Leave No Child Behind – Unless They Have a Mental Disorder

National Mental Health Association
Tuesday, 6 May 2003

NMHA Fears Schools Could be Forced to Ignore Children's Mental Health Needs: Statement by Michael Faenza, NMHA President and CEO

Today's House Education and Workforce Subcommittee hearing, "Protecting Children: The Use of Medication in Our Nation's Schools," misses a great opportunity for Congress to truly protect the mental health of America's children. Instead, the hearing's narrow focus on psychotropic medications advances a dangerous agenda that leaves children with mental health needs behind.

With children in the classroom for the majority of their day, teachers and school health professionals are well positioned to identify health problems and to communicate their concerns with parents and caregivers. School personnel frequently recommend hearing and vision evaluations for children. Why should there be a different standard for recommending a mental health assessment?

NMHA recognizes the importance and value of prevention, early intervention and treatment services for children, and we encourage communication between educators and parents because it can lead to better outcomes for our kids.

According to the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Interim Report one or two youth with serious emotional problems are in every American classroom. Yet, nearly 80 percent of children who need mental health treatment do not receive it. With these statistics, it is no wonder the President's Commission called our nation's failure to prioritize mental health "a national tragedy."

A full range of effective treatments for children with mental health problems exist including psychotherapy, psychosocial treatments, home-based services, intensive case management, and psychotropic medications. The consequences of untreated mental health problems are serious and painful. Lack of appropriate care can lead to increased contact with the juvenile justice system, poor school performance and even suicide – the third leading cause of death among young people.

It is worth noting that the President's Commission on Mental Health's Interim Report recommends that the mental health service system consider new ways to deliver care to children "in a place long overlooked, our Nation's schools." NMHA agrees with this assertion and on the need to end the stigma around mental illness in order to provide mental health services to every child who needs them.

In addition, NMHA believes that the role of medication in the treatment of emotional, behavioral and mental disorders in children should include: a comprehensive evaluation of a child by a qualified mental health professional; an integrated treatment plan that, when clinically appropriate, may include medication therapies; and the involvement of the family and child in treatment decisions.

NMHA looks forward to the opportunity to work with Congress to advance policies and programs that would ensure that children with mental health needs are not left behind.

The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research and service.

For more information, or to contact National Mental Health Association, see their website at: www.nmha.org