In 2021, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) joined together to declare a national state of emergency in children’s mental health. The emergency declaration was issued as pediatric providers noted higher rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, and other conditions. 

For years, behavioral health conditions in young children have been underdiagnosed and undertreated. The lack of child psychiatrists makes consultation with primary care providers (PCPs) a critical part of their health care. 

To understand the current state of mental health access among youth, members of the MC3 team reviewed 973 of their psychiatric consultations conducted from 2012 to 2023 for children 6 years and below.

Key points from their findings include: 

• Young children are disproportionately impacted by trauma, but many PCPs do not recognize trauma in young children, instead diagnosing ADHD and other disorders and sometimes medicating for these disorders. 
• Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for young children with mental health concerns, but in many rural areas, it is underutilized and sometimes unavailable. 
• Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Programs (PMHCAs) such as MC3 can increase provider competence and support PCPs in delivering evidence-based interventions. 
• PMHCAs, which are developing nationwide, should have a team member available for expert consultation on preschool children and be mindful of the tenets of infant mental health.

Richard Dopp, M.D., Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Michigan Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director at MARI, was lead author on the publication. Co-authors include Elizabeth Tengelitsch, Ph.D., Paresh Patel, M.D., Ph.D., Sheila Marcus, M.D., and Joanna Quigley, M.D., FAAP.

Read the full publication below.

MC3 is proud to share that Nasuh Malas, M.D., M.P.H., MC3 Emergency Services Clinical Lead and Division Director and Service Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry at Michigan Medicine, was recently named as one of 7 leading pediatric psychiatrists in metro Detroit by Hour Detroit Magazine’s Top Docs list of 2024.

For nearly two decades, Hour Detroit Magazine has presented a list of local Top Docs recognized by their peers. This year, physicians in the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston were surveyed and asked to nominate physicians they deemed to be the best in their field. The nominations were then screened and selected by Professional Research Services (PRS).

View the full list of Top Docs 2024 below.

Richard Dopp, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor in U-M’s Department of Psychiatry and Consulting Psychiatrist for MC3, recently announced his decision to leave Michigan Medicine, effective October 31, 2024.

Dr. Dopp has been a long-standing staple of the Child Psychiatry faculty, joining Michigan Medicine 23 years ago as a resident and fellow before practicing Child & Adolescent Psychiatry for 17 years. During his tenure, he has supported U-M’s care of youth with depression and mood disorders, engaged in research demonstrating the benefits of exercise for youth with psychiatric disorders, and served as an MC3 provider and educator. 

MC3 greatly appreciates the tremendous impact Dr. Dopp has had on the program, with notable contributions including:

• Serving as a Consulting Psychiatrist since MC3 launched in 2012
• Providing ongoing education to MC3’s network via consultations as an educational materials developer and presenter
• Contributing to the development of the MC3 Pediatric Psychopharmacology Cards

MC3 and U-M faculty are saddened to lose Dr. Dopp as a colleague, but incredibly grateful for his immeasurable contributions to the treatment of youth psychiatric disorders in the state of Michigan. 

Following his departure from Michigan Medicine, Dr. Dopp will take on an expanded role as Medical Director for the University Center for the Child & Family and the University Psychological Clinic through the Mary A. Rackham Institute at U-M, while also supervising mental health nurse practitioners at the Mala Child and Family Institute. 

MC3 wishes Dr. Dopp great success in his future endeavors and offers heart-felt thanks for his expertise, impact, and exceptional service over the years.

As youth in the United States are experiencing mental health concerns at an unprecedented level, Child Psychiatry Access Programs (CPAPs) like MC3 offer an innovative approach to closing the gap between the need for care and an insufficient mental health care workforce.