians who have completed Scoliosis Training for Mental Health Providers)
-
Youth & Family Resources
Related Research
- Preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain, and behavioral recovery in young children undergoing surgery
- Combined depression and anxiety in children and adolecents with chronic medical conditions
- Systematic Review: Anxiety in children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions
- The prevalence of depressive symptoms before and after surgery and its association with disability in patients undergoingn lumbar spinal fusion