When your child is struggling with their mental health, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Nationwide, waitlists for appointments with child psychologists and psychiatrists can be months long. As a result, pediatricians have become the first line of defense for families who need support. 

Alice Phillips, M.D., wears many hats at Cook Children’s. She’s the Board Chair of Cook Children’s Physician Network and Medical Director of Ambulatory Quality. Dr. Phillips is also a pediatrician at Cook Children’s Pediatrics Cityview, and has seen mental health concerns in her practice increase dramatically over the past 26 years. On this episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Phillips talks to us about the role of pediatricians in the mental health crisis and the growing number of tools in their toolbox to help children.