Advancing Research to Transform Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health
Cincinnati Children’s is leading efforts to reimagine how childhood mental and behavioral health is understood, diagnosed, and treated. As the demand for care grows and conditions like anxiety, depression, and suicide risk rise among youth, our research teams are moving beyond reactive treatment models toward proactive, upstream interventions rooted in data, community partnerships, and scientific discovery.
Through the new Mental and Behavioral Health Institute, researchers across psychiatry, psychology, and developmental pediatrics are working to uncover early indicators of risk, improve screening and intervention methods, and develop systems of care that extend well beyond hospital walls. Supported by new infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art inpatient facility and AI-enabled early detection tools, our work is transforming care delivery at both the population and individual levels.
Recent studies have explored early behavioral dysfunction in young children, evaluated school-based suicide prevention strategies, and investigated how long-term pain memory, maternal immune responses, and digital health tools shape outcomes across the developmental spectrum. Ongoing research also includes systemwide improvements in risk screening and crisis response, as well as new training models for integrating behavioral health into schools and pediatric clinics.
With a focus on collaboration, prevention, and impact, Cincinnati Children’s is building the evidence base and infrastructure to meet today’s mental health crisis with urgency and innovation—while working toward a future where all children can thrive.
