As a journalist, I’ve been covering the issue of mental health care and its challenges in the community. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Cagande at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) about their partnership with Girard College, a preparatory school in Sharswood, to provide clinical services to students in grades 1 through 12.
Dr. Cagande emphasizes the importance of primary care physicians in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and improving access to care, especially in light of the shortage of child psychiatrists. While other medical specialties face similar barriers, psychiatry presents its own unique challenges. The lack of attention given to mental health historically has led many medical students to overlook psychiatry as a career choice.
Moreover, obtaining reimbursement for mental health services is another deterrent for aspiring child psychiatrists. Dr. Cagande notes that mental health care providers often face disparities in reimbursement compared to other medical services, despite the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act passed in 2008. The lack of effective implementation of this legislation discourages potential professionals from entering the field of child psychiatry.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Cagande and her team at CHOP are working hard to establish partnerships with local schools and improve access to mental health care for children in need.
In conclusion, while there is still much work to be done to address the shortage of child psychiatrists and improve access to mental health care for children, efforts like those being made by Dr. Cagande and her team at CHOP are essential in moving towards a more equitable future for our youth’s mental health care needs.
