Pediatricians Tackle Youth Mental Health Crisis

As the mental health crisis among youth continues to escalate, pediatricians are taking innovative steps to support the emotional well-being of their young patients. Dr. Joannie Yeh, a primary care physician at Nemours Children’s Health in Media, Pennsylvania, recalls a young boy who struggled with emotional outbursts. To help him manage his anger, Yeh introduced a calming technique where the boy stretched his hands into the shape of a starfish and traced the edges of his fingers while practicing slow, deep breaths. The result? His parents reported a noticeable decrease in aggressive behavior, particularly towards his younger siblings.

This approach is one of many simple yet effective strategies pediatricians like Yeh are incorporating into their practices as the nation grapples with a pediatric mental health crisis. With a shortage of mental health professionals and lengthy wait times for appointments, many children are not receiving timely or sufficient care. Experts argue that primary care pediatricians, who often have ongoing relationships with patients, are uniquely positioned to step in and provide immediate support using non-pharmacological interventions.

Addressing a Growing Crisis

Mental health concerns in children and adolescents are at a critical juncture, with rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide rising sharply in recent years. Suicide deaths among children aged 10 to 14 tripled between 2007 and 2018, and suicide rates have remained high through 2021, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. More concerning, recent data shows that one in five high school students seriously considered suicide in 2023, with a higher incidence in girls than boys.

Despite these alarming statistics, many children are left without the help they need due to a scarcity of trained mental health professionals and overburdened systems. Pediatricians like Yeh have begun to integrate mental health strategies into their practices to fill this gap and provide immediate relief to families while waiting for more specialized care.

Proven Mental Health Strategies in Primary Care

While pediatricians cannot replace the role of a therapist, they are uniquely positioned to offer support and educate families on strategies that can help children manage their emotions and mental health. Dr. Theresa Nguyen, chair of pediatrics at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, highlights the importance of educating patients and families on techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and stress management.

“Being told that a child has to wait months to see a psychiatrist or therapist can be incredibly frustrating for families,” Nguyen said. “By teaching simple skills that are rooted in evidence-based therapies, pediatricians can offer more immediate solutions to struggling families.”

Changing Thought Patterns and Managing Stress

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used and effective interventions for treating anxiety and depression. The therapy focuses on helping children identify negative thought patterns that contribute to their emotional distress and replace them with more positive, rational thoughts.

Dr. Yeh often uses a visual CBT diagram to help children understand the connection between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. “This visual representation can make a huge difference in how children understand their emotions and begin to manage them more effectively,” she said.

In addition to CBT, pediatricians are recommending various physical and mental techniques to help children manage stress. For example, physical activities such as jumping jacks or simple body scans can help children release pent-up energy and calm their nerves. Dr. Nguyen advocates for starting with physical exercise to break the cycle of anxiety before attempting calming exercises like deep breathing. “No one’s nervous after doing 10 jumping jacks,” she noted.

Dr. Mollie Grow, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital, also recommends guided meditations to reduce anxiety and promote positive behavior. Research has shown that these tools can significantly help in lowering anxiety and improving social interactions.

Another quick method pediatricians use is cold-water immersion, a technique that quickly calms the nervous system. “When a child is upset, we can have them place their hand in cold water until it feels almost frozen. The shock to the system can help them reset and think more clearly,” said Dr. Nguyen.

Helping Children Understand Their Emotions

Pediatricians are also working to demystify the physiological aspects of anxiety and depression for their patients. Explaining how symptoms like shallow breathing are linked to anxiety can help children understand that what they’re experiencing is normal, and with the right strategies, they can regain control over their emotions.

“When children understand that their body is reacting to stress or fear in a normal way, they can learn to regulate it,” Yeh explained. “It’s not about making the feelings go away, but learning to manage them more effectively.”

Barriers to Widespread Implementation

While these interventions have proven beneficial, they are not yet standard practice across all pediatric settings. Dr. Grow pointed out that there is still a gap in training for primary care providers when it comes to pediatric mental health. However, starting in July 2025, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education will require pediatric residency programs to include mental health training, though the specific requirements will vary by institution.

Even with additional training, time constraints remain a significant barrier. Many pediatricians, already pressed for time during appointments, may struggle to incorporate mental health support into their busy schedules. As Dr. Carlos Lerner, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained, “Addressing mental health issues is a daily part of the care I provide, but it’s challenging when reimbursement rates are low or non-existent for these types of services.”

Despite these challenges, pediatricians like Drs. Yeh, Nguyen, and Grow are determined to continue addressing the mental health needs of their patients. “Whether it’s the pandemic, social media, or other societal factors, we are seeing a sharp rise in mental health issues,” Dr. Lerner said. “We have to do everything we can to help these kids before it’s too late.”

Conclusion

As the mental health crisis among youth intensifies, pediatricians are stepping up with strategies that provide immediate support and relief. While these interventions are not a substitute for specialized mental health care, they offer families valuable tools to manage their children’s mental health in the short term. With more training and systemic support, primary care providers can play a crucial role in addressing this national emergency, helping children and teens navigate the challenges of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues before they escalate.