May is National Mental Health Month, sponsored by the National Mental Health Association for the past 50 years. Nearly a decade ago, Childhood Depression Awareness Day was added to the observance to focus on the need for Americans to pay closer attention to children’s behavioral health care needs.

Today, that focus is as essential as ever. A December 2005 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration study found 9 percent of teenagers, nearly 2.2 million, experienced major depression in 2004 and fewer than half were treated.

For military children, the risk is even more predominant.  “Children of active duty service members (ADSMs) are potentially at a higher risk to develop mental health conditions common among children in the general population,” says Capt. Patricia Buss, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense.

Conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety disorder and panic disorder can be exacerbated by the frequent moves required by the military lifestyle, particularly because children do not get the chance to develop a long-term support network of friends and family. Additionally, children of ADSMs who have been deployed may suffer extreme situational stress that can generate or add to these types of behavioral health problems.

As a TRICARE provider, you should take extra care to watch for signs of depression, anxiety, compulsive behavior and other behavioral health problems in military children. When you see signs, there are a few things you should do:

“Providers should direct children who may be suffering from any type of behavioral health problem toward treatment via the eight unmanaged behavioral health visits allowed by TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Prime Remote,” Capt. Buss says. Just as with adult active duty family members, children are entitled to the first eight visits to a behavioral health care network provider per fiscal year without prior authorization.

Beneficiaries may self-refer to behavioral health care providers, with the exception of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Pastoral Counselors. These providers also do not require prior authorization, but they do require a referral from a medical doctor.

“Even if you merely suspect that the child has a behavioral health problem, there is no obligation to continue treatment beyond this initial consultation, so it is important for the child to meet with a qualified provider. Too many children don’t get the treatment they need and to which they are entitled.”

If possible, help direct the child to an age-specific provider who specializes in the type of disorder you believe he or she may have. If ongoing treatment is needed, the child’s behavioral health provider will submit an Outpatient Treatment Report (OTR) after the first eight visits and a clinician will evaluate the request for subsequent sessions.

When recommending an outpatient therapist for the child, be careful to select a provider in the TRICARE network. Otherwise, the family may incur additional charges under the TRICARE Prime point-of-service option.

You can use the “Find a Provider” tool to obtain a list of TRICARE providers in their area, or call Humana Military toll-free at 1-800-444-5445.

For more information about TRICARE’s behavioral health care benefits, visit ValueOptions.

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Last Reviewed:  February 2, 2007