Lutheran Family and Children’s Services strengthens mental health services for children and adolescents in the greater St. Louis Area. Dr. Claudia T. Viamontes, MD, PhD, and Dr. Bryan Sewing, DO, will lead LFCS psychiatry services. Both doctors have extensive experience supporting the mental well-being of children and families across the St. Louis region.
“By offering free psychiatry services, we have created a comprehensive mental health care team to support children and families at every stage of their journey,” said Kim Warden, Director of Behavioral Health for LFCS. “This approach ensures well-rounded care, helping children and families face challenges with confidence.”
Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS), one of Missouri’s oldest social service agencies, announced on Tuesday, January 21st the availability of free psychiatry services for children ages 8-19 in St. Louis and Franklin counties.
LFCS’s free psychiatry services complement the agency’s existing mental health offerings.
Licensed therapists continue to provide early intervention services such as assessments,
individual and family therapy, and school consultations. Integrating psychiatry expands this
model, offering medication management, evaluations, and personalized care plans. These services address conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD and Adjustment Disorder.
According to the 2024 Annual Status Report on Missouri’s Substance Use and Mental Health, 105,000 youth experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year, and only 53.3 percent of youth received mental health services. The Kids Count annual report shows Missouri ranks 41st in the nation for youth mental health care access. Another takeaway, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, is that nearly 45 percent of U.S. students report persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Kim Warden, Director of Behavioral Health for LFCS, said in a previous interview with the St. Louis American that the most common mental health issue that kids face is Adjustment Disorder which is how they react to a change in their environment. Unfortunately for kids in St. Louis, trauma is the number one key factor that kids have to deal with.
“ St. Louis is very violent and it impacts kids, this city can be a difficult place to grow up,” Warden said. “ Kids notice income inequality, and being a part of that can be tough. Depending on the child, they worry about it themselves.” The St. Louis County Department of Public Health reported that 20 percent of St. Louis County high school students in 2023 reported experiencing severe depression, while a 2022 Missouri Student Survey found over 34 percent of Missouri high school students said they experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness. 18 percent reported seriously considering suicide – with 11 percent reporting a suicide attempt.
Lutheran Family and Children Services (LFCS) is a statewide agency headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with regional offices in Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Joplin, and Kansas City and numerous satellite counseling sites. LFCS serves Missouri families from all walks of life in their greatest times of need. The nonprofit social services organization provides six critical support areas to help children and families: adoption, behavioral health, parenting education, pregnancy support, foster care, and childcare at the Hilltop Child and Family Development Center. The programs in these areas empower individuals and families to develop healthy, supportive foundations for a lifetime. Services are open to anyone regardless of race, faith, national origin, and gender. LFCS’s psychiatry services are made possible from community partners and funders: the Franklin County Community Resource Board (FCCRB), St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and the St. Louis Mental Health Board (MHB).
Warden says LFCS mission is to put children at the center to provide all Missouri children with “the support they need to thrive.”
For more information, call 866-326-LFCS or email help@lfcs.org.