Approximately 1 in 20 American children and adolescents experience anxiety and/or depression which may impair healthy development and functioning. Suicide rates which are higher in this population, have doubled since 2007, becoming the second leading cause of death in youth. AAP guidelines recommend universal and targeted screening for anxiety and depression for identification and initiation of effective interventions. These activities serve as an important quality indicator in primary care. Validated screening tools are available and an increasing number of primary care practices utilize practice workflows to support the screening process.
Handouts for Patient Families