Needs Statement

One in four youth and one in five women have identifiable mental health concerns and disorders. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth (ages 12-24) and is a leading cause of mortality in the first year of giving birth. There are not enough trained mental health professionals to meet the clinical demand. Therefore, it is imperative that primary care physicians become more knowledgeable and skilled in managing mental health concerns in their clinical settings. This activity will first provide information on the serious and negative ramifications that stem from a delay in screening, assessing, and treating common mental health conditions before they become severe. Then the activity will provide evidence of improved care with the implementation of collaborative care models within PCP utilizing consultative support of trained mental health professionals. Finally, the activity will provide real time exposure to a consultation process within the activity to help provide scaffolding for participants to utilize the model outside of the activity.

Target Audience

Primary care providers including pediatricians, family medicine, adolescent medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, general psychiatry, advance practice nurses and physician assistants.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the conference, participants should be able to:

• Recall the rates of occurrence for common mental health disorders in youth
• Recall the rates for common mental health disorders in women pre- and post-partum
• Summarize the negative outcomes and ethical concerns that may result when youth and women pre- and post-partum are unable to access mental health care
• Summarize the favorable outcomes that may result for youth and women pre- and post-partum when their primary care physicians engage in collaborative care models with mental health experts

Educational Methods

Lecture and Simulation

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For questions, contact Edith Ortiz Edith.Ortiz@bcm.edu