Join us for a discussion about: Recognizing, Screening, and Navigating Pediatric Mental Health Concerns in Primary Care
Speaker: Mary Payne, PhD, BCB
Licensed Psychologist, HSP from The Child & Family Counseling Center
Pediatric primary care clinicians are often the first, and sometimes only, point of contact for children and adolescents experiencing mental health concerns. These may include anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, or symptoms related to trauma and chronic stress. This one-hour session provides a practical overview of recognition, evidence-informed screening strategies, differential diagnosis, and brief interventions that can be implemented in primary care. Participants will also learn referral pathways and payer considerations, leaving with actionable tools to identify early signs, start brief interventions, and connect families to appropriate resources.
Learning Objectives – by the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Recognize and differentiate common pediatric mental health presentations – including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and behavioral challenges.
2. Implement validated screening tools and brief primary care interventions to support early identification and management of pediatric mental health concerns.
3. Navigate referral pathways and payer considerations, connecting patients to timely behavioral health resources.