Boosting Teen Mental Health: A Call to Support Primary Care Doctors

These days, teens are facing more mental health issues than ever. But that’s not all. There’s also a shortage of healthcare providers who can help. This puts primary care doctors right in the middle of the storm. They’re feeling overwhelmed and burned out, and many are thinking of leaving the field. It’s a tough situation. Primary care doctors are usually the first point of contact for kids and families needing emotional support. But with their workload piling up and visits getting shorter, they’re struggling to keep up. So, what can be done? Some solutions already exist, like combining primary and mental health care, and having child psychiatrists advise primary care doctors. But these solutions aren’t enough. Doctors still feel like they’re doing more screening with less time and support. What if we try to increase the time doctors spend with patients? Or make their visits more efficient? And how about paying them more for the important work they do? These ideas might help ease the pressure on primary care doctors and improve the care they give to teens. After all, teens need all the support they can get. And their primary care doctors are key to making sure they get the help they need.