Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay
By the time children reach age 16, nearly 40% will have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition.
August 25, 2025 - ITASCA, IL—Mental, emotional and behavioral health disorders have been rising nationally in children and youth, reaching crisis levels at a time when fewer mental health specialists are available in many communities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that pediatricians are in the best position to spot early concerns and intervene early, giving children their best chance to thrive at home, in school and at play.
The AAP has published a clinical report, “Promoting Optimal Development: Screening for Mental Health, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems,” that provides guidance on screening children for concerns beginning in the first year of life and beyond. The report is published in the September 2025 Pediatrics (published online August 25).
“Just as a pediatrician checks every child’s physical health and development, they need to feel equipped to identify mental, emotional and behavioral health issues during routine exams,” said Carol Weitzman, MD, FAAP, lead author of the report. “The pediatrician also takes into context the family’s history and the community environment. In fact, screening begins within the first month of life to identify postpartum depression in caregivers.”
The AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, AAP Council on Early Childhood, AAP Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics developed the clinical report, an update from 2015.
Clinical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.
Child-focused screening begins at 6 months of age and continues at 12-, 24-, and 36-month well child visits, alternating with recommended developmental and autism spectrum disorder screenings at every visit. After age 3, screening continues annually. The goal is to work with families to provide actionable strategies, according to AAP.
Up to 1 in 5 children in the U.S.—including kids as young as 2 years old—are living with a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder at any given time. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the prevalence of children and teens with mental health disorders and highlighted inadequacies in the work force and medical infrastructure.
In 2020, suicide became the second leading cause of death in youth 10 to 14 years of age and the third leading cause of death in youth 15 to 24 years of age. This rate increased 41% from 2000 to 2017, according to AAP.
“Mental health conditions can seriously affect a child’s ability to learn, grow, and connect with others—and yet they often go unnoticed or untreated,” said James Guevara, MD, MPH, FAAP, a co-author of the report. “There are new strategies that can help pediatricians connect families with mental health support right in their offices. These include expert consultations, team-based care, and training programs that help doctors respond more effectively.”
Research indicates that there’s often a 2–4-year window between when symptoms of a mental, emotional or behavioral concerns first appear and when a full disorder develops.
The AAP observes that building on the family and child’s strengths and resilience is just as important as identifying concerns.
“Pediatricians and families can work together to build resilience and promote wellness in children and teens at every encounter,” Dr. Weitzman said. “Supporting children’s mental health now helps them grow into healthy, capable adults. It’s one of the most important investments we can make.”
Other resources include:
Anaphylaxis in Infants & Children: Responding to Severe Allergic Reactions - HealthyChildren.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
