Overview
The Transforming Mental Health Initiative works toward effective prevention, early identification, mental health integration and treatment services, policy advocacy, and research to improve the mental health status of children and youth.
A priority focus on access and care, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, in conjunction with Children’s Primary Care Medical Group and Children’s Physicians Medical Group, has partnered with the pediatric primary care providers in our provider network to create a new Primary Care Mental Health Integration Model based in the primary care setting to care for the whole child.
Transforming Mental Health Objectives
TMH has goals related to three main objectives: early identification, education and research.
Early Identification
- Primary care mental health integration
- Mental health screenings
Education
- Provider education
- Patient education
- Community education
- Workforce development education
Research
- Comprehensive clinical research strategy
- Data-driven patient care
- Improve treatment and outcomes
Find information for patients and families.
Watch: Mindfulness for Youth
In the News
- Bringing Mental Health Care Into the Pediatrician’s Office, kpbs.com, features Anne Bird, M.D.
- An Inside Look at Rady Children’s Mental Health Emergency Department, cbs8.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- No Phones in the Bathroom: Psychiatrist Breaks Down Bad Phone Habits, nbcsandiego.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Rep. Scott Peters Hosts Roundtable With Middle School Students on Mental Health, kpbs.org, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- Kids in Crisis: Mental Health and Youth, www.nbcsandiego.com NBC 7, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- School Anxiety Is More and More Common — Here’s How to Help Your Kid Through It, POPSUGAR, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- ADHD drug shortage could make back-to-school season challenging, expert says: ‘Widespread impact’, Fox News, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Opinion: ADHD diagnoses among kids are on the rise. Here’s why and how we can help., The San Diego Union-Tribune, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Covid Hurt Kids’ Mental Health. The Worst May Be Yet to Come, Politico, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- Teen Marijuana Poisonings Have Skyrocketed. How to Keep Your Child Safe, Time, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- U.S. Teens Are Smoking and Drinking Less But Using Cannabis and Vaping More, Healthline, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Young Adults in California Experience Alarming Rates of Anxiety and Depression, Poll Finds, Los Angeles Times, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- San Diego County’s Suicide Rate Falls for Third Straight Year, The San Diego Union-Tribune, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- California Invests Billions for Youth Mental Health Services, kpbs, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- Recommendation: Kids 8 & Up Should Be Screened for Anxiety (10news.com) features Will Connor, M.D.
- Why Do Toddlers Hit and Bite, and What to Do to Stop It, newsweek.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Kids Getting Older Younger: Are Children Growing Up Too Fast?, bbc.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Dealing with Pressure in Youth Sports, Fox 5, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- US Surgeon General Issues Public Health Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis, KPBS, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- The Mental Wellness Movement Is Real And Local – How You Can Support Coronado’s Youth And Families, Coronado Eagle & Journal, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- Opinion: Here’s How to Make Social Media Safer — and Healthier — for Your Children, The San Diego Union-Tribune, by Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Children’s Mental Health Declared National Emergency, cbs8.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Whistleblower Brings Attention to Facebook and Instagram Affecting Young People’s Mental Health, cbs8.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Youth Suicide Prevention Efforts, Fox 5 San Diego, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- How to Support Students’ Mental Health Returning to School, psych central.com, features Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Opinion: We Have to Identify What’s Driving Increased Anxiety, Depression and Suicide in Children, by Benjamin Maxwell, M.D.
- Rady Children’s Seeing 25% Increase in Mental Health ER Visits, kpbs.com, features inpatient medical director Willough Jenkins, M.D.
- Build Behavioral Health Knowledge Base of Staff to Meet COVID-19 Challenges, Children’s Hospital Today, features Domonique Hensler, senior director of Care Redesign Planning and Mental Health Integration
- Students’ Mental Health Deteriorating During Pandemic, The San Diego Union-Tribune, features Sandy Mueller, senior director of Behavioral Health Services
- Rady Children’s Hospital to Open New Clinic in Murrieta, Press-Enterprise, features Kristin Gist, senior director of Rady Children’s Development Services
- In-Depth: When Will San Diego Playgrounds Reopen?, 10news.com, features psychologist Brent Crandal and infectious disease specialist Mark Sawyer, M.D.
- What Should Schools Do When a Second-Grader Makes a Threat?, Los Angeles Times, features psychiatrist Desiree Shapiro, M.D.
- Rady Children’s to Create Unique Psychiatric Emergency Department for Kids, The San Diego Union-Tribune, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D., medical director, inpatient psychiatry, and Charles Wilson, senior director, Chadwick Center for Children & Families
- Why Teenage Brains Are So Hard to Understand, Time, features Jay Giedd, M.D.
- Rady Children’s to Create Unique Psychiatric Emergency Department for Kids, The San Diego Union-Tribune, features Benjamin Maxwell, M.D., medical director, inpatient psychiatry, and Charles Wilson, senior director, Chadwick Center for Children & Families
- Expert Transpersonal Psychologist, Cheryl A. Demalignon, Ph.D, Is to Be Recognized as a 2017 Top Doctor in San Diego, California, PR NewsChannel, features Cheryl Demalignon, Ph.D.
- New Center Shows Surge in Demand for Children’s Mental Health Services, The San Diego Union-Tribune, features Barent Mynderse, director of behavioral health services
- San Diego Experts on How Anxiety Affects Children, kpbs.com, features psychiatrist Desiree Shapiro, M.D.
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