Recently, a female student struggling with moderate depression and anxiety engaged in outpatient therapy with one of our SBHC therapists. After a couple of therapy sessions, the therapist recommended to the student and parent/guardian that they meet with me for further evaluation and to discuss whether a prescription medication should be started to treat the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The SBHC medical provider provided both patient and parent with education on SSRIs, a first-line medication to treat depression/anxiety in adolescents and answered all questions so they could make an informed decision. The patient and parent opted to trial a medication and the SBHC will be following up closely to ensure she is doing well with no adverse effects. Both the patient and parent were so grateful to have the option to be seen at school, which improves access to care and prevents the parent from
having to miss work for future visits. I have seen many of our patients go from being withdrawn and feeling hopeless, some even having suicidal thoughts, to being confident and successful both in and out of school.