Data from a large pediatric primary care network demonstrates increases in positive depression and suicide risk screens during the COVID-19 pandemic.What's Known on This Subject: Adolescent mental heath concerns have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescents are routinely screened for depression and suicidality in pediatric primary care, but past studies have not examined changes in these outcomes during the pandemic in the primary care setting. What This Study Adds:Using electronic health record data from a large pediatric primary care network, this study identified increases in the proportion of adolescents screening positive for depressive symptoms and suicide risk in pediatric primary care during the pandemic, especially among female adolescents.

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Recognizing both maternal and paternal depression during outpatient visits is key to family well-being, as well as to infant development and attachment. Pediatric providers should address the unique emotional, socioeconomic, educational, and health needs of teen mothers. Hospital implementation of evidence-based policies may increase the number of mothers who are successful in establishing breast-feeding, and pediatric healthcare providers should be prepared to support mothers of breast-feeding infants.