PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A top psychiatrist from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia joined the national conversation on children's mental health at a Senate hearing Tuesday.
The Senate Finance Committee has been holding a series of hearings on what’s being called the mental health pandemic on children and teens across the country.
“Children and adolescents are experiencing mental distress at higher rates and with more dire consequences than ever before," CHOP Psychiatrist-in-Chief Dr. Tami Benton told the committee.
“In the first half of 2021 alone, we reported cases of self-injurious behavior and suicide in children ages five to 17 at 45% higher rates than during the same period of 2019."
She says the COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and worsened disparities in pediatric mental healthcare.
“There are barriers to access, under-recognition and under-treatment of mental health disorders," said Dr. Benton.
She says the suicide rate for Black children under 13 years old is twice that of white children.
“The burden of illnesses worsens for children of color who often have greater exposure to environmental traumas," said Dr. Benton.
She added that there is a significant shortage, not only of adolescent psychiatrists but also other pediatric mental health providers. That results in children with mental health needs being put up in emergency rooms.
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“These shortages lead to increased emergency visits for things that are preventable," Dr. Benton said.
"At my home institution at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, we have 20 to 30 patients boarding awaiting acute psychiatric care.”
Dr. Benton says she is optimistic, as there are effective strategies, but they have to make sure those treatments are available so families can access them.
She added that there are ways to help fix the problem besides the staffing issue, which will take time. She explained that training is key.
"This should also extend beyond primary care. Pediatricians, caregivers, and educators can be empowered through training to better manage the situations they face," said Dr. Benton.
As she puts it, children need the right care, at the right time at the right place.
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, the confidential Crisis Text Line is available 24-7 by texting HELLO to 741741, or you can call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
