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Abstract: 

The study reported in this article was designed to understand provider attitudes about the need for early childhood mental health services. In an effort to improve early identification of infants and young children in need of a referral for a mental health assessment, an Internet-based survey was distributed to regional early childhood providers to examine provider perceptions. Study findings suggest that early childhood providers are likely to refer young children for mental health services only if there has been a known traumatic event. Alternatively, early childhood providers are only half as likely to initiate a mental health referral when developmental concerns are noted.

Keywords: Infant mental health, rural mental health, provider perspectives, developmental delays, childhood trauma

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