Nationwide challenges with the lack of access to mental health care for youth have prompted efforts to integrate mental health into pediatric primary care. Kansas Kids Mental Health Access Program (KSKidsMAP) was developed to promote mental health workforce development through primary-care practitioners (PCPs) by offering free access to consultations, training, and care coordination. Kansas Kids Mental Health Access Program, a federally funded pediatric mental health care access program (PMHCA), is highly interprofessional in nature, and recommendations reflect the team composition and collaboration efforts. Therefore, a mixed-methods study was conducted to assess the type of recommendations provided to PCPs who requested case consultation services. Seven themes were identified: (1) psychotherapy; (2) diagnostic evaluation; (3) community resources; (4) pharmacotherapy; (5) patient resources and toolkits; (6) education; and (7) other health recommendations. This study highlights the multifaceted approach of KSKidsMAP in addressing PCPs’ pediatric mental health concerns.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Mental health professional shortage areas geographic and low-income county-level designations. Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Published December 2020. Accessed February 8, 2022. https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1522/KS-Mental-Health-HPSA-Map-PDF.
LeebRTBitskoRHRadhakrishnanL, et al. Mental health–related emergency department visits among children aged <18 years during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, January 1–October 17, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:1675-1680.
EspinetSDGotovacSKnightS, et al. Primary care practitioner training in child and adolescent psychiatry (PTCAP): a cluster-randomized trial. Can J Psychiatry. 2020;65(5):319-329. doi:10.1177/0706743719890161.
12.
ZuckerbrotRACheungAJensenPSSteinREK, et al. Guidelines for adolescent depression in primary care (GLAD-PC): part I. Practice preparation, identification, assessment, and initial management. Pediatrics. 2018;141(3):e20174081. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-4081.
13.
BettencourtAFFerroRAWilliamsJL, et al. Pediatric primary care provider comfort with mental health practices: a needs assessment of regions with shortages of treatment access. Acad Psychiatry. 2021;45(4):429-434. doi:10.1007/s40596-021-01434-x.
14.
Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Pediatric mental health care access (PMHCA). Health Resources and Services Administration. Date unknown. Accessed December 15, 2022. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/training/pgm-pmhca.asp.
15.
AsarnowJRRozenmanMWiblinJZeltzerL. Integrated medical-behavioral care compared with usual primary care for child and adolescent behavioral health: a meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(10):929-937. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.1141.
16.
GeistRVerslootJMansfieldEDiEmanueleMReidR. The collaborative care model for patients with both mental health and medical conditions implemented in hospital outpatient care settings. J Ambul Care Manage. 2020;43(3):230-236. doi:10.1097/JAC.0000000000000332.
17.
HarrisKAguila GonzalezAVuongNBrownRCiccolari MicaldiS. Understanding pediatric mental health in primary care: needs in a rural state [published online ahead of print November 9, 2022]. Clin Pediatr. doi:10.1177/00099228221136121.
