Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2022 - 26

FEATURE / BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
T
he stress, uncertainty and fear
the COVID-19 pandemic created
has weighed heavily on children.
Since the start of the pandemic,
children's hospitals have seen more
kids with mental health emergencies
present to their emergency departments
(EDs). In 2021, children's hospitals'
EDs saw a 153% increase in suicide
and self-injury cases compared to
2016, according to data in the Pediatric
Health Information System®. Kids are
facing big challenges, and providers
are stretched thin.
But the pandemic did put a spotlight
on the importance of mental health
for children and youth and the fragility
of the pediatric mental health
care system. Last October, Children's
Hospital Association joined the
American Academy of Pediatrics and
the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatrists in declaring
a national emergency in children's
mental health.
Then in December, U.S. Surgeon
General Vivek Murthy issued a nationwide
advisory on the youth mental
health crisis that was worsened by
the pandemic. He called for a " swift
and coordinated response " to make
sure kids have access to the care they
need. Since then, more than 75 children's
hospitals and 55 organizations
have joined Sound the Alarm for Kids,
calling for federal actions to support a
stronger system of care for children's
mental health.
Ron-Li Liaw, M.D., Mental Healthin-Chief
at Children's Hospital
Colorado, sees the declarations as a
" relief " to those working in the behavioral
health field. Officials are calling
it what it is: a crisis. And while the
crisis is not new, COVID-19 amplified
it and heightened awareness among
the public, lawmakers and health care
organizations. " Many kids show early
warning signs and are not getting the
care that they need at the right place,
the right time or with the right care
team, " Liaw says. " Then it becomes an
emergency, and families must access
crisis care in emergency departments.
By that time, it's too late. It's become
a real crisis and impaired that child's
development or functioning. "
This scenario is one pediatric
health care providers are all too familiar
with. To help remedy it, here
TAKING ACTION
of students who receive mental health
services receive it in schools, making
the education system the most
accessed behavioral health delivery
system for youth. " You can't partner
enough with schools-that's where
the kids are, " says Michele Wilmoth,
M.S.N., RN, LSN, NCSN, director of
Nursing, School Health Services at
Akron Children's Hospital. " They live,
eat, work and play at school. If you
want to make a difference in a child's
life, you have the most opportunity to
do so in a school. "
To better identify and meet student
Sounding the alarm
Last October, Children's Hospital
Association, the American
Academy of Pediatrics and the
American Academy of Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry
declared a national mental
health emergency for children
and teens. Sound the Alarm for
Kids expands on the declaration
by outlining the urgency needed
to promote the well-being of the
nations' children. This initiative
calls on Congress to act in
support of the needs of children
and their families.
Learn how you can support
Sound the Alarm for Kids at
soundthealarmforkids.org.
needs, Akron Children's launched a
philanthropically funded, schoolbased
health program using nurse
practitioners and telehealth services
in 2019. The hospital established the
program in 12 districts, and now that
in-person learning has resumed, nurse
practitioners visit each school at least
once a month for consultations. This
includes screening students for behavioral
health issues, connecting
students to services and completing
wellness exams. " We're helping students
and families navigate a complex
health system, " Wilmoth says.
The pandemic delayed the proare
examples in three areas where
children's hospitals are collaborating
and implementing programs within
schools, expanding the workforce, improving
communication and continuing
to expand on creative care strategies
developed during the pandemic.
Schools as
essential partners
Kids spend a lot of time in school, positioning
school staff as ideal observers
of changing or concerning behaviors
and expanding the system of care beyond
the medical setting. According to
the Hopeful Futures Campaign, 30%
26
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS TODAY Spring 2022
gram getting traction in schools, and
Wilmoth and her team pivoted to address
how to meet student needs during
virtual school. The team conducted
meetings with families using video
conferencing so they could have open
conversations about a child's health
concerns. Now that students are in
school in person, they are working to
ingrain the program in school culture.
This program also marked the first
time Akron Children's brought telehealth
into schools. When nurse practitioners
are spread across multiple
sites and buildings, nurse-to-nurse
video consults help triage students
more efficiently.
In addition to providing care where
the students are,
school-based behavioral
health programs can help
http://www.soundthealarmforkids.org
Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2022

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