T.J. Samson | Destination Health | April 2020

2 DESTINATION HEALTH A re you concerned about your child’s mood or behavior? Then here’s important news: New help is now available in Green, Adair and surrounding counties for children struggling with mental health problems. The credit goes to Alisha Risen, CPNP-PC, PMHS, who has been a pediatric nurse practitioner at T.J. Health Primary Care in Columbia and T.J. Health in Greensburg since 2016. Over this time, Risen has cared for children from birth through age 21, helping them bounce back from an illness or injury and stay healthy with checkups, screenings and immuniza- tions. She’ll keep doing that. But last November, Risen earned her national certification as a Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist. That certification means she can now diagnose and help manage many com- mon mental health problems children have, including anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. MEETING A COMMUNITY NEED For her training and certification, Risen completed an online Ohio State University gradu- ate-level mental health fellowship in child and adolescent primary care, documented 3½ years of past supervised clinical experience in pediatric mental health care, and passed a rigorous qualifying exam. “That was a lot to take on,” Risen admits. But she saw a local need she couldn’t ignore. “In rural South-Central Kentucky, getting children with mental health needs quickly seen by an appropriate professional can sometimes be very difficult,” Risen says. “That was so frustrating. Now I have the opportunity to make a real and positive difference in children’s lives.” She and her husband, Mark Risen, DPM—a foot and ankle surgeon affili- ated with T.J. Samson Community Hospital—have two children, including a 21-year-old son with special needs. Risen’s experience as a mother has made her all the more committed to seeing that no child with mental health problems falls between the cracks. “On a very personal level, I want to provide this new mental-health service for children in our community,” she says. Alisha Risen, CPNP-PC, PMHS Special help for emotionally troubled children Seek help for your child. For more information or to schedule an appointment at T.J. Health Greensburg or T.J. Health Columbia, call 270-973-KIDZ ( 270-973-5439 ). According to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Alisha Risen, your child may be struggling with a mental health problem if he or she: ●  ● Experiences a sudden drop in grades or loses interest in school. ●  ● Acts aggressive toward others. ●  ● Has frequent feelings of sad- ness, worry or fear. ●  ● Withdraws from friends and family. ●  ● Has lost pleasure in things once enjoyed. ●  ● Experiences significant appe- tite or sleep changes. ●  ● Repeats actions or checks things many times out of fear that something bad may happen. ●  ● Has chronic trouble paying at- tention or sitting still. ●  ● Engages in self-harm (like cutting) or risky behaviors. If you have any concern, Risen can evaluate and treat your child or refer your child to a specialist if necessary. “Counseling and medicine, if appropriate, can help chil- dren feel like themselves again,” Risen says. “But the first step always involves seeking help for your child.” Red flags for parents Children’s health