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Children and Youth News

CHILDREN AND MENTAL ILLNESS

UNCLAIMED CHILDREN REVISITED: THE STATUS OF CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES

The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) recently released a report, Unclaimed Children Revisited: The Status of Children's Mental Health Policy in the United States,which documents how current mental health policies across the United Statesrespond to the needs of children and youth with mental health treatment needs, those at-risk, and their families. The report identifies the best policy practices that support family and youth-focused, research-informed, developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically competent services and supports. It also discusses the extent to which new knowledge has been incorporated into the policy and practice frameworks governing children’s mental health today.

To access the report, visit the NCCP homepage at www.nccp.org.

NEW PARENTS AND TEACHERS AS ALLIES RESOURCES

            Parents and Teachers as Allies is NAMI’s two-hour, in-service mental health education program to help school professionals identify the warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and adolescents. The program focuses on the specific, age-related symptoms of mental illness in youth, how school professionals can best intervene and share concerns with families, and it shares the lived experiences of consumers and families. NAMI leaders in 31 states have been trained in the program and it has been delivered to over 80 schools around the country with outstanding results.

To help promote the expansion of the program, NAMI has developed a promotional brochure for NAMI state and affiliate leaders active in Parents & Teachers as Allies to use to promote the program to schools. The promotional brochure is available as a PDF in black and white and in color. Both versions can be downloaded and printed from any computer.

NAMI has also created a webpage designed for NAMI leaders interested in learning more about funding opportunities in order to bring the Parents and Teachers as Allies (PTasA) program into their state or community.

All of the above resources can be accessed at NAMI’s Child and Adolescent Action Center website at www.nami.org/caac(Click Schoolsand Education).

If you are interested in becoming trained in Parents and Teachers as Allies so you can implement the program in your state or community or if you would like additional information about the program, please contact Bianca Ruffin, Program Assistant, at biancar@nami.org.

WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS SHOULD BE PART OF A CHILD'S EDUCATION

JUST ONE LESSON ON MENTAL ILLNESS could make all the difference in the lives of young people whose lives have been thrown tragically off course by no-fault brain disorders such as Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder. Nearly two-thirds of all people with diagnosable mental disorders do not seek treatment.

--Surgeon General's Report on Mental Illness

INNOVATIVE LESSONS put a human face on mental illness and confront the myths that reinforce the silence.

STUDENTS LEARN:

• It is biology, not a character flaw that causes mental illness.
• Mental illness has never been more treatable.
• The warning signs of mental illness.
• How to overcome the stigma that surrounds mental illness

EASY TO USE

• For upper elementary, middle school, high school
• Fully scripted lessons and suggested _activities
• Eye catching posters and board game
• Plans can be used for one day or extended for several days
• No prior knowledge of the subject required

Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability in this country. These lessons that teach the warning signs of mental illness should be part of every child's education.

--James L. Stone, M.S.W., Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health

U.S.DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: NEW GUIDE ON REDUCING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM

The U.S. Department of Education has developed a new guide for elementary school educators and school and district-level administrators that offers prevention, implementation, and school-wide strategies that can be used to reduce problematic behavior that interferes with the ability of students to attend to and engage fully in instructional activities. The guide is part of their “What Works Clearinghouse,” which is a source of scientific evidence for what works in education.  To access the guide, visit http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/pdf/practiceguides/behavior_pg_092308.pdf

NIMH UPDATE: NEW GUIDE ON BIPOLAR DISORDER IN CHILDREN AND TEENS

The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) has posted on their website a new easy-to-read booklet on bipolar disorder in children and teens that explains what it is, when it starts, and how to get help.

To access the booklet, visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-easy-to-read.shtml

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