Development of a Unified System of Care for Adolescent Depression in an Academic Medical Center

Depression in adolescence can lead to significant problems in school, relationships, and overall health. Teenagers affected by depression are more likely to be seen in pediatric primary care rather than by a mental health specialist. Youth with chronic medical illness have rates of depression 3 times greater than that of the general population. This Clinical Perspectives will review the organizational, clinical, and technological developments needed to create a unified system for the management of adolescent depression, spanning primary care, specialty chronic illness, and mental health care settings within an academic medical center.