For many pediatric and adult patients, the current stimulant shortage means significant disruption in daily functioning. As a result, there’s increased pressure on prescribers to problem-solve in order to continue to meet the treatment needs of patients who are impacted by ADHD. To put this situation in context, an increase in stimulant prescriptions had already […]
In the primary care setting, children often present with acute psychiatric symptoms that greatly impair their functioning or put them at risk of harm to self or others. Pediatric clinicians may consider prescribing psychotropic medication in addition to therapeutic interventions to stabilize a mental health condition (1). However, parents and patients may have concerns about […]
For many Illinois families, mental health services are difficult to access and wait times are long. During this season last year, 40% of Illinois behavioral health centers had stopped accepting new patients with over 9,300 individuals on waiting lists for behavioral health services, according to a Chicago Tribune article. Primary care providers are in a key position to […]
Welcome to fall! It’s that time of year again when your pediatric patients may require extra support at school for their behavioral health needs. We would like to touch on some important educational laws and resources to help you advocate for your school-aged patients who may be experiencing challenging school behavior. If your pediatric patient […]
Primary care providers play an important role in identifying youth at risk of suicide by using evidence-based screening and risk-assessment tools. Suicide prevention also includes appropriate intervention. The following recommendations for a comprehensive approach can be implemented into your practice. Creating a safety plan can be proactive step or an acute intervention. An essential component […]
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. How can primary care providers make a difference and save lives? By asking, listening, safety planning and intervening with check-ins and connections. Now more than ever it is important to be part of the solution. Visit our website for more information. Alarmingly, suicide rates have steadily increased 30% between […]
As the pandemic lingers, healthcare professionals are increasingly burned out, anxious, depressed, and traumatized. According to a Coping with Covid Study in 2020 of over nine thousand physicians across medical disciplines, 50% were burnt out. More recent surveys have even more dire results (1). Studies show that advanced practice registered nurses are experiencing similar levels […]
As Illinois prepares to accept Ukrainian Refugees, now is the time to learn more about this population’s unique mental health care needs. Ideally, refugees will have access to a wide array of social, psychiatric, and medical programs when they arrive. But that is rarely the case due to limited resources and other barriers (Rees et al., […]
This month the national Sexual Assault Awareness campaign, “Building Safe Online Spaces Together,” highlights the impact of online sexual abuse. Not only is there a high rate of violence among dating teenagers as discussed in our March e-newsletter, but abusive online experiences and sexual violence are also prevalent. Studies show that 25% of dating teens report having been victimized online […]
