We know that children are struggling and more often than not, long waiting lists keep them from getting an appointment, making the problem worse,” said Amanda Lochrie, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Division Chief, Psychology, Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville. “We want parents to know that they are not alone during challenging times and that through PATH they can get help quickly.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 26, 2024) – Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville announced a new program that will help meet the growing demand for pediatric behavioral health services. The Pediatric Acute Telemental Health (PATH) program provides video visits to North Florida area families with children ages 2 – 17 for mental health issues including ADHD, behavior problems, depression and anxiety.
There has been a marked increase in mental health issues among children in recent years. In 2023, Nemours® KidsHealth® commissioned the What’s Worrying America’s Kids survey. The data showed more than one in three children worry at least once a week, primarily about school and friendships, with their tendency to worry progressing with age.
There are significant barriers to mental health services, such as cost and not enough providers. Those factors, combined with increased demand, often lead to wait times of six months or more.
“We know that children are struggling and more often than not, long waiting lists keep them from getting an appointment, making the problem worse,” said Amanda Lochrie, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Division Chief, Psychology, Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville. “We want parents to know that they are not alone during challenging times and that through PATH they can get help quickly.”
PATH offers children short term care with a licensed mental health provider within a week. The team of professionals provides assessment and treatment recommendations, crisis intervention, referrals and brief treatment options.
A PATH appointment is a face-to-face video visit with a mental health professional. Children do not have to be a Nemours Children’s patient to access the program. PATH offers extended hours for appointments, as well as Saturday appointment times. PATH hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A visit can cost as little as $0 or a copay, depending on insurance coverage of telehealth services.
“Nemours’ vision is to address the issues that impact children today to create the healthiest generations of children. We know access to mental health care is one of the most important factors in a child’s development and through PATH, we hope to help achieve that goal,” said Lochrie.
The PATH program is available for children 2-17 who live in the following counties:
- Baker
- Clay
- Duval
- Nassau
- St. Johns
To schedule an appointment:
- Request an appointment by calling (904) 697-3600, or
- Use the Nemours app to request an appointment
1. Go to the App Store or Google Play.
2. Search for Nemours and download the app.
3. Once the app has downloaded, you can make an appointment. If you do not already have a MyNemours account, go to "Sign Up” and follow the steps to create your account.
About Nemours Children’s Health
Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also caring for the health of the whole child beyond medicine. Nemours Children's also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
Media Contact: Leah Goodwyne, leah.goodwyne@nemours.org, (904) 676-2229.
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