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parents, caregivers, and other family members. The mental health of children and youth is closely linked to the mental health and wellbeing of their families. Screening parents and caregivers for depression, intimate partner violence, substance use, and other challenges can be combined with broader assessments of food insecurity, housing instability, and other social determinants of health.160 Combine the efforts of clinical staff with those of trusted community partners and child-serving systems (e.g., child welfare, juvenile justice). For example, hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) identify patients at risk of repeat violent injury and link them to hospital- and community-based resources to address risk factors for violence.161, 162, 163, 164 Another example initiative is school-hospital partnerships, such as behavioral health urgent care clinics supported by schools.165 New payment and delivery models, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center’s Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, can be used to support the mental health-related needs of children across settings.166 What Health Care Organizations and Health Professionals Can Do WE CAN TAKE ACTION Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 22 Build multidisciplinary teams to implement services that are tailored to the needs of children and their families. Enlist children and families as partners and engage them in all stages of decisionmaking, from screening to treatment.167 Recognize that a variety of cultural and other factors shape whether children and families are able or willing to seek mental health services. Accordingly, services should be culturally appropriate, offered in multiple languages (including ASL), and delivered by a diverse mental health workforce. Additionally, support the wellbeing of mental health workers and community leaders, building their capacity to support youth and their families. Mental Health Initiatives (American Academy of Pediatrics): Information and guidance on supporting the healthy mental development of children, adolescents, and families. For example, see here for information on developing ageappropriate screening processes. HealthySteps Model (Zero to Three): A primary care model that brings together child development experts, specialists, and pediatric primary care providers to promote healthy child development Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Information to incorporate evidence-based practices into communities and clinical settings Behavioral Health Integration Compendium (American Medical Association): Steps for integrating behavioral health care into a clinical practice Telemental Health Resource Center (Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center): Information and tools to set up telehealth programs for mental health ACEs Screening Tools (California’s ACEs Aware Initiative): Offers tools to screen children, adolescents, and adults for ACEs Trauma Screening Tools (Childhood Trauma Toolkit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health): ACEs questionnaire and developmental trauma symptom screening checklist Resources for Health Care Organizations and Health Professionals Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 23 Note: See next section for recommendations specific to technology platforms such as social media companies. Media organizations, entertainment companies, and journalists can have a powerful impact on young people. In some cases, this impact can be positive. For example, television programs can keep children and adolescents informed about current events and teach them valuable lessons.168 On the other hand, false, misleading, or exaggerated media narratives can perpetuate misconceptions and stigma against people with mental health or substance use problems.169, 170 In addition, media coverage of traumatic events, such as bombings and natural disasters, can contribute to psychological distress among consumers.171, 172, 173, 174, 175 Particularly in times of global crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, people can come away from news stories feeling anxious and powerless.176 Below are steps media organizations can take to protect the mental health of viewers while staying true to their role in informing the public: Recognize the impact media coverage of negative events can have on the public’s mental health. The solution isn't to hide or downplay negative news, but rather to avoid misleading consumers, and to be more attentive to how stories are framed. Example best practices include: Being fact-based in reporting and avoiding language that shocks, provokes, or creates a sense of panic. Being more cautious about showing distressing content, particularly graphic images or video, without context or warnings for viewers. Help viewers decide whether they want to engage with the content.177 Giving audiences context, including highlighting uncertainties and conflicting reports. When discussing preliminary research—such as papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed—outlets should be forthright about the preliminary nature of the findings, get independent experts to weigh in, and identify areas of uncertainty. Offering the public ways to make a positive difference (for example, ways to donate funds
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