$8M strategic plan averts pediatric mental health crisis

Nationwide, thousands of adolescents grapple with a mental health and substance use disorder daily. That makes suicide a leading cause of death among children in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similarly, that same report claims suicide rates are a growing trend, estimated to increase year over year.

The shocking statistics combined, the Riley Children’s Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting Riley Children’s Health, has recently earned a $8 million donation to aid in the mental health crisis. Supported by Sarah and John Lechleiter, donors of the Riley Children’s Foundation, the generous gift will benefit patients at Riley Children’s, where a strategic plan will embed mental health services in pediatric primary care offices across Indiana. The idea aims to support children and adolescents, providing behavioral health care services close to home, early and before patients are in crisis.

“We are grateful to Sarah and John Lechleiter for their leadership and advocacy in pediatric and adolescent behavioral health,” Ryan Nagy, MD said, interim president of Riley Children’s. “This crisis is too immense and complex for any one group to solve alone.”

The strategic plan, already implemented in eight pediatric and primary care locations in the state, is anticipated to continue rolling out over the next year. As part of the initiative, the mental health workforce shortage will be addressed, training interventionists to deliver evidence-based interventions for conditions like anxiety and depression, as well as more complex cases being referred to at the Riley Children’s outpatient psychiatry program. Virtual evidence-based therapy groups will also be an integral part of the strategy.

“Approximately half of Indiana children with major depression do not receive treatment, and half of adults with chronic mental health conditions first had symptoms before the age of 14,” Leslie Hulvershorn, MD said, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Riley Children’s and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. “Through this gift, we are confident the integrated care approach will ensure vital support to primary care providers who are on the front lines of the crisis, and will deliver effective, evidence-based therapies to children and teens who otherwise may be unable to access care.”

While the strategic plan primarily targets Indiana adolescents, the effort is impactful for many healthcare institutions nationwide. Ahead of the initiative, leaders at Riley Children’s are responding with an incredible sense of urgency, meeting adolescents where they need it most.

“This is the perfect example of how we can put innovative solutions in place when government, philanthropists, private organizations and health systems work together,” Dr. Nagy said. “We’re hopeful these efforts across the system will bring forth a positive change for children with mental health issues.”

Child and adolescent psychiatry at Riley Children’s

Experts within the child and adolescent psychiatry program at Riley Children’s support patients to address each mental health need. Clinicians are active in research and innovation, committed to providing advanced care for psychiatric diagnoses and behavioral problems. Highlights include:

• One of few sites in the U.S. to offer a triple board program that trains physicians in pediatrics, general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry
• Developed the Behavioral Health Access Program for Youth (Be Happy) and Adolescent Addiction Access–programs that support care for mental health and substance use disorders
• Specialized programs including outpatient psychiatric care and hospital-based psychiatric care