The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently issued new guidance that recommends mental and behavioral health screenings for children, beginning at 6 months old. As a pediatrician well acquainted with the AAP’s Bright Futures screening for well visits, I know mental health screening is an important and much-needed tool to better identify mental health concerns early and effectively. We also know that children with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism have a higher risk for co-occurring mental health issues. And although there may be some hesitation around conducting behavioral health screenings in schools, teachers are often the first to notice when a student is struggling emotionally. Mental Health Screenings: Next StepsSUPPORT ADDITUDEThank you for reading ADDitude.