| Best Practices |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Health \ Mental Health - Adolescent Mental Health
GENERAL COMMENTS:
In the United States, 1 in 10 children and adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairment, according to the Surgeon General's Report on Children's Mental Health. Yet, in any given year, it is estimated that fewer than 1 in 5 of these children receives needed treatment. The long-term consequences of untreated childhood disorders are costly, in both human and fiscal terms. 1
Early identification and effective treatment of mental disorders during adolescence is vitally important to any successful community, but unfortunately fewer and fewer communities are aptly dealing with the mental problems facing adolescents. "The burden of suffering by children with mental health needs and their families has created a health crisis in this country," says David Satcher, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General. Dr. Satcher continues on to say that, "growing numbers of children are suffering needlessly because their emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs are not being met by the very institutions and systems that were created to take care of them." 2 Hopefully, the following information on best practices and useful resources will help your community more effectively deal with this pressing concern.
Adolescent Mental Health:
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Press Release. "Surgeon General releases a national action agenda on children's mental health"
January 3, 2001
2 Ibid
|
|
|
|
