COLUMBIA, Missouri — A Missouri program seeks to help pediatricians tackle the growing mental health crisis.
The Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project (MO-CPAP) aims to enable primary care providers to provide patients with the best mental health resources available, all over the phone within 30 minutes of request.
Dr. Alexandra James has been working as a pediatrician for over ten years. She is currently working at her MU Healthcare in Colombia.
“I wish I had done it in every conceivable specialty, even just keeping it in my bum pocket for free,” said James.
She has the tools to help her provide the best possible care when patients and their families come in with mental health issues.
“I can reach them in a very quick and efficient way, get that information, get a course on what to do for this patient, and get them on the road,” said James. said, “This has been very effective in my practice.”
About MO-CPAP. This is a telephone consultation with a child psychiatrist who provides resources, options and treatment plans for healthcare providers. Prior to this program, James found himself going through old notes among patients in his office.
“I went back to my office and searched my textbooks furiously, okay, I remember this and this. Then I went back to the clinic and tried to provide the best care I could,” James said. rice field.
Dr. Laine Young Walker, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and chairman of the University of Missouri School of Psychiatry, oversees the program. She said MO-CPAP will help combat the shortage of child psychiatrists.
“So one child psychiatrist is currently helping 1,000 children, but you don’t have to see them all,” Young Walker said. “I think it’s great to help with the mental health crisis we’re dealing with.”
Young-Walker said the need for child psychiatrists is even greater after COVID-19.
“Since the pandemic, the number of children with anxiety disorders and depression has increased, and more children and adolescents are in need of mental health treatment,” said Young Walker. “Many primary care providers do not have adequate training in mental health, which makes them uncomfortable. it won’t.”
All calls from health care providers statewide are answered at behavioral health response facilities in St. Louis. According to her coordinator of the MO-CPAP project, Wendy Ell, the average age of consultation is 12, but the program receives requests from patients ages 2 to 21. I’m here.
“We know that many families prefer to seek mental health treatment or provide that care to a pediatrician or primary care provider. increase.
Since the program began in 2018, Ell said MO-CPAP has responded to more than 2,000 consultations. She said the program was created to address mild to moderate behavioral health concerns.
There are other important parts of the project as well. The first is immediate treatment within 30 minutes of the provider’s request. The 1-800 number is available Monday through Friday. Second, that same number can provide resources and referrals to patients within the community. Another is provider education. MO-CPAP offers online resources and lectures on ADHD, depression and anxiety. The final part is support coordination where the coordinator works with families to discuss treatment.
Young Walker said there has been some progress on the mental health crisis because people aren’t afraid to talk about it.
“One of the definite improvements is that there is less stigma and people are more willing to ask for help,” says Young-Walker. “Acknowledge that there is a problem and ask for help. For example, if your child suddenly stops talking, looks sad, or changes in behavior, it is okay to ask someone. ”
MO-CPAP is offered through the University of Missouri School of Medicine and is funded by the Office of Health Resource Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services.
The program is free as long as the provider signs up. Find out more about Mizzou’s here. website.
