The Demand for Mental Health Resources for Kids in NYC is on the Rise
Don’t let hurdles get in the way of finding the best mental health resources for kids in NYC. Find a trustworthy, respectful and accessible online telepsychiatry practice to find out more.
Trustworthy, Respectful, Accessible Mental Health Resources for NYC Kids Online
Mental health concerns in NYC (New York City) kids are on the rise. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) the most common are anxiety, mood, attention and behavioral issues and include disorders such as anxiety, depression, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), CD (Conduct Disorder), ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder)1.
Further findings have indicated that of all youth that currently have a diagnosable mental health disorder, only one third will actually receive treatment2. This may be due in part, to the wide variety of circumstances and family situations. Not every family is alike, and not all symptoms and changes in behaviour may stand out in a way that could be considered as textbook indication. This makes it hard for parents and guardians to know the difference between standard adolescent behaviour and what may be a mental health problem.
Sometimes a child’s behaviour just appears to evolve in a concerning way, sometimes behaviour will change after a traumatic situation or event. Either way, there are some definite signs that could be an indication that it is time to look for mental health resources and they include things like withdrawal, defiance, regression, anxiety, or obsessiveness.
Another hurdle to obtaining mental health resources for kids in NYC is scheduling and time limitations. Parents need to arrange time off work, kid’s needs to be pulled out of school, and then there is the time spent traveling and finding a parking spot. Time to fill out forms in the doctor’s office, and of course, the undetermined amount of time spent uncomfortably and awkwardly in the waiting room.
Not all telepsychiatry practices are created equally though. Be sure to look for a practice that demonstrates a commitment to the following values:
Trust – Unsecure connections and not knowing which doctor will be present at each appointment can create insecurity that may amount to a lack of trust. The best telemedicine practices will ensure that the connection they use is both private and HIPAA-compliant and that the same doctor is consistently attending in order to establish and develop a solid doctor-patient relationship.
Respect – sometimes patients go to an appointment and expect to see a doctor, only to find themselves with a nurse practitioner. Many times a patient will have a spot booked for a certain time, and then still end up waiting for hours because the practice has double-booked appointments. A telepsychiatry practice that understands this is not respectful behaviour, will guarantee that patients have access to actual medical doctors with appointments that start at the time they are scheduled.
Accessibility – Telemedicine practices should offer their services directly through their website instead of asking patients to install a third-party application on their device. Psychiatrists should be accessible by video, phone or email, and for video-conferencing, patients should be able to use any type of device that has a working web camera.
Don’t let hurdles get in the way of finding the best mental health resources for kids in NYC.
Find a trustworthy, respectful and accessible online telepsychiatry practice to find out more.
