Scope of the Problem

Up to 20% of children and adolescents in the United States experience significant mental health disorders and only 1 in 5 of this 20% are receiving treatment. Though the need is great, there is a well-documented shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the United States. The high prevalence of psychiatric disorders combined with the paucity of mental health specialists places an increased burden on primary care providers to diagnose and treat children and youth with mental illness. As a result of limited access to child and adolescent mental health specialists, about 75% of youth with a psychiatric disorders are seen in primary care settings. It is estimated that about half of all pediatric office visits involve behavioral, psychosocial, and/or educational concerns.

Reflective of this trend, a growing number of primary care providers (PCPs) prescribe psychotropic medications, especially stimulants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, to children with psychiatric disorders. Despite this, most PCPs report being inadequately trained to detect, diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders.

Mission

Illinois DocAssist was designed to meet this need. Our mission is to improve the ability of primary care clinicians to screen, diagnose, and treat the mental health and substance use problems of children and youth. We will provide training for PCPs in these areas as well as increasing their knowledge of local resources and referral systems. The Illinois DocAssist model is a problem-based consultation and training model and is one important component of strengthening the child mental health system of Illinois. This problem-based model has proven to be highly effective in training PCPs to screen, diagnose, and treat perinatal mental health issues.

Acknowledgements

Illinois DocAssist is funded by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health (DMH). Although Illinois DocAssist officially began September 8, 2008, it is the culmination of many years of diligent work by individuals and groups committed to and concerned about the health and well-being of Illinois children, adolescents and their families. This includes the synergistic efforts of our state agency partners, HFS and DMH; the work of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP), whose mission is to reform child mental health through improved coordination and collaboration; and the work of countless others--families and caregivers, educators, health care and mental health providers, child advocates, and legislators.

State agency partner leaders

Stephanie A. Hanko
Chief, Bureau of Healthcare Quality Improvement
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

Stephen E. Saunders, M.D., MPH
Medical Advisor
Division of Medical Programs
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

Tanya Anderson, M.D.
Chief, Clinical Services
Division of Mental Health (DMH)
Illinois Department of Human Services