From Sheila Marcus, MD, MC3 Pediatrics Director:

Earlier this week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) declared a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health. In the statement, they wrote:

“This worsening crisis in child and adolescent mental health is inextricably tied to the stress brought on by COVID-19 and the ongoing struggle for racial justice and represents an acceleration of trends observed prior to 2020. Rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020 and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24.”

You can read the full statement here. 

All of us are very aware that this crisis has impacted Michigan children and adolescents and those who care for them. Emergency rooms around the state are beyond capacity and psychiatric beds are in short supply. Wait times for ambulatory services have never been longer. 

To the providers enrolled in MC3, we want to remind you that we are here to help you treat your patients with mental and behavioral health concerns. You can request a same-day consultation from one of our psychiatrists by phone or online at any time. Additionally, we offer the following:

• Telepsychiatry patient evaluations
• Live and remote trainings offered regionally and statewide
• Workflow analysis to better integrate screening, care coordination, and MC3 services
• Local and regional behavioral health resource and referral navigation
• Scheduled educational group case consultation with MC3 psychiatrist

Thank you for the important work you are doing for your patients. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at any time with questions. We are here to help.

Sheila Marcus, M.D.
MC3 Pediatrics Director