Best practices for prescribing medication

ABSTRACT

Anxiety and depression were relatively common in children and adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic1;not surprisingly, study findings suggest that these conditions' prevalence has increased.2 Typical support systems for children and adolescents-friends, family, school, and extracurricular activities-look much different during the current pandemic. There are many misconceptions about psychotropic medications and stigmas because of mental health problems in general. National organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have developed resources to help pediatricians feel more comfortable with offering mental health care, and groups such as The REACH Institute offer postgraduate training programs that provide education and ongoing support.