Mental Health Peer Advisor Network
Welcome to the ICAAP Mental Health Peer Advisor Network!
Ask Questions & Get Guidance from Local Experts
ICAAP is committed to helping pediatric clinicians support patients experiencing mental health and behavioral health concerns.
According to the AAP:
- With the increasing prevalence of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and other conditions among children and a shortage of behavioral health providers, pediatricians have become the default mental health care provider in many instances.
- Pediatricians are an important first resource for parents and caregivers who are worried about their child's emotional and behavioral health or who want to promote healthy mental development.
Treating mental health conditions, however, challenges some of the qualities that drew me to pediatrics. Caregivers can be harder to work with if they do not embrace a mental health diagnosis or treatment. While the mental health of most children and adolescents can improve, it takes much longer than treating an ear infection. And the visits are not happy. Not at all.
– Former AAP President, Sandy L. Chung, M.D., FAAP
Enter the ICAAP Mental Health Peer Advisors
Program Development
ICAAP’s 2023 needs assessment found that 41.5% of respondents acknowledge the need for ongoing professional development to enhance their skills and knowledge in addressing complex mental health concerns. And that 40.3% acknowledge the challenges of managing personal levels of distress while providing care.
Connect with Our Mental Health Peer Advisors
We have convened a group of clinicians to serve as mental health peer advisors, ready to support your needs and provide guidance. Our mental health peer advisors do not provide case consultation, rather, they are here to provide support to clinicians and practices working to integrate mental health care screening and delivery into the primary care setting.
Our Mental Health Peer Advisors Will:
- Serve as a resource
- Provide guidance
- Help overcome barriers to providing pediatric mental health care by providing input on and examples of clinical workflows and policies
- Listen!
- Help to build a network of support for pediatric clinicians in Illinois
- Recommend and share resources and educational tools to advance knowledge and confidence
- Engage in peer-to-peer discussions on challenges, current topics, new trends, community messaging, etc. that may impact pediatric mental health care delivery
- Respond to questions or concerns
- Advocate by sharing the areas where additional support or resources are needed
- Make recommendations to ICAAP on education and resources needed to support clinicians