LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH
PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CARE
20
The global pandemic has been hard on everyone . However , it ’ s been found than children and young adults in particular are bearing the brunt of its effects on mental health . A recent study found that , in the US , 7.1 % of children between the ages of 3 and 17 are currently living with an anxiety diagnosis , and a further 3.2 % are struggling with clinical depression . According to Roxane Cohen Silver , a social psychologist at UC Irvine , the elevated levels of stress following national crises can have long-lasting detrimental effects on the mental health of an entire generation . Now , she added in an interview with TIME , we can expect to see the coronavirus pandemic contribute to an even greater spike in mental health issues than following the September 11 attacks in 2001 .
“ This is a difficult time for everyone , and that includes children ,” said Dr . Melanie Melville , Medical Director of the Behavioral Health Service Line at Legacy in March of this year . “ As we turn to social distancing to quell the spread of this unprecedented virus , we at Legacy want to proactively work to ensure that our most vulnerable populations have continued access to equitable care – including behavioral health care for children .”
Since the early days of the US ’ Stay Home Order , Legacy has offered remote pediatric appointments to children up to the age of 17 , including therapy appointments to assist pediatric patients with anxiety , depression , and behavioral problems .
“ The crux of our school-based health care program has always been to keep students healthy and relieve the burden of a clinic visit from the parents ’ shoulders ,” says Dr . Teandra Gordon , the Clinical Director of School Based Behavioral Health program at Legacy . “ By now offering these services via telehealth while students don ’ t have access to their campus clinics , our goal is to continue that warm-hug feeling of wrap-around care that the students – and parents – have come to know and trust from Legacy .”
JANUARY 2021