Last month’s tragedy in Connecticut
thrust our country into a painful moment of collective reflection. The debate on
how to prevent such a tragedy from happening again touches upon many subjects:
gun control, school security measures, and the possible effects of video game
violence on young brains, among them.
And then there is the
question of the mental illness. Consider a simple fact: Mental, emotional, or
behavioral health problems affect one in five children and adolescents. Put
another way: a child is as likely to suffer one of these disorders as s/he is
to break a bone. Mental health affects everyone regardless of race, class,
gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.
Consider another fact: Mental illness is preventable. Unfortunately,
many people who suffer mental illness do not seek the treatment they need
because of real or perceived barriers. Among these are:
· Attitude: Believing that mental illness will resolve on
its own or believing that psychiatric care would not be beneficial
· Financial
concerns: Lack of health insurance
coverage, or coverage that leaves a large amount owed by the patient.
· Poor self-perception: Unlike with physical illnesses, people suffering
from a mental illness often do not realize that they are ill.
· Poor access: Some
Americans have poor access to mental health care services because they live in
a rural environment. Others lack transportation options or are overwhelmed by
work and home responsibilities.
· Stigma: Many patients believe a stigma exists regarding the mentally
ill. They feel that negative stereotypes could damage their careers or
relationships. Embarrassed and fearful of what others may think, they do not
seek the services they need.
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| Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Getting
help at the earliest possible time is key to feeling better and possibly to
preventing mental illness altogether. Early identification and intervention improve
outcomes for children, before these conditions become far more serious, more
costly and difficult to treat. Some facts on children and mental illness from Mental Health America reveal the scope of the problem:
·
13% of youth aged 8-15 live with mental illness severe enough to cause
significant impairment in their day-to-day lives. This figure jumps to 21
percent in youth aged 13-18.
·
Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and three
quarters by age 24.
·
Despite the availability of effective treatment, there are average
delays of 8 to 10 years between the onset of symptoms and intervention—critical
developmental years in the life of a child. In our nation, only about 20% of
youth with mental illness receive treatment.
·
Unidentified and untreated mental illness is associated with serious
consequences for children, families and communities:
o
Approximately 50% of students aged 14 and older with mental illness
drop out of high school—the highest dropout rate of any disability group.
o
90% of those who die by suicide have a mental illness. Suicide is the
third leading cause of death for youth aged 15-24; more youth and young adults
die from suicide than from all natural causes combined.
o
70% of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have mental
illness, with at least 20% experiencing severe symptoms. At the same time,
juvenile facilities fail to adequately address the mental health needs of youth
in their custody.
(For more information, see Children's mental health
fact sheet: Mental Health America.)
We know HOW to
prevent many forms of mental illness through appropriate, timely interventions.
If we are to capitalize on our proven ability to shape healthier lives,
however, we must rethink our negative attitudes. The answer to our mental health crisis lies in
education and the correction of common misperceptions. Shine a light on the
problem and the barriers facing those in need of help will begin to fall.
