Bridging the Training Gap for Primary Care Practitioners in Child and Youth Mental Health

The need for treatment of children and adolescents with mental disorders is rising, as 75% of children and youth with mental disorders do not have access to services to address their mental health needs. Lengthy wait times for psychiatric services create a barrier to access. Primary care providers, while in a position to address the mental health needs of their patients, report feeling ill-equipped to diagnose and manage mental health disorders. The CanREACH ON Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) Mini-Fellowship Program responds by giving community based primary care providers mental health training that includes practical and evidence-based…