Case Study: United Advocates For Children

“The Medicated Child” sheds light on the dangers and risks associated with children who are put on behavioral-modifying medications. These are issues that parents may not take into consideration when attempting to establish a healthy state of mind for their child. It is estimated that five million children in America have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness. Behavioral disorders are on the rise as each year another 20% of children will be diagnosed. (MedWeb, 2015) Whereas parents tend to turn to their child’s doctor for advice, this may produce a biased resolution that could even be fatal. In “The Medicated Child” we listen to parents who live through this nightmare and the doctors that play a major role in their child’s quality of life.

Schools need to educate parents and children about mental health and illness. According to an article published by the Association for Children’s Mental Health, “1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosable emotional, behavioral or mental health disorder and 1 in 10 young people have a mental health challenge that is severe enough to impair how they function at home, school or in the community” (Problems at School). Schools could hold educational meetings on mental health to inform and aid parents and children to determine when they need to address mental health. Additionally, incorporating a stronger mental health aspect in the state required health

Children’s mental illness affects approximately one fifth of youth worldwide, and although it is the children who experience symptoms directly, implications associated with mental illness can impact entire families (Richardson, Cobham, McDermott & Murray, 2013). As such, healthcare systems are being redesigned to include a focus on family-centeredness. In the case of children’s mental health specifically, family-centered coordinated care represents an understanding of treatment, not only derived from the child’s experience, but also from the parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives (Olin, Hemmelgarn, Madenwald, & Hoagwood, 2015). Unlike other interventions in children’s mental health, this treatment approach acknowledges the vital role that families play in promoting the health and wellbeing of children, and it serves to empower family members by including them in treatment practices and decision-making processes (McGinty, Worthington, & Dennison, 2008; Olin et al., 2015). Through this collaborative approach to children’s mental health, partnerships can be established among health care providers, patients, and families, who each contribute to continued stabilization (Johnson, 2000; McGinty et al., 2008). Moreover, family-centered coordinated care serves to link children and adolescents with appropriate treatment interventions, while correspondingly introducing families to resources that foster parental

According to NAMI, The National Alliance of Mental Illness 1 in 5 adults experience a mental health condition yearly. 1 in 20 people live with a serious mental illness like, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Not only does the person who is directly experiencing a mental illness suffer, but the family, and friends are also highly affected. NAMI states that 50% of mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% of mental illnesses develop by age 24. Each year, 1 in 5 children from the ages 13-18 experiences a mental illness reported by NAMI. That’s a large amount of our young generation. Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma, a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart according to the

The Mental Health Services Act is a monumental proposition that has helped many people for more than a decade. In California alone, close to 1.2 million adults and around 422,000 children live with a serious mental illness (State 2010). Without the proper treatment, suicide is the leading cause of death for a person battling an untreated mental illness (State 2010). With over thirteen billion dollars raised so far, MHSA has been the root of funding for mental health in California (Williams 2015). MHSA is still a work in progress. The act is nowhere near perfect, as a recent audit has shown, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has published a fact sheet of statistics on suicide in the United States. In 2007, it is reported that suicide was the tenth leading cause of death. Furthermore, for every suicide committed, eleven were attempted. A total of 34,598 deaths occurred from suicide with an overall rate of 11.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. (NIMH, 2010). Risk factors were also noted on this report and listed “depression and other mental disorders, or a substance abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders). More than ninety percent of people who die by suicide have these risk factors (NIMH, 2010).”

Health care for mental illness is an issue in the African American community for Men, Women and Adolescents due to the underserving and lack of mental healthcare providers, the cultural stigma of having mental illness and

Due to the State of California cutting back on spending towards people with mental illnesses it affected a lot of people. Some of the people with a mental illness could no longer cover the costs to care for themselves and ended up becoming homeless because of it. Mental health is a serious concern in communities that needs to get resolved or worked on rather than cutting back funding for this issue. In California alone “more than 2 million children, adults, and seniors are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year in California” (mhsoac.ca.gov). There should be adequate funding to make sure that people diagnosed with a mental illness and can

In the course of proper identification, evaluation, and treatment, children and adolescents suffering with mental illness can conduct positive, normal lives. Nevertheless, the devastating majority of children with mental illnesses are unsuccessfully identified and the lack of treatment or support services have led to a subordinate worth of life and violence. The Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013 (S. 689) is an inclusive bill proposed to address the extensive issue of mental health. By strongly considering the United States’ struggle against mental illness and school violence, as well as utilizing theoretical constructs to examine the Senate’s bill, a social worker can develop a more holistic perspective that can productively integrate practical insights reached from a variety of different points of view.

This campaign is confronting the challenging of higher rates of unmet mental health needs among Latino youth than other racial groups. There are several obstacles that get in the way of Latino children and teenagers seeking treatment for mental health issues. These barriers include stigma, a lack of knowledge about symptoms of mental health conditions, a lack of understanding about what health insurance covers in relation to mental health needs, lack of health insurance and lack of access to resources or mental health providers. A social marketing campaign targeting Latino young people, their parents and the other adults in these young peoples’ lives will confront the many barriers to treatment and encourage young people to seek help. A secondary audience will be political and community leaders you are able to allocate greater resources to schools and communities that serve large Latino populations.

Individuals most commonly alumni of foster care will report these mental health concerns because of the maltreatment and effects that the transitions may have on children’s development. The following study conducted by Mental Health Care suggests illness and the rate of children who entered the foster care system versus one who have not. For example, 3.6 percent of the general adult population is diagnosed with panic disorder compared to 11.4 percent of foster care alumni. Another mental illness which shows significant increase in foster care alumni is post-traumatic stress disorder. With a 17 percent increase in the alumni this disease claims 21.5 percent of the alumni population (“Mental Health Care”). Given the research, it is unarguable that the number of alumni diagnosed compared to the percentage of the adult population is much

Challenges due to poverty could be addressed by providing financial assistance, food, and clothing. Time spent with parents is essential when dealing with children who have behavioral issues because parents or guardians may not have the funds or time to spend with their children due to other obligations needed to support the family. Parents and guardians play a major role in helping children grow and develop to their fullest potential. As children grow, they depend on their parents or guardians for basic needs and support such as food, shelter, education, protection, and care. During their life difficulties and times of crisis, they depend on family for guidance. Mental disorders in childhood and adolescence can

Mental illnesses are very common in the United States, with one in five of adolescents having a diagnosed mental illness and in the last year less than half of these adolescents have received proper treatment. The most common mental disorders, anxiety and depression, can disrupt daily life and result in suicide, which is the third most frequent cause of death in teenagers (“The Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”). Ten percent of adolescents did not have health insurance in 2013 and those who did, had a very limited amount of mental health care services provided to them (“The Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”). It has been proved that it is even less likely that adolescents who are poor, homeless, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender will receive the care that is necessary for their health and even life (“The Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”). Mental disorders are not only an

For over a decade, parents seeking help for their children have turned to programs collectively knows as the “troubled-teen industry.” The troubled-teen industry arose in various forms, inserting its self into an environment in which mental health service for children and their families were not available or inadequate. In response to questionable advertising

About 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 experiences a severe mental disorder at least once in their lifetime. Over one-third of students with a mental health condition, age 14­–21 drops out—the highest dropout rate of any disability group. With these statistics, it shows how many people are not gaining support and are just giving up because they cannot find convenient help. If this issue is shown in the classroom, then the awareness rates will rise, making more establishments for support and treatment.