BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – With a major shortage of therapists trained to help Vermont’s kids, it can take months before a child gets mental health help. One program is working to change that.
When a child is experiencing a mental health crisis, a Primary Care Physician is often the parents’ first call. Vermont Child Psychiatry Access Program is ensuring that patients can find mental health care.
“I always feel like a matchmaker or a magician,” said Ellen Arrowsmith of Vt. Child Psychiatry Access Program.
Arrowsmith is a licensed clinical social worker with the Vt. Child Psychiatry Access Program – or VTCPAP. She helps track down the right therapists, or connects PCPs with resources, forging a faster path to better care.
“We really build close and trusting relationships with a lot of providers over the last two years because they call and they know we’ll pick up the phone, that we’re there immediately to help,” she said.
The grant-funded program started in 2022 amidst a mass shortage of child psychiatrists.
PCPs like Dr. Michelle Dorwart struggled to keep up with patients, who could spend months waiting for a doctor’s appointment.
“Before we were kind of on our own to sort it out,” said Dorwart.
“I think that that is really demoralizing when families are already struggling and in a hard position,” said Arrowsmith.
Today, VTCPAP is nearing one thousand calls from PCPs in all 14 counties.
Over 82% report improved work-life quality because of the program.
“To be able to know that we have that kind of support is really huge,” said Dorwart.
While calls to VTCPAP have soared over the years, the number of children on the UVM waitlist has decreased.
More research is needed to understand exactly what’s led to the decline, but medical program director Greta Spottswood says shorter wait times are exactly what the program aims to accomplish.
“We want that to happen immediately. As soon as we have identified a challenge,” said Spottswood.
The program has also helped identify gaps in Vermont’s mental health resources, like a lack of therapists who specialize in autism and eating disorders.
VTCPAP hopes to be part of the solution, training hundreds of PCPs every year to treat these mental health conditions.
“It’s really exciting that a lot of therapists are really interested in meeting the need,” said Spottswood.