Why Pediatric Mental Health in Arizona Deserves Our Attention
Mental health is a topic that continues to be of persistent attention worldwide, but it is still a prevalent issue worldwide. In the United States in 2017, 7.4% of adolescents self-reported that they had a suicide attempt in the previous year, and 2.4% of adolescents needed medical attention for attempted suicide (Lindow et al., 2020). Children and adolescents are at particular risk of developing mental health issues; in fact, an estimated one in eight young people have a mental disorder (Hards et al., 2022). When assessing aspects of mental health and overall well-being of children and teens in Arizona, it is critical to focus on areas related to self-harm, suicide considerations, plans, and attempts. While Arizona saw an 8% drop in self-reported suicide attempts between 2017 and 2021, there were significant increases in the adolescent-reported rates of self-harm, suicide ideation, and creation of suicide plans (AZDHS, 2024). According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) (2024), reports of self-harm increased by 33%, suicide ideation increased by 22%, and the creation of suicide plans increased by 35%.
While my focus of study is on pediatric healthcare, my main area of expertise is not mental health, and at this time, I do not have plans to specialize in a biobehavioral setting. Nonetheless, mental health in children and adolescents is an issue that I will more than likely see in whatever area I choose to work in after graduation. As a future pediatric provider, it is essential to face the reality of the increasing rates of mental health issues among pediatric patients and reflect on the ways that I can make a difference in this area. However, I must first understand the contributing factors to this issue and what preventative services and early interventions are available currently.
When reflecting on equity and ethical considerations, realizing disparities in accessing mental health resources is important. The disparities related to mental health outcomes in children and adolescents are influenced by gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and special healthcare needs (AZDHS, 2024). Additionally, various socioeconomic and environmental factors influence pediatric mental health, including social media exposure and adverse childhood experiences (AZDHS, 2024). After assessing what resources and services are available in the state for the issues, attention should be given to determine what improvement can be made. To positively influence mental health and suicide prevention, statewide efforts should be focused on creating programs to address the needs of high-risk groups and expand access to professional mental health support for children and adolescents.
References
Arizona Department of Health Services. (2024). Arizona adolescent mental health report: Trends in mental health. Retrieved from https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/prevention/womens-childrens-health/adolescent-health/2024-adolescent-mental-health-report.pdf
Hards, E., Loades, M. E., Higson‐Sweeney, N., Shafran, R., Serafimova, T., Brigden, A., Reynolds, S., Crawley, E., Chatburn, E., Linney, C., McManus, M., & Borwick, C. (2022). Loneliness and mental health in children and adolescents with pre‐existing mental health problems: A rapid systematic review. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(2), 313–334. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12331
Lindow, J. C., Hughes, J. L., South, C., Minhajuddin, A., Gutierrez, L., Bannister, E., Trivedi, M. H., & Byerly, M. J. (2020). The youth aware of mental health intervention: Impact on help seeking, mental health knowledge, and stigma in U.S. adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(1), 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.01.006
Your blog addresses critical issues in pediatric mental health, and I appreciate your focus on disparities and the need for early intervention. As a PMHNP student and being a part of treating patients across the lifespan and with years of experience as a psychiatric nurse, I see firsthand the significant role parents play in the success of treatment for children, adolescents, and teens. Mental health care for this population is most effective when it involves not just the patient but also the family, as research underscores the importance of family involvement in improving outcomes (Hards et al., 2022).
ReplyDeleteI often educate parents that inpatient care and medications, while critical tools, are not standalone solutions. Family therapy is often needed to address systemic issues and change cycles that contribute to mental health challenges. This aligns with studies showing that family-based interventions can improve communication and reduce symptom severity in children and teens with mental health conditions (Lindow et al., 2020). Addressing the mental health of a child requires a holistic approach that fosters understanding of the diagnosis and promotes changes for everyone in the family system.
Your attention to equity and ethical considerations is particularly important. Disparities in mental health access due to factors such as socioeconomic status and race can significantly influence outcomes. As noted by the Arizona Department of Health Services (2024), addressing these disparities and creating targeted programs for high-risk groups is essential for suicide prevention and improving mental health outcomes.
I encourage you to consider the role of family systems more explicitly in future discussions. Highlighting the need for parent education and family-focused interventions could deepen the conversation about how to address these issues effectively. Your insights are valuable, and your work contributes meaningfully to advancing awareness of this urgent topic.
Hi A.,
ReplyDeleteThank you for exploring the issue of youth mental health. It seems to be of growing national concern since the pandemic, and Arizona does not seem to be faring well. According to Mental Health America’s annual report, Arizona was the state with one of the highest numbers of youth meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of depression. To make things worse, it was also a state that had nearly the highest rates of youth with insurance that did not cover mental health concerns (Reinert, Fritze, & Nguyen, 2024).
One interesting statistic that the annual report tracks is what they call youth flourishing. This data acknowledges resiliency factors that protect against the harmful effects of trauma and adversity. The report concludes that investments in early interventions, as well as support for families and caregivers, can increase a child’s ability to flourish (Reinert, Fritze, & Nguyen, 2024).
I look forward to learning more about what you uncover in your research.
Works Cited
Reinert, M., Fritze, D., & Nguyen, T. (2024). The state of mental health in America 2024. Alexandria, VA: Mental Health America.
You bring up some important points and recognize a critical issue in Arizona, most likely all over the country. I thought that emphasizing concerns such as self-harm and suicide prevention are things that require immediate attention as this crisis continues to grow. This is an excellent topic that calls for action and changes to policy to support our young population.
ReplyDeleteWhile you acknowledged that your area of expertise is not mental health, I do think that recognizing that these are situations that you may see will help you better prepare to care for your patients in a holistic manner. With limited access to mental health providers and considering primary care providers are often the first person to notice or see a patient with mental health concerns, you will play a major role in treating these conditions. While there is a need for change at a systemic level, there are also things you can do to be the change in your practice. One thing that may be helpful in screening is using different validated measurement tools. These are not only helpful for early screening and evaluating effectiveness of treatment, but also can help encourage shared decision making and self-management (Horowitz et al., 2020). Additionally, this may identify the risk in patients who are not openly reporting this, shedding light that this issue is even more common than previously thought – thus, further supporting the need for change. Using a suicide risk screening is a great way to identify those who may need early intervention, which has been shown to reduce suicide in youths. When these screenings are combined with early interventions such as development of safety plans, they could be lifesaving (Brown et al., 2021).
I think that your recognition of the different disparities and barriers to accessing mental healthcare is important. Often families are overwhelmed with having to find a provider and are unaware of the resources that are available. I agree that there needs to be changes at a statewide level, as this population is often neglected in the public eye and resources are not readily available or are difficult to access due to long wait times, lack of providers, or even social stigmas.
References:
Brown, M., Moore, C. A., MacGregor, J., & Lucey, J. R. (2021). Primary care and mental health: Overview of integrated care models. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(1), 10-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.07.005
Horowitz, L., Tipton, M. V., & Pao, M. (2020). Primary and secondary prevention of youth suicide. Pediatrics, 145(Supplement_2), S195-S203. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2056h