AAP Rural Pediatrics Anxiety and Depression

The Role of the Rural Primary Care Provider and Resources for Rural Communities: School, Community and Beyond

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the current landscape of anxiety and depression for patients and caregivers
• Identify strategies to develop a relationship with patients and families to promote mental wellness
• Identify potential partners in the community
• Identify ways to partner with school and community mental health teams to support youth mental health

Intersections of Trauma, Social Dynamics and Anxiety and Depression

Participants will be able to :

• Appreciate the ongoing/unrecognized prevalence of traumatic early life experiences
• Understand the impact of early life trauma on emotional development and mental health
• Explore the manifestation/presentations of trauma in primary care
• Understand the unique challenges and assets of rural communities toward addressing childhood trauma

Identification and Assessment of Anxiety and Depression

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the prevalence of anxiety and depression in rural settings
• Describe the diagnostic criteria for anxiety and depression
• Identify screening tools for anxiety and depression that can be used in the primary care setting 

Considerations for Addressing Youth Suicide Risk in Rural Settings

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the current statistics of youth death by suicide nationally
• Articulate risk and protective factors for death by suicide
• Identify considerations for administering evidence-based screening tools for youth in the primary care setting
• Understand important “next steps” when safety concerns arise

Brief Interventions: Anxiety

Participants will be able to:

• Identify practical strategies to help patients once a mental health concern is identified.
• Understand how to apply common factors and common elements as brief interventions during a visit.
• Apply aspects of core Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) components to patients in primary care

Brief Interventions: Depression

Participants will be able to:

• Describe the presentation of youth depression in primary care
• Appreciate the developmental & family perspective to evaluation and treatment
• Understand practical strategies and application for treatment in primary care
• Discuss considerations of “Management Plans” for pediatric mental health concerns in primary care

Psychopharmacology

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the place of psychopharmacology in the overall treatment plan for children and adolescents with depression and anxiety disorders
• Understand the most relevant classes of medication for treatment of depression and anxiety in pediatric primary care
• Review prescribing guidelines for initiation, adjustment, modification, and discontinuation in treating moderate depression and anxiety
• Discuss appropriate methods for monitoring and managing side effects

Practical Tips and Approaches for Addressing Anxiety and Depression in the Practice Setting

Participants will be able to:

• Describe some common barriers to addressing anxiety/depression in the practice setting.
• Identify practical strategies to structure mental health visits in the primary care pediatric setting.
• Work towards developing strategies to streamline workflows and decrease administrative burden

Rural Pedatrics Anxiety & Depression Infographic

The AAP recently implemented a Rural Pediatrics Anxiety and Depression ECHO training program geared toward improving the quality of care for patients, increasing provider knowledge and confidence, and increasing access to resources. Learn more about the impact of this training by reviewing the Anxiety and Depression infographic.