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Mental Health and Suicide
"The nation is facing a public crisis in mental health for infants, children and adolescents. Many children have mental health problems that interfere with normal development and functioning. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairment. Yet, in any given year, it is estimated that about one in five children receive mental health services. Unmet need for services remains as high now as it was 20 years ago." Report of the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health: A National Action Agenda As the Surgeon General's Report notes - and most mental health advocates and professionals agree - dramatic challenges characterize the adolescent mental health landscape. The National Initiative to Improve Adoelscent Health by the Year 2010 includes several measures that reference adolescent mental health, but professionals know that mental health issues are related to almost every adolescent health measure. National Initiative to Improve Adolescent Health by the Year 2010
Mental Health Measures - Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents with disabilities who reported to be sad, unhappy, or depressed
- Increase the proportion of children with mental health problems who receive treatment (Developmental)
- Reduce the suicide rate
- Reduce the rate of suicide attempts by adolescents
Provided here are links to a wide variety of resources that will assist your efforts to improve the mental health of adolescents. Advocates Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is the leading national legal advocate for people with mental illnesses or mental retardation. Through precedent-setting litigation and in the public policy arena, the Bazelon Center works to advance and preserve the rights of people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. One stop for advocacy information. Outstanding policy and legal information. Read their statement to the new Freedom Commission on Mental Health, specifically the public sector recommendations. SCHOOL-BASED CARE National Assembly on School-based Health Care
The National Assembly is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to nurture interdisciplinary school-based health care. For state-level budget advocacy read: Prescription for State Funding Success - Ten Steps to Effective Budget Advocacy for School Based Health Centers. Lots on evaluating SBHCs and a searchable database. National Association of School Psychologists
The National Association of School Psychologists represents and supports school psychology through leadership to enhance the mental health and educational competence of all children. Up to the minute legislative information, position papers and more advocacy information. The Center for School Mental Health Assistance (CSMHA)
Operated by the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The Center provides leadership and technical assistance to advance effective interdisciplinary school-based mental health programs. It strives to support schools and community collaboratives in the development of programs that are accessible, family-centered, culturally sensitive, and responsive to local needs. Free technical assistance! Article summaries, critical issue briefs by the experts and downloadable presentations. The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
The Center is a policy and program resource center supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that focuses on supporting state-community partnerships to establish comprehensive school-based health centers. A great read: From the Margins to the Mainstream: Institutionalizing School-Based Health Centers. Presentations to download, fact sheets for distribution and easily accessible data. Federal Center for Mental Health Services
The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is charged with leading the national system that delivers mental health services. Look for year end reports and mental health statistics. Home to the point-and-click, map-based guide to state mental health resources and activities. The perfect starting point for a review of individual state activities. National Institute of Mental Health
The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to diminish the burden of mental illness through research. The ultimate science source, the NIMH www site provided much of the disorders overview information presented here. Adolescent specifics at www.nimh.nih.gov/ publicat/childmenu.cfm National Strategy for Suicide Prevention - A collaboration between SAMSHA, CDC, NIH, HRSA and IHS. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Communities National Mental Health Association
The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. Everything all in one place: program and advocacy resources, fact sheets, and a position statement index. Of special interest: NMHA's State Advocay Update. As referenced here, be sure to read Can't Make the Grade: NMHA State Assessment Project for a state by state ranking based on attention to mental health services. Health care National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems
The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems has been a leader in advocating high-quality mental health and substance abuse care delivery for nearly 70 years. Must read: Enhancing Youth Services offers baseline information on current knowledge and thinking about care for youth with psychiatric, emotional and behavioral problems. Great fact sheets, too. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health Georgetown University Looking for mental health educational materials for physicians and practioners? Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health is a guide designed for a wide array of professionals in primary care practice. This two-volume set considers the mental health of children in a development context, provides information on early recognition and intervention for specific mental problems and mental disorders, tools for use in screening, care management, and health education. Evaluation Youth Suicide Prevention Programs: A Resource Guide
CDC Evaluation Working Group Training/Distance Learning National Center for Suicide Prevention Training materials TARGETED Resources Association of Maternal and Child Health Professionals
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs is the national organization representing state Maternal and Child Health leaders and other interested individuals and organizations working to improve the health and well being of women, children, youth and families, including those with special health care needs. Outstanding advocacy information, stay up to date on policy and programs. Concise fact sheets on all the basics: Block Grants, Medicaid, SCHIP. Dedicated section on adolescent health Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is the national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States (including the District of Columbia). The best and most targeted (for you) information briefs on child/adolescent mental health around. General Resources American Association of Suicidology
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Children's Safety Network
National Mental Health Association
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