Diabetes at Camp 2025-Diabetes at Camp: Psychosocial Screening and Management

Diabetes at Camp: Psychosocial Screening and Management

Pdf Summary

This module focuses on the psychosocial screening and management of children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at camps. It begins by acknowledging the expert contributors and outlines key objectives for participants, which include identifying behavioral needs from camp applications, responding to behaviors that impact the camp environment, and utilizing screening tools to identify campers’ behavioral and emotional needs.<br /><br />The module presents various components of the camp application, stressing the importance of reviewing medical and psychosocial information for treatment planning. Prior to camper arrival, applications should be reviewed by the camp director, medical team, and behavioral health team to identify high-risk campers.<br /><br />It highlights common psychosocial and mental health issues among youth with T1D, such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders, and provides insights into how these are linked to diabetes management and glycemic control. The module also notes that youth with T1D may experience higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation compared to the general population.<br /><br />Several case scenarios are discussed to help camp staff recognize and manage potential psychosocial challenges. In each case, the application of screening tools like the Youth Pediatric Symptom Checklist Short Form (Y PSC-17) and the Ask Suicide-Screening Questionnaire (ASQ) are demonstrated to identify underlying issues.<br /><br />The module stresses the importance of having a prepared action plan based on screening results, which includes safety plans, communication with medical teams, and engagement with campers’ guardians as needed. It concludes by highlighting that children with diabetes can face significant psychosocial challenges, thus, camp personnel must be equipped to address these by reviewing applications and using the appropriate screening tools.

Keywords

psychosocial screening

Type 1 Diabetes

children and adolescents

camp management

behavioral needs

mental health issues

screening tools

depression and anxiety

safety plans

diabetes management