Addressing the Behavioral and Mental Health Educational Gap in Pediatric Residency Training

* Abbreviations: ABP — : American Board of Pediatrics B/MH — : behavioral and mental health In the study “Competency of Future Pediatricians Caring for Children With Behavioral and Mental Health Problems” in this issue of Pediatrics , Green et al1 describe the continued deficit in pediatric resident competence in assessing and treating behavioral and mental health (B/MH) conditions based on survey questions asked during the 2018 initial pediatrics certifying examination application. B/MH concerns in pediatric practice are rising in prevalence. Approximately 13% to 20% of children in the United States experience a mental health disorder each year, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14 and adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 24.2 Nearly 25% of pediatric primary care visits involve a concern for B/MH issues.3 Throughout the pediatric education and training community, there has been a call for action to address the gap in trainee education on B/MH issues. The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) entrustable professional activity 9 states that care of patients with B/MH concerns requires that a pediatrician be competent in (1) identifying and managing common B/MH issues; (2) referring and comanaging … Address correspondence to Sue E. Poynter, MD, MEd, Pediatric Residency Training Program, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, MLC 5018, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. E-mail: sue.poynter{at}cchmc.org