For many children and teens, primary care clinicians are the first to notice and help with mental health issues. This guide helps primary care pediatricians, family doctors, nurse practitioners, and other professionals identify, treat, and prevent mental health problems as well as promote good mental health in their patients. The authors come from different medical specialties but emphasize common factors and elements in approaching mental health care in the primary practice setting.

Clinicians will gain insight into effective methods for helping patients and families share mental health concerns, learn about mental health issues, and develop positive attitudes about seeking treatment from specialty providers. They will also learn how to more effectively deal with issues that are below the level of a diagnosable disorder and use early, first-line therapeutic strategies for common mental health disorders. Also included are techniques for supporting patients and families in maintaining positive emotional and behavioral changes that resulted from specialty treatment with other providers.