Connecting the Docs

DCPAP Warm Line (302) 513-0929

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.



DCPAP Webpage



October Mental Health Awareness 

DCPAP Office Hours – CME Credit Available!

DCPAP Training Series - Bipolar Illness

Bipolar Disorder Review – PCP’s Role in Tx

It's Provider Survey Time!

Resource Links and Vital Numbers

Resource Spotlight 

Provider Spotlight on Dr. Melissa Pe

NAMI DE Update

MHA DE Update

Equity Efforts

COVID Connection

DCPAP Connecting the Docs

Let’s Connect



October is: 

Depression Education & Mental Health Screening Month

Health Literacy Month

ADD/ADHD Awareness Month

Bullying Prevention Month

We are excited to share that DCPAP Office Hours participants are eligible for CME credit! 

Call in with a question or listen to what others

are asking about mental health.

Informal Office Hours for primary care

providers working with birth to 21. These events are part of the professional development services offered by DCPAP.

Next Office Hours

October 20, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Gupta

October 27, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. with Dr. Malhi

We want you to join in.

Let us know the best times for an informal hour with our docs.

Take our survey!

Excerpt from https://www.mcpap.com/Provider/BipolarDisorder.aspx

Introduction                               

Bipolar disorder is a brain based diagnosis that impairs one's ability to regulate emotions and behaviors. Bipolar disorder typically begins with either symptoms of mania or depression but can present with a mixed state, a combination of both symptoms of mania and depression. In children and adolescents bipolar disorder often presents as chronic mood instability frequently characterized by significant irritability and aggression. It is differentiated from depressive disorder(s) by the presence of discrete episodes of mania.

Diagnosis

The lists below provide possible signs and symptoms, but not all children with bipolar disorder have all symptoms. Like children with depression, children with bipolar disorder are likely to have a family history of the illness.

Symptoms of Mania:

Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood

Decreased need for sleep

Racing speech and pressure to keep talking

Grandiose delusions

Excessive involvement in pleasurable but risky activities

Increased physical and mental activity

Poor judgment

In severe cases, hallucinations

Racing thoughts or flight of ideas

Explosive behaviors, including tantrums and aggression

Rage

Increased distractibility

Symptoms of Depression:

Pervasive sadness and crying spells

Sleeping too much or inability to sleep

Agitation and irritability

Withdrawal from activities formerly enjoyed

Drop in grades and inability to concentrate

Thoughts of death and suicide

Low energy

Significant change in appetite

Clinical Guidelines

Individuals with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for academic difficulties, substance abuse, legal troubles, and suicide. Furthermore, symptoms

generally affect functioning in all areas of an individual's life. This diagnosis should not be treated by the PCP without consultation or referral.

AACAP Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children with Bipolar Disorder Vol 6 January 2007

Rating Scale

Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)

Bipolar Disorder/Mania

Parent Version of the Young Mania Rating Scale (P-YMRS)

For children 5 - 17 years old

11 items for parent

15 - 30 minutes to complete

Parent completes questionnaire

Free

Parent Information Handouts

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has printable materials that may be downloaded and printed.

These include pediatric bipolar fact sheets and information.

AACAP Facts for Families: Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescence

Thank you for supporting the Delaware Child Psychiatry Access Program (DCPAP)!  We value your participation and encourage you to share your feedback with HRSA in the upcoming Health Care Provider or Practice Level Survey -an opportunity to play an active role in our program’s ongoing development and improvement! And don’t forget that you can connect with us for access to behavioral health trainings, teleconsultation, and care coordination support to help you address the needs of your pediatric patients. Stay tuned for the survey coming soon!

Delaware Helpline – 211

Delaware HOPE Line 24 Hours/7 Days Week

1-833-946-7333

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

NAMI and NAMI Delaware

Mental Health Association Delaware (MHA)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)



Child Mental Health Mobile Crisis (juveniles in psychiatric crisis)

1-800-969-HELP (4357)

Adult Mobile Crisis

Northern DE: 1-800-652-2929

Southern DE: 1-800-345-6785

For adults having a psychiatric or substance abuse crisis and need assistance.

Crisis Intervention Services

Crisis Hotline - Contact Lifeline

New Castle: 302-761-9100

Kent/Sussex: 1-800-262-9800

Support for callers in crisis, including suicidal.

contactlifeline.org

Child Abuse Report Line (report child abuse and neglect)

1-800-292-9582

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting



American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Facts for Families



Not all children grow from infancy through their adolescent years without experiencing some bumps along the way. While every child is unique and special, sometimes they encounter emotions, feelings or behavior that cause problems in their lives and the lives of those around them. Families often worry when their child or teenager has difficulty coping with things, feels sad, can't sleep, gets involved with drugs, or can't get along with family or friends.

AACAP's Facts for Families provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. AACAP provides this important information as a public service and the Facts for Families may be duplicated and distributed free of charge as long as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is properly credited and no profit is gained from their use.

Dr. Melissa Pe and Christiana Care Pediatrics

Dr. Pe is a board certified pediatrician at Christiana Care Pediatrics associates. Christiana Care Pediatric Associates is comprised of nine pediatricians, three nurse practitioners and one physician assistant. Pediatric Associates joined Christiana Health Care in 2018 but has been serving in the Delaware community since 1954 and now has 2 locations – the Newark site and a new office in Middletown that just opened September 2021. Dr. Pe received her BA in psychology at The Catholic University in Washington, DC. She earned her DO degree at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (formerly UMDNJ-SOM) and completed her residency at Nationwide Children’s hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Pe joined Pediatric Associates in 2013. Dr. Pe enjoys being a pediatrician with her amazing partners at Christiana Care Pediatric Associates. She works to establish strong partnerships with her patients and their families on their journey to achieving optimal health through preventative medicine.  

DCPAP is pleased to have Dr. Pe and her colleagues’ take advantage of DCPAP services, such as requesting consults, seeking resource/referral support

and attending our training series and Office Hours. 



We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Pe

and the Christiana Care Pediatrics team as participants with our program!

NAMI Family Support Group

Our signature support group program for family members and loved ones of

individuals with a mental health condition offered via Zoom

REGISTER HERE

NEW! Spouse/Partner Family Support Group

specifically for spouses/partners of an individual with a mental health condition

Every 3rd Monday of the month

REGISTER HERE

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group

Our signature support group program for individuals living with symptoms of a mental health condition offered via Zoom

Thursday October 21st, 2021 at 6:30pm

Thursday November 4th, 2021 at 6:30pm

REGISTER HERE and select date(s)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) highlight that not all children have the same start in life. The experiences that shape their formative years will affect them throughout their life. Please see the infographic below that highlights ACES and their effect on the inequity of health and mental health outcomes. DCPAP notes that the resource and referral requests we receive from primary care providers can often be associated with the ACES patients present with. Understanding how ACES affect health can help providers identify and support patient needs.

https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/ 

Offers state statistics and resource information

across the gambit of needs related to COVID.

Let's Connect!

Phone:

Warm Line (302) 513-0929

Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

DCPAP Webpage:

https://kids.delaware.gov/dcpap/



Email:

DCPAP Team

DSCYF_DCPAP@delaware.gov

Richard Margolis, MD,

Project Director

richard.margolis@delaware.gov

Joseph Hughes, MBA,

Project Manager

joseph.a.hughes@delaware.gov

Mindy Webb, LCSW,

Behavioral Health Care Coordinator

mindy.webb@delaware.gov

DCPAP Disclaimer Details:

Requests to DCPAP result in the sharing of clinical concerns and considerations based on information presented during professional-to-professional psychiatric consultation. It does not infer a direct patient contact by the consulting psychiatrist nor a direct psychiatric evaluation of a specific patient. Clinical assessment may not be complete and may require further direct patient and record assessment by the treating clinician, or referral of the patient for direct assessment by a psychiatrist or appropriate mental health professional.