With increasing recognition that 10–20% of children and adolescents in the United States experience psychiatric disorders that impair daily functioning, there is an urgent national need for more specialists—psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and advanced-practice nurses—trained in child and adolescent psychiatry and early-onset behavioral and mental health disorders. Currently, only about 5% of children and adolescents in need receive any mental health evaluation or intervention. Early recognition and appropriate treatment of psychiatric disorders during the developmental years offer the best opportunity to reduce the lifelong burden of mental illness among vulnerable individuals.

At the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UConn Health, we are committed to delivering multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art assessments and interventions for children, adolescents, and their families affected by early-onset mental and behavioral health disorders.

Our division places a particular emphasis on serving young people and families within Connecticut’s public sector, reflecting our mission to provide accessible, evidence-based care to all. Using a collaborative, multidisciplinary model, we strive to:

• Deliver empirically based, culturally competent, and developmentally sensitive standards of care.
• Advance knowledge through clinical, applied, and translational research.
• Educate and mentor the next generation of pediatric mental health professionals in the understanding, treatment, and prevention of early-onset psychiatric disorders.

The Division works closely with public sector agencies, pediatricians, and schools to provide comprehensive mental health assessments and interventions. In partnership with pediatric and family medicine clinicians, we also develop innovative teaching tools to enhance awareness and understanding of child and adolescent mental health among primary care providers.

Our research faculty lead a variety of pediatric mental health studies and NIMH-funded projects focusing on developmental trauma, early adverse experiences, exposure to violence, domestic violence, anxiety disorders, and perinatal mental health. Faculty members are deeply engaged in teaching and mentoring fellows, guiding them in the development of their own research interests and scholarly work.

Research Studies
Child & Family Development Program
Parenting Program
UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic

We are excited about the Division and hope you will be too.

Best,

Asima A. Zehgeer, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Service Chief for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Medical Director, Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic
Psychiatry | UConn Health