Pediatricians in the Chicago area are being offered a new training program to increase knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating mental health issues, according to a July 25 report from NBC5 Chicago.
The Collaborative Behavioral Health Program — which is offered through the Chicagoland Children's Health Alliance, a pediatric provider network — is meant to enable pediatricians to diagnose mental illnesses themselves, instead of making referrals to psychological services with often monthslong waitlists.
At least 90 CCHA pediatricians have already participated in the training program, focusing on depression, anxiety, ADHD and other common mental illnesses in children and adolescents.
Surveys conducted before and after the training revealed that pediatricians' confidence levels surrounding diagnosis and treatment rose from 60 percent to 90 percent. Additionally, how comfortable pediatricians were with prescribing and monitoring medications increased from 30 to 86 percent, according to the report.