Report discusses integrating behavioral health into pediatric care

The American Hospital Association released a report detailing how hospitals can better integrate behavioral health into pediatric care, given the rising rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions among children and adolescents. When hospitals ─ particularly children’s hospitals ─ integrate behavioral health into primary care encounters, clinicians can recognize symptoms early, provide immediate support and reduce the chance of escalation into emergencies or long-term treatment. The report provides case studies demonstrating how integrated models are taking shape and what hospital leaders, especially those in children’s hospitals, can learn from them.