Mental health problems are increasingly becoming common in children and suicide rates have now become the second leading cause of death in children even as young as 10 years.

An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement titled “Mental Health Competencies for Pediatric Practice”, published in the November 2019 issue of the journal Pediatrics, provides guidance on how pediatricians can promote the healthy social-emotional development of children. AAP recommends that pediatricians:

• “Partner with families, youth, other medical specialists, local educators and social service providers to identify gaps in key mental health services in their communities and work to address the deficiencies.
• Pursue training, certification or other educational strategies to improve their mental health practice, with a priority given to suicide prevention.
• Explore collaborative care models, such as the integration of a mental health specialist as part of the medical home team.
• Build relationships with mental health specialists, including school-based providers, to identify and provide emergency care to children and teens at risk of suicide and to co-manage children with mental health conditions”.

(Source: Excerpts from American Academy of Pediatrics, 21^st Oct, 2019)

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA