COVID-19 and Children’s Mental Health: Resources for Providers
With schools closed, families at home, and changes in our daily routines happening seemingly overnight, it can be easy for parents and caregivers to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Despite these changes, the Pediatric Psychiatry Resource Network (PediPRN), facilitated by Bradley Hospital, continues to have a variety of resources available to help pediatric primary care providers.
Urgent Behavioral Health Needs
If you have a pediatric patient in crisis, please avoid sending them directly to the emergency department. Instead we recommend calling Kids’ Link RI at 1-855-543-5465 (1-855-KID-LINK) for guidance. If you have additional questions, please call PediPRN at 401-432-1543 (401-432-1-KID).
Behavioral Health Telehealth Appointments
Telehealth behavioral health treatment is widely available. Many behavioral health providers across the state have transitioned to telehealth modalities for treatment. We are contacting programs to ensure telehealth services are available. We can also help you determine if telehealth services would be appropriate and beneficial for your patient(s). Please call 401-432-1543 for available resources.
PediPRN Hotline for Pediatric Primary Care Providers: 401-432-1543
The Pediatric Psychiatry Resource Network (PediPRN) hotline, facilitated by Bradley Hospital (401-432-1543 and 401-432-1-KID), is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hotline allows pediatric primary care providers (PPCPs) to consult with mental health specialists. The free service is offered to all PPCPs in Rhode Island. More about PediPRN »
Resources for Pediatric Providers
Keeping in mind the ever-changing needs of our behavioral health patients, PediPRN continues to develop useful information and materials to help pediatric providers and their patients during this unprecedented time. Please see the links below for tips for behavioral health-focused telemedicine visits and brief anxiety interventions and associated SmartPhrases. (All links are PDF downloads.)
- Addressing Anxiety in Children 10 Years and Older
- Addressing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety in Children 10 Years and Older
- Addressing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens
- Top Ten Tips for Telemedicine Behavioral Health Visits
- Think Like a Detective: a Worksheet to Help Children with Anxieties
- Anxiety and Balanced Thinking Intervention for Children 10 Years and Older
- Looking for the Good: a Child’s Journal for Positive Events
Bradley Hospital Services
Bradley Hospital is still open and providing expert, family-focused care to children and adolescents with psychological, developmental, and behavioral problems. Certain services may have different availability now, but you can continue to call Kids’ Link for the most up-to-date information about services and programs.
- We have expanded in-person services for Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities for partial hospitalization (CADD Partial).
- We are continuing in-person partial hospital programs for little kids (PediPartial Program) and school-age kids (Children’s Partial Program).
- We are moving towards virtual partial programs for the following services:
- Gateway Healthcare has openings for in-home treatment, providing virtual treatment up to 6 hours per week for families.
- We have expanded Crisis Clinic/PACE Clinic openings for kids in crisis, with or without current providers.