According to the CDC, 13% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 are diagnosed with a mental health condition every year nationwide. In the Commonwealth, University of Kentucky Healthcare has announced its new Pediatric Psychology program to serve the mental health needs of children, alongside their physical health. UK is providing these services at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, as well as through UK’s adolescent medicine clinic and specialty clinics across the city.
Doctor Meghan Marsac is the Division Chief of Psychology and Department of Pediatrics at UK. She said as children go through their development, it’s critical for parents and providers to look at how their mental health might interact with physical health.
“If there is a question, sometimes even that same day they might be able to have an assessment with a health provider,” said Marsac. “And get some strategies about how to manage some of those challenging things that often come along for many kids and families. Things like eating, sleep, sometimes symptoms of anxiety or depression will pop up.”
Marsac added these foundational questions also help practitioners investigate if a given child has other disorders like autism, ADHD, or behavioral health issues. The program’s interdisciplinary approach, she said, is a key to progressing the state’s ability to serve its children with mental health conditions.
“Access to mental health care in the state of Kentucky is really behind and under resourced, as far as trying to make sure our kids get what they need. In our department, we consider mental health a part of health, and so it’s not something that should be separate necessarily,” said Marsac.
Marsac added the easiest way for parents and children to establish pediatric psychology services at UK is to talk to their current pediatrician, who can set up referrals. Patients in other parts of the state, like eastern Kentucky, can make an initial pediatric psychology visit in-person at their Lexington clinics and then continue their services through telehealth.
While these pediatric services aren’t currently available at other eastern Kentucky locations, like UK Saint Claire or UK King’s Daughters, Marsac added the program aims to expand throughout the state in the future and break down further barriers to healthcare access.
More information on services provided through UK Healthcare’s Pediatric Psychology program is available online.