TITLE:
Bridging the Child Mental Health Crisis: The Role of Web-Based Education
AUTHORS:
Christopher A. Petersen, Lidija Petrovic-Dovat
KEYWORDS:
Mental Health, Online Education, Children and Adolescents, Primary Care Providers
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.15 No.2,
March
20,
2025
ABSTRACT: The prevalence of mental health disorders in children and adolescents presenting to primary care providers has increased during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for more support for providers and families in identifying and treating these conditions, which challenge them daily. Our online educational web series aims to bridge this gap by offering critical mental health support and guidance for distressed children and families during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. This initiative provides accessible, evidence-based information on various mental health topics, including depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, disruptive behaviors, and ADHD, tailored for primary care providers and as valuable information to the general public. As an online platform, these resources are widely available, improving the capacity of primary care providers to address mental health issues effectively. We recommend these free resources to primary care providers and the public as a valuable tool for enhancing mental health care knowledge and delivery to benefit children and adolescents.