Addressing Adolescent Depression in Primary Care through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Integration (CAMHI): A Co-productive, Collaborative Care Approach 

Rina Bernandez, Shireen Cama, and Elizabeth Ronca

In our current healthcare system, nearly half of all youth will meet criteria for a mental health disorder during childhood or adolescence, yet only a third will actually receive treatment (Merikangas, 2010, 2011). CHA has invested in a robust program for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Integration which includes access to an integrated team (psychiatrist, therapist and family care partner). In our project, we aim to focus on the management of adolescent depression in a collaborative care model through a focus on team-based workflows for proactive screening, follow-up and patient tracking on site. Our proposal aligns CHA to evidence-based methodologies, helps us to meet several substantial contract requirements, and will draw upon the lessons from CHA’s adult collaborative care service, Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI), which has already had a significant impact on adult outcomes as measured through reduction in depression scores. We aim to advance and hone the new collaborative service for children and adolescents, and to do so with the family perspective incorporated so that we are responsive to specific family-centered goals and potential barriers to care.