Can We Screen Parents Around the World About the Mental Health of Their Children? Yes, Just Ask

Abstract

and Brazil (Porto Alegre and São Paulo). 1 Readers will appreciate that the statistical analysis of this study included mixed-effects logistic regression models. The findings of Kass et al 1 have suggested that parents around the world are similar human beings who love their children, are concerned about the mental health of their children in a complex world, and welcome the opportunity to tell interested primary care clinicians about their children. Clinicians can use these data to increase efforts to screen their pediatric patients for mental health problems using a variety of screening techniques to identify problems early in childhood and/or adolescence. Sensitive topics can be screened and dealt with as well, including suicidality, substance abuse, and gender identity. 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10] Clinicians, researchers, and parents are all in the same exciting and fascinating journey seeking to understand the mental health of children and learning to help them as much as possible for their overall maximal health as they experience life in this challenging 21st century. There is much clinicians can do for these parents and children; the encouragement and guidance from these respected researchers is greatly appreciated.