1. A Pediatrician's Role in Diagnosis and Treatment of Teenage Depression
- Author
-
Libertin, Maria Nicole
- Subjects
- Behavioral Sciences, Ethics, Medicine, Pediatric, Depression, Mental Health, Pediatrician, Teenager, Mental illness
- Abstract
Mental illness continues to rise within the United States. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, adequate access to mental health services is becoming even more important. Despite this need, children facing mental health disorders are suffering from the lack of child and adolescent psychiatrists available. This shortage has been prevalent for decades with no permanent solution proposed. In hopes of providing care during this difficult time, pediatricians have been expected to take on responsibility for mental health disorder patients. However, research shows that pediatricians are unprepared and not confident in their abilities to take on this role. Therefore, they continue to provide inadequate care for these patients because of the ever-growing wait times on referrals and obligation to provide help to patients in need. This paper will explore the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists and the consequences of this shortage. In a case analysis, the patient, provider and systemic levels will be evaluated through different ethical frameworks including duty ethics, care ethics and justice. Changes will be proposed at the resident, attending physician and national level, in hopes of improving mental health care for children and creating a more accessible system.
- Published
- 2021