Pediatric Primary Care Visits With Mental Health Needs - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Mental Health Requirements During Pediatric Primary Care Appointments

  • By

  • Kerrin M. Gallagher

  • Alyssa Burnett

  • Jihye Kim

  • R. Christopher Sheldrick

  • Anita Morris

  • Emily Feinberg

  • Megan B. Cole

  • May 18, 2026

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  • 1

    Mental health disorders affect 28% of US children, with nearly 50% not receiving necessary treatment.

  • 2

    The study analyzed pediatric primary care visits in Massachusetts from 2014 to 2023, focusing on mental health diagnoses.

  • 3

    PCP visits with any mental health diagnosis increased from 5.9 to 9.7 visits per 100 children over the study period.

  • 4

    Anxiety-related visits saw the largest increase, rising by 300% relative to 2014, while ADHD remained the most common diagnosis.

  • 5

    The findings indicate a need for enhanced mental health training and integrated services in pediatric primary care.

Original Source(s)

Pediatric Primary Care Visits With Mental Health Needs

  • by Kerrin M. Gallagher, Alyssa Burnett, Jihye Kim, R. Christopher Sheldrick, Anita Morris, Emily Feinberg, Megan B. Cole

  • May 18, 2026

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