An increase in adolescent distress and mental health symptoms has been clearly documented since the COVID-19 pandemic, as has increased exposure to adverse childhood experiences. Layer on top of these stressors being a youth of divorcing or separating high conflict families, and adolescent symptomatology can suddenly become a flashpoint for parental attention, division and conflict. Approaching cases using an ecological and family systems framework is necessary for accurate conceptualization and assessment of best interests in the context of child custody evaluations. Doing so ensures that adolescent mental health does not become a red herring in high conflict cases, leading to undue focus on the adolescent's mental health without considering other salient factors in the case, such as the broader parent conflict. Programs offered at the Center of Excellence for Children, Families & the Law at William James College designed to improve the lives of youth by addressing parental conflict are described.

中文翻译：

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青少年心理健康的红鲱鱼

自 COVID-19 大流行以来，青少年的痛苦和心理健康症状有所增加，不良童年经历的暴露程度也有所增加。除了这些压力源之外，还有离婚或分居高度冲突家庭的青少年，青少年症状可能会突然成为父母关注、分裂和冲突的爆发点。使用生态和家庭系统框架处理案件对于在儿童监护权评估的背景下准确概念化和评估最佳利益是必要的。这样做可以确保青少年心理健康不会在冲突较多的案件中成为转移注意力的因素，从而导致过度关注青少年的心理健康，而不考虑案件中的其他显着因素，例如更广泛的父母冲突。