Health Care Reform as a Vehicle for Promoting Children's Mental and Behavioral Health

National Trends in the Prevalence and Treatment of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults

“…45,46 The growing number of depressed adolescents and young adults who do not receive any mental health treatment for their MDE calls for renewed outreach efforts, especially in school and college health and counseling services and pediatric practices where many of the untreated adolescents and young adults with depression may be detected and managed. 47 …”

Realizing Population-Level Improvements for All Children’s Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Health

“…Workshops have focused on scaling up family-based preventive interventions 26 ; harvesting the scientific investment in prevention through implementation in mental health, schools, child welfare, and juvenile justice 27 ; using measurement systems to monitor the implementation of evidence-based programs 28 ; addressing the unique opportunities to integrate prevention into health care 29 ; facilitating depression prevention and treatment into pediatric care 30 ; and promoting cognitive, affective, and behavioral health in children who have complex medical or educational needs. 30 Perspective papers have addressed the power of prevention, 31,32 healthcare reform to promote children's mental and behavioral health, 33 and family-focused interventions for children with disabilities. 34 Along with these opportunities afforded by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, there is an additional need to provide prevention and wellness funds for strengthening communities to promote healthy development through the integration of systems and elimination of separate carve outs.…”