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Mental Health

Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, learning healthy social skills, and how to cope when there are problems or stress. All children experience changes in their behavior and mood, such as anger and sadness, as they grow. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that mental health disorders are described as serious changes in the way children and youth typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions.
A mental health disorder, also known as emotional or behavioral health disorder, is a medical condition that disrupts a child’s coping, thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental health concerns should be talked about, and a mental health diagnosis needs to be treated and followed just as one would do for a seizure disorder or other physical health condition.
Mental health disorders are much harder to recognize than other health concerns. Parents find themselves trying to figure out what is “normal” and what isn’t in their child’s behavior. Parents then have to figure out what to do and where to go first.
This section of the Medical Home Portal has information to help you learn more about mental health disorders, the various therapies, providers, services, and the resources that can be useful.

Resources

Information & Support

For Parents and Patients

Support

Medicaid Mental Health Benefits Utah
Mental health benefits are provided for most Medicaid members through Prepaid Mental Health Plans (PMHP). An overview of mental health services covered by Medicaid can be found in this July 2016 Medicaid Member Guide under Mental Health. Division of Medicaid and Health Financing, Utah.

Medicaid System of Care, Mental Health, Utah
A Field Guide on Case Management for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances and their Families outlines Utah's Medicaid services for children with serious emotional disturbances. For service providers, search Utah Medicaid website for System of Care by county. Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

Services

Autism Treatment/Applied Behavioral Analysis (BCBA)

See all Autism Treatment/Applied Behavioral Analysis (BCBA) services providers (84) in our database.

Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (MSW)

See all Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (MSW) services providers (225) in our database.

Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT, LFT)

See all Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT, LFT) services providers (45) in our database.

Mental Health Counselor (LPC, LCPC, CMHC)

See all Mental Health Counselor (LPC, LCPC, CMHC) services providers (80) in our database.

Psychiatrist, Child-18 (MD)

See all Psychiatrist, Child-18 (MD) services providers (22) in our database.

Psychologist, Child-18 (PhD, PsyD)

See all Psychologist, Child-18 (PhD, PsyD) services providers (143) in our database.

For other services related to this condition, browse our Services categories or search our database.

Authors & Reviewers

Initial Publication: November 2014; Last Update: May 2016
Current Authors and Reviewers (click on name for bio):
Author: Gina Pola-Money
Authoring history
(Limited detail is available on authoring dates before 2014.)
AAuthor; CAContributing Author; SASenior Author; RReviewer