Adolescent Depression and Anxiety and the Use of Telemedicine Services to Improve Outcomes

Mental health conditions during adolescence have become a public health crisis that requires attention at all levels of health care. Understanding the criteria to make the diagnosis of depression and anxiety, specifically at the primary care level, and expediting care to decrease the risk for suicide is paramount. Over the past decade, suicide has become the second leading causes of mortality for adolescents and young adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Bitsko, MMWR 71:1–42, 2022). Various barriers limit access to care, resulting in delayed treatment and elevated rates of poor outcomes related to mental health. Prevalence rates for adolescent mental health conditions have increased over recent years, the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdowns and school closures being a major contributing factor. These mitigating practices to limit the transmission of COVID-19 were additional barriers to access the health-care system. The incorporation of telehealth practices has long been considered and is currently deployed in primary care clinics with increased utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic.