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Addressing the Adolescent Mental Health Care Crisis: A Primary Care Solution
My professional philosophy is grounded in the belief that health systems must evolve to better meet population-level needs through practical, real-world solutions. With mental health workforce shortages projected to extend beyond 2030, therapy alone will not meet population-level needs.
In adolescent mental health, it's not a lack of understanding. We know why this crisis exists, and we have an abundance of research to show us what alleviates adolescent depression and anxiety. The gap lies in practical implementation. We need scalable solutions that work in everyday care.
Closing this gap is the focus of my work. I am operationalizing evidence-based mental health skill-building within primary care, equipping providers, parents, and adolescents with the tools to move from identification to active support.
I am a doctoral candidate in Behavioral Health Management at Arizona State University, with a foundation in psychology and over two decades in policy leadership and communications. I served as press secretary to a U.S. Senator, led his state office and campaign, and trained candidates to communicate with precision under pressure. My career has centered on one core capability: simplify complexity. Success depends on aligning message, psychology, operational constraints, and long-term goals. These skills transfer directly to health system implementation.
I raised three teenagers during the Covid lockdowns, and I watched the mental health crisis walk in and out my front door. Teens struggled, parents searched for answers, and the system offered little beyond waitlists and referrals that often went nowhere.
My work now sits at that intersection: closing the gap between evidence and execution by advancing scalable, skill-based approaches to mental health within primary care.
Heidi Kelly
Doctoral Candidate, Behavioral Health Management
Arizona State University
Focused on transforming adolescent mental health care through practical, scalable solutions. Bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation within primary care systems.