166. Chronic Illness and Mental Health: The Roadmap Project

Discover the untold stories of resilience, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil in the latest episode of Pediatric Meltdown! host Dr. Lia Gaggino is joined by The Women of the RoadMap Project; Dr. Carol Lannon,  Dr. Lori Crosby,  Robin Kinebrew, and Meghan Didier as they dive deep into the struggles and triumphs of parents navigating the complexities of their children's chronic diseases. From navigating hospital admissions to tackling the daunting tasks of missed homework, these parents courageously share their journeys of finding strength amidst the chaos of mental health. This episode will highlight how crucial it is for medical sub-specialists to care about the topic of mental health in pediatric patients with chronic illnesses. They’ll talk about the responsibility the sub-specialists have to recognize the connection between physical and mental health and to incorporate holistic approaches into their practice. By taking the time to listen, understand, and connect them with appropriate resources, sub-specialists can play a vital role in supporting their mental health journey. The Roadmap Project reminds us to strive to enhance our competence and confidence in addressing this important aspect of care because every child deserves comprehensive support, not just for their physical health, but for their Mental Wealth as well.       

[05:21-21:07] The Origin of the Road Map Project

• Initiated after a conversation with the American Board of Pediatrics in 2016
• A collaborative effort between patients, families, and clinicians
• Aims to improve the emotional health of patients and families with chronic conditions
• Published using Google Docs and updated automatically every 5 minutes

[21:08 - 35:10]  Subspecialty Responsibility and Competence in Addressing Mental Health  

• Approximately two-thirds of respondents believe that addressing mental health is the responsibility of their subspecialty.
• Only 20% of graduating subspecialty fellows feel competent enough to address mental health.
• Competence levels vary among different subspecialties, with cardiology and nephrology showing the lowest confidence levels.
• The focus is on acknowledging, validating, and connecting individuals to appropriate mental health resources when needed.

[35:11 - 43:06]  The Therapeutic Power of Asking

• How the normalize-ask-pause-connect approach can enhance patient care
• How asking can contribute to healing and understanding
• The role of asking in therapy and self-reflection
• The potential benefits of asking in various life situations

[43:07 - 1:01:45] Importance of Raising Awareness 

• Clinicians reporting significant changes in their practice approach
• Creating a culture of continuous learning and professional development
• Increasing awareness of the impact on patient care and outcomes
• Empowering clinicians to prioritize emotional health in their practice 

[1:01:46 - 1:09:00]  Closing segment Takeaway

Links to resources mentioned on the show

You can reach The Roadmap Project

Website: Roadmap For Emotional Health

YouTube: The Roadmap Project - YouTube

Videos:

The impact of being Black while living with a chronic condition: Inpatient perspectives

Normalize+Ask+Pause+Connect by...