Integrated Behavioral Health Role in Helping Pediatricians Find Long Term Mental Health Interventions with the Use of Assessments

Trends in U.S. Depression Prevalence From 2015 to 2020: The Widening Treatment Gap

INTRODUCTION

Major depression is a common and potentially lethal condition. Early data suggest that the population-level burden of depression has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prepandemic estimates of depression prevalence are required to quantify and comprehensively address the pandemic's impact on mental health in the U.S.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the 2015-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative study of U.S. individuals aged ≥12 years. The prevalence of past-year depression and help seeking for depression were estimated from 2015 to 2019, and time trends were tested with Poisson regression with robust SEs. Point estimates were calculated for 2020 and not included in statistical trend analyses because of differences in data collection procedures.

RESULTS

In 2020, 9.2% (SE=0.31) of Americans aged ≥12 years experienced a past-year major depressive episode. Depression was more common among young adults aged 18-25 years (17.2%, SE=0.78), followed closely by adolescents aged 12-17 years (16.9%, SE=0.84). Depression increased most rapidly among adolescents and young adults and increased among nearly all sex, racial/ethnic, income, and education groups. Depression prevalence did not change among adults aged ≥35 years, and the prevalence of help seeking remained consistently low across the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

From 2015 to 2019, there were widespread increases in depression without commensurate increases in treatment, and in 2020, past 12‒month depression was prevalent among nearly 1 in 10 Americans and almost 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults. Decisive action involving a multipronged public health campaign that includes evidence-based prevention and intervention to address this ongoing mental health crisis is urgently needed.

Role of Psychologists in Pediatric Subspecialties: Integrated Psychological Services Overarching Concepts Across Pediatric Subspecialties

This article addresses, in more general terms, the overarching concepts of the role of integrated psychologists and how their services are incorporated in the medical home with the use of provider consultation, administering assessments in identifying common mental health concerns, providing interventions for treatment adherence and providing short-term therapy within pediatric subspecialties.

Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on child and adolescent mental health: A matter of concern-A joint statement from EAP and ECPCP

COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent rigid social distancing measures implemented, including school closures, have heavily impacted children's and adolescents' psychosocial wellbeing, and their mental health problems significantly increased. However, child and adolescent mental health were already a serious problem before the Pandemic all over the world. COVID-19 is not just a pandemic, it is a syndemic and mentally or socially disadvantaged children and adolescents are the most affected. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and previous mental health issues are an additional worsening condition. Even though many countries have responded with decisive efforts to scale-up mental health services, a more integrated and community-based approach to mental health is required. EAP and ECPCP makes recommendations to all the stakeholders to take action to promote, protect and care for the mental health of a generation.