The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on mental health challenges specifically in children and adolescents.  In this VMHM, Dr. Dan Marullo and Amy Brown will speak about the current state of mental health.  They will provide insight into common diagnoses and how those have impacted children and adolescents during the pandemic, as well as some protective factors that promote resilience. This session will look specifically at art therapy to assist with the improvement of mood and coping skills, as well as decreasing symptoms of common mental health challenges.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER(S) //
Amy Adkisson Brown, MPS, ATR-BC
Amy is a registered and board certified art therapist with a Bachelor’s of Art at Furman University and a Master’s of Professional Studies in Art Therapy at Pratt Institute.
She started the art therapy program at Brookwood Medical Center – Behavioral Health Services in 2002, where she worked for 16 years.  Amy now works at Children’s of Alabama: Behavioral Health as their Milieu Coordinator and Art Therapist.
Amy’s artwork can be seen at the Bishop’s Palace in Cortona, Italy, The Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation, the Birmingham Firefighter’s Association, Birmingham’s City Hall, the Alabama State Capital as well as other places around the Southeastern United States.

Daniel S. Marullo, Ph.D.
Dr. Dan Marullo is a Pediatric Psychologist and Neuropsychologist employed with Children’s Behavioral Health – The Ireland Center at Children’s of Alabama. Dr. Marullo is a member of the Pediatric Psychology Consultation Service at Children’s of Alabama and serves primarily children, adolescents, and their families hospitalized with medical conditions in which there is a psychological component.
Dr. Marullo completed his doctoral training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Psychology Program. He completed his internship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and completed postdoctoral fellowships in Pediatric Psychology at the Shriners Burns Institute in Galveston, and in Pediatric Neuropsychology at the Sparks Clinics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Marullo’s professional interests include functional and stress related disorders in children and adolescents, childhood trauma, transplant, and medical ethics.