NEEDS STATEMENT

Pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) are increasingly in the position of managing the mental health care concerns of their patients, due to several factors. The mental health needs of children and adolescents are recognized now more than ever and have been exacerbated by recent global stressors (Lee, 2022), and hospitalizations for mental health concerns have increased significantly (Arakelyan, 2023). Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death amongst children and adolescents (Hua, 2024). PCPs are often the first point of contact for children and families struggling with mental health concerns. There is a widespread shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists and mental health care providers (Findling, 2018). Although the AAP and other organizations have made recommendations regarding PCPs role in mental health care, specifically focusing on disorders such as ADHD and Depression (Foy 2019), PCPs may not have the training or comfort to implement these recommendations.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is for Pediatric Primary Care Providers including MD, DO, NP, PA; may also include SW, LPC and other behavioral health clinicians.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants should be able to:

• Identify pediatric mental health care concerns using established screening tools and diagnostic criteria.
• Describe evidence-based treatment interventions for behavioral health diagnoses.
• Incorporate evidence-based care tools (e.g. trauma-informed care, crisis protocols, universal screening, etc.) into personal and clinic-level practice.

EDUCATIONAL METHODS

Lecture

EVALUATION

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

ACTIVITY COORDINATOR

William Edmond, MA