Pediatricians Don’t Routinely Ask About Mental Health

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Nice post, thanks for writing!

seolace of AL 6:54PM May 06, 2010

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Aboutgobjh of NV 5:57PM June 25, 2009

*No one* is saying the only answer is drugs. The point of the study is that unless we ask about mental health, we don't know if the problem exists and can't think about solutions. Individual, family, group counseling, CBT, exposure treatments, exercise, meditation, yoga are all great non-pharmaceutical treatment options.
But for some serious disorders or for children with huge disruptions to their daily functioning or high risk of suicide, medication may be a critical and essential part of treatment. In some cases, not treating with medication would be like telling a child with diabetes they shouldn't use insulin because it's a drug.

Physician of MI 9:38AM January 17, 2009

To you who think all parents are looking for a "quick way out" I beg to differ...My daughter was on Zoloft for 6 months and also involved in therapy for 1yr and a half after that...She had Anxiety disorders and THE WHOLE TIME>..maintained excellent grades (she was a presidential award winner in the 5th grade) and NEVER got into trouble...but when she couldn't go to school without worrying if my or my hubby would die...or couldn't go to a birthday party because she was afraid that there would be a fire or couldnt go to sleep because she was afraid someone would break in and kill all of us...I took responsibilty and took her for help...She is a teen now, NO DRUGS NO THERAPY and she is doing excellent. But she would have been miserable if we hadn't taken that step!!!!!..So before you start stating on here that every parent who has their child on a drug is a bad parent..I suggest doing alittle more soul searching and thanking God that you haven't had to go through what other familys in our situation has...
God Bless you..

Ni of TN 1:23PM January 13, 2009

Doctors, or no one else, should ask children about their mental health. You are clearly uninformed about the dangerous crisis occuring because of people like you and children being over-medicated with dangerous drugs so parents will have an excuse as to why they suck as parents. Don't ever write about this issue again.

Dan of MO 2:01PM December 24, 2008

I've been searching for someone who treats OCD with my 13 year old son for months. I can only find psychiatrist willing to dish out medicine which he is on. I can not find a psychologist who is qualified to treat OCD with exposure response prevention that he needs. I'm in the Houston area and it's impossible to find anyone for this but ecspecially impossible to find someone who will treat a young teen after hours so he doesn't have to miss school every week and who takes insurance.

Tracey of TX 8:23AM December 16, 2008

Parents used to take FULL responsibility for their children. It seems as if that has gone completely out the window.
Psychiatric drugs are everywhere- they are easily accessible, and if they are NOT, then perhaps thats a good thing. Mind altering drugs for children is irresponsible and the "quick fix" for bad parenting. I thought that all the rage of diagnosing children had gone out when Biederman was discovered peddling thousands of dollars. Why would you trust anyone but yourself to see what is wrong? You should know your child's mind better than some stranger!
In the sake of sexual traumatism- TAKE YOUR CHILD FOR A WALK. And do that once a day EVERY DAY. Drugs will not work in the way that is long-term and healthy. Drugs will screw with your brain until you have no idea what you are trying to cover up anymore.
TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. Be the parent you want your children to grow up to become.
Do you want your child to be a pusher?

Saviour of CA 10:42PM December 15, 2008