Psychiatric Intake Response Center 2025 Annual Report

A Letter from the PIRC Director

Dear Community Partners, Professionals, and Advocates:

As Alabama continues to face an ongoing youth mental health crisis, I want to highlight what members of Children’s Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC)/Psychiatric Consult Teams think are children’s mental health challenges and solutions: Access and shortage of mental health providers. Statewide, this shortage, especially in rural Alabama has created crisis situations for patients and caregivers. This year, Children’s Emergency Department (ED) had the most psychiatric visits in its history at 4,730. PIRC Therapist Shannon Messina stated what we hear is there are, “long wait times to establish care,” that causes delayed intervention, keeping patients and caregivers in perpetual crisis. Social media and online chat rooms. These platforms play the greatest role in exposing kids to risky, unhealthy, and harmful people and situations. “You used to open a door into your home and knew who you invited in. Now, someone can come into your home (through online sites and social media), and you don’t know it,” said PIRC Therapist Susan Smith. Caregiver education. Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Shaquenta Powe said caregivers are not aware of what mental health symptoms are and what influences children. PIRC Therapist Espy Soriano-Sanchez said she talks to caregivers and encourages them to, “Take advantage of all the tools and education provided. Be open and listen while being unconditionally supportive.” Stigma and shame. Many caregivers believe seeking mental health services reflects poorly on them or their child. “Early intervention is critical,” said the teams’ Medical Director and Psychiatrist Dr. Jesse Tobias “Toby” C. Martinez, Jr. Addressing mental health challenges during childhood leverages a unique window of high brain plasticity, where the mind is most adaptable and receptive to learning new coping mechanisms, according to International Journal of Mental Health Systems*. Solutions for mental health shortage. In July, the PIRC/Psychiatric Consult Teams began a monthly collaboration with UAB’s Pediatric Residency Program. Residents are assigned mental health day rotations in the ED, allowing them to shadow team members and be exposed to children, teens, and caregivers during a crisis. “This rotation has allowed me to improve my knowledge of mental health conditions, medications, and other resources that are available to these patients. It will serve me well in a future career of general pediatrics,” said Resident Dr. Sarah Hicks.

Solutions for caregivers and access. Our clinicians provide empathetic and non-judgmental support. They focus on patient and caregiver strengths to help them feel empowered to cope with what’s ahead. Caregivers learn that mental health concerns are chronic, but treatable conditions and with proper interventions have positive outcomes. Through the PIRC line or in the ED, we connect caregivers to services statewide that best fit their child’s needs. Children’s and communities statewide are fortunate to have highly trained and experienced mental health professionals who are on the frontline to intervene, educate, advocate, and support caregivers and patients.

Psychiatric Consult/PIRC Team Medical Directors PIRC Director

Nurse Practitioners (CRNP)

Dr. Tobias Martinez Dr. Vinita

Cindy Jones

Ashley Alspaugh Debra Bruns

Jennifer Crook

Tarra Love

Sharon Minyard

CRNP (cont.)

Yalamanchili

PIRC Therapists

Teresa Moore Shaquenta Powe Courtney Reeves Shirin Sewani Ahmad Brewer Mindy Cavender Alex Faust

With gratitude,

Hannah Finley

Matt Foster Sara Harbison Jalana Johnson

Leah Johnson

Lee Knight Carmen Lambert Naren Leopard

Ashley Loftis

Faith Lowe

Leigh McKay Shannon Messina Susan Smith Espy Soriano-Sanchez Justin Weatherly Erica Wilson

Cynthia “Cindy” M. Jones, MA, LPC-S, NCC PIRC Director, Children’s of Alabama

Pictured are the PIRC/Psychiatric Consult Teams members who work on the frontlines. Pictured from top left to right are Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Counselors, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

*Int J Ment Health Syst. 2020 Mar 24;14:23. doi: 10.1186/s13033-020-00356-9. Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care? Marco Colizzi 1,2, Antonio Lasalvia 1, Mirella Ruggeri 1