Are Doctors Missing Mental Health Cues In Kids?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WUSA) -- It's estimated that one out of every five children has a diagnosable mental disorder in the United States. What's worse is that millions of kids simply aren't getting the help they need to deal with it. A new program is designed to help change that.

As a general pediatrician, Daryl Robbins cares for dozens of kids every day. From toddlers to teens, parents trust him with everything from sprains to allergies.

"We are the people that they know, and we are the people that can give them some comfort, some compassion, and a lot of direction," says Robbins.

But by their own admission, there is one area where many family doctors aren't giving a lot of direction.

A survey by experts at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio found that when it comes to mental health, 54% of primary care physicians don't feel confident diagnosing depression in kids, and 5% say they're not confident diagnosing anxiety disorders.

"Most children with these problems don't get any treatment or when they do get treatment, get ineffective treatment," says John Campo, MD with Nationwide Children's Hospital.

So Dr. Campo is leading an innovative new program to try and change that. Now, if a family doctor needs advice on mental health, help is just a phone call away.

A decision support team made up of psychiatrists and nurses from Nationwide Children's Hospital can help with everything from diagnosis to medication.

The idea is to support family doctors first. If they can manage the patient, they will, and the more serious cases will be referred to specialists.

"We want to identify those kids who are most severely ill first and meet them at the level of care that they need if they need to be seen in a specialty care setting we want to get them there right away," says Dr. Campo.

It's a team approach that could prove to be a model for other centers around the country, which will help to get care to the kids who need it most.

Dr. Campo says that for every 100,000 kids in this country, there are only eight pediatric psychiatrists. Shortages are especially bad in rural and low income areas. That means many kids who need mental health care simply can't get it, or have to wait months for an appointment.

For more help, check out the DC Department of Mental Health Providers.