A new study by researchers from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston University, Boston Medical Center, UMass Chan Medical School, and Brown University found that mental health concerns are being discussed more often during children's regular doctor visits.
For the study, published in JAMA Network Open, researchers looked at health insurance records for nearly all insured children in Massachusetts between ages 1 and 18 from 2014 to 2023, covering about 1.8 million children over 10 years.
The study found that primary care visits involving a mental health diagnosis increased from about 6 visits per 100 children in 2014 to almost 10 visits per 100 children in 2023. Anxiety-related visits showed the biggest increase, rising by 300 percent during that time, with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remaining the most common mental health condition discussed during these visits.
The researchers emphasized that the findings show a growing need for more mental health training and support in pediatric primary care, which includes better resources for treating common conditions like anxiety and ADHD, as well as care models that combine mental health services with regular pediatric care.
However, the researchers noted some limitations as the study only included children in Massachusetts and used insurance claim data, which may not capture every mental health issue. It also did not look at differences based on age, sex, or type of medical practice.
Even with these limits, the study highlights a clear trend that more children are receiving mental health care through their primary care doctors, and the healthcare system needs to be prepared to support this growing need.
"Since nearly all children have access to primary care, this creates a major opportunity," senior author Megan Cole said. "With the right training and support, primary care practices can help screen, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions or connect families to care."
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