Improved access to early identification of mental illness.
EVIDENCE
More than 28% of high school students reported having feelings of depression.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents. Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than females. Suicide is preventable.
Only about 20% of youth in need of services
receive them.
More than half of youth experiencing mental illness also suffer from a substance abuse disorder.
One in five children have diagnosable MH issues.
BARRIERS
Mental health stigma.
Families not ready to address issues.
Lack of “neighborhood” schools.
Better education to families about effectively treating and coping with mental illness.
EVIDENCE
Nationally, the largest growing groups of uninsured are children and youth who are not citizens and youth over 18.
60% of children on TennCare ages 10 and up and 20% of children ages 0-9 do not receive screening.
BARRIERS
Need not analyzed in detail during Rapid Design session.
School and community-based education on prevention of substance abuse and mental illness
among children.
EVIDENCE
Nationally, the largest growing groups of uninsured are children and youth who are not citizens and youth over 18.
BARRIERS
Need not analyzed in detail during Rapid Design session.
Increased access to intervention and treatment.
EVIDENCE
At least 10% of children and youth have no insurance – this figure is increasing.
Nationally, the largest growing groups of uninsured are children and youth who are not citizens and youth over 18.
60% of children on TennCare ages 10 and up and 20% of children ages 0-9 do not receive screening.
BARRIERS
Need not analyzed in detail during Rapid Design session.
Better understanding that mental health & physical health are equally integral to children’s
overall well-being.
EVIDENCE
Nationally, the largest growing groups of uninsured are children and youth who are not citizens and youth over 18.
BARRIERS
Stigma of mental health.
Time added to exams.
Hidden illness- need to look deeper to behaviors and patterns.
Earlier identification of families' behavior that places children and adolescents at risk for future
health problems.
EVIDENCE
Nationally, the largest growing groups of uninsured are children and youth who are not citizens and youth over 18.
BARRIERS
Securing “buy-in” from ALL community agencies (government, social, etc.).
STRATEGIES
Promote awareness and provide a full range of mental health and substance abuse services along the continuum of care.
Provide mental health and substance abuse screening to all children and youth.
Implement a treatment matching approach for children and youth who need service.
Align public policy to support access to mental
health services.
Use of therapeutic mentor in variety of environments including home and others.
Mental health consultation to schools.
TACTICS
Help kids understand and express feelings.
Use annual physicals as time for mental health assessments.
Incorporate to outside/recreational activities (Summer camp, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, After school programs).
Train physicians about mental health, red flags (culturally sensitive- hear parents' voices, especially poor, recovering parents).
Increased training for JV court staff and schools on ID of “at risk” families.
Family care plan for possible “at risk” families.
Provide literature about “best practices” for parenting skills (K-12).
Develop mentoring & support for families.
METRICS
Improved positive school outcomes.
Increased referral for mental history & drug use.
Increased # of students, parents, teachers trained in evidence-based M.H. prevention practices.
WHY
Increased involvement in community.
Decrease in violent delinquent petitions.
Increase identification of kids with mentally
ill parents.
