This week we wanted to learn about what issues or challenges do you see emerging related to children's behavioral health in the next few weeks / months that we should be planning for now?

The “honeymoon” phase of telehealth is ending. Providers and families report increasing exhaustion with providing and receiving telehealth services:

  • The novelty of using the phone/computer to connect with therapists is wearing off and kids will start to disengage.

  • Clients are currently reporting that they are not as interested in doing teletherapy than they were a few weeks ago.

  • Parents struggling to adapt to technology use. Children breaking computers/tablets, thus limiting access to telehealth services and school.

Resource tip: Building Rapport with Youth via Telehealth

Providers are increasingly noticing strain and stress on families related to the extended stay-at-home advisory and school closures.

  • On-line fatigue, increased levels of depression, increased frustration with stay at home recommendations as the weather gets nicer and especially if camps are cancelled.

  • "Cabin fever." Families are getting increasingly anxious and stressed about remaining at home…We need new & innovative ways to continue engaging families in services to help them manage this new day-to-day life.

Resource tip: We all need help sometimes: Resources for children, youth, and families.

When the stay at home advisory is lifted there will be challenges as families began to transition to a “new normal:”

  • The youth who do not like school and do not have to go to school now will likely struggle in September when we return. Many people have also experienced loss in some way (death of a relative, loss of finances, inability to obtain resources due to documentation status). It is likely children will experience some type of post-traumatic stress even if it does not rise to the level of PTSD.

Resource tip: LINK-KID: A centralized referral service

Just as COVID-19 has challenged our healthcare system it is also challenging the children’s behavioral health system. We are likely to see the impacts in the coming months and maybe years.

  • Increased risk for child abuse and neglect and for abuse of adult victims. Fewer opportunities for physical activity and space can contribute to conflict and volatility in homes.

  • Increased overall need, increased symptoms/service needs for people with existing needs, new mental health concerns for people without histories.

  • Workforce shortages becoming more of an issue for accessing mental health services.

  • As a system we should be enhancing our efforts to reduce suicidality. Due to the isolation and hopelessness that many are feeling….

Finally, it is clear that we need to continue to support the emotional health and well-being of behavioral healthcare providers given the challenges they are facing.

  • Burn out with staff and their families. Maintaining everyone's mental health is difficult when we are all in this new "normal".

  • How/when to safely transition back to direct contact with families. Staff anxiety about going into homes again.

Resource tip:  PsychHUB COVID-19 Mental Health Provider Video Library