A new way to close the pediatric mental health gap: Primary care and psychiatry working together

AI Summary

The University of Michigan Health developed the Pediatric Psychiatry Colocalized Consult Clinic (P2C3), which embeds child psychiatry into pediatric primary care settings to address the shortage of child mental health services. The model has shown promise in improving care access and training future pediatricians to manage common mental health conditions.

For years, pediatricians have faced a growing dilemma. Families increasingly turn to primary care for help with mental health concerns, yet many pediatricians feel underprepared, and child psychiatrists remain in short supply. More than a decade ago, University of Michigan Health tried a different approach: bringing child psychiatry directly into the pediatric medical home and embedding it into pediatric resident training. The result was the Pediatric Psychiatry Colocalized Consult Clinic (P2C3), a model designed to improve access to care while training future pediatricians to manage common mental health conditions.