LAUSR

Key Points Question Is it possible to improve child mental health by adding a child and youth component to an adult-focused integrated care program in a middle-income country? Findings In this cluster randomized trial with 49 general practitioners (GPs) caring for 389 children and youths, child mental health training for GPs increased children’s receipt of mental health care (GPs more likely to counsel, parents more likely to report that their children had received mental health care) compared with GPs instructed only to refer. Across all GPs, children’s mental health improved similarly regardless of training; however, among GPs whose patients were predominantly children, training significantly improved child mental health status compared with instruction to refer. Meaning These findings suggest that it may be feasible to expand adult-focused GP collaborative care models to include children and youth; however, GPs with more experience with children may be best able to take advantage of a brief training that expands their mental health role.