Background
Children’s mental health conditions are on the rise nationally and in Ohio. Anxiety and depression are prevalent among children nationwide, with rates steadily increasing. If left untreated, these conditions can impair school performance and social interactions. Early identification of these conditions is crucial, as they can lead to long-term negative effects on health and quality of life, including increased risk of recurrent depression and suicidal behavior. When not addressed, depression and anxiety can negatively affect developmental trajectories and disrupt relationships with family and peers.
National recommendations strongly endorse screening and treatment of anxiety and depression in pediatric primary care settings as the most effective means for timely intervention to reduce the impact on school readiness and functioning. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established targets for depression screening and treatment in adolescent primary care as part of Healthy People 2030 objectives. However, recent evidence suggests that less than 10% of primary care office visits for adolescents include screening for depression.
Who We Are
The Healthy Minds, Strong Futures (HMSF) project is focused on improving health outcomes related to depression and anxiety for children ages 12 to 18 seen at primary care practices by focusing on utilizing evidence-based behavioral health screening tools and treatment interventions.
The participating sites involved in this quality improvement initiative will utilize the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Model for Improvement to complete small tests of change via Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. To achieve the project aims and support PDSA cycles, electronic health record (EHR) queries will be developed, and baseline data will be collected. The project aims to:
- Increase the percentage of children ages 12 to 18 screened for anxiety and depression.
- Initiate appropriate interventions for children that screen positive for anxiety or depression.
Resources
The following resources are available for download:
- Provider tool kit *Coming soon!
- Patient and family brochure *Coming soon!
Partners
The Healthy Minds, Strong Futures project is funded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OHMAS) through a State of Ohio Action for Resiliency Network (SOAR) innovation grant and administered by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center (GRC).
Clinical experts on the advisory committee include:
- Dr. William Leever: Pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology at The Ohio State University.
- Dr. David Jensen: Psychiatrist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at The Ohio State University.
- Dr. Seuli Bose Brill, MD: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics - Grandview Yard
- Dr. Rachel Gordon, MD: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics - Grandview Yard