Teens and children facing more mental illness
Telegram & GazetteOct 27, 2018
The regional forum, held at
"The amount of stress kids are feeling today, the world has changed. Symptoms of anxiety are appearing younger and younger," said
According to an adolescent health survey conducted by
Among middle school students in Grades 7 and 8, 15.6 percent reported being very stressed in 2016, compared to 13.3 percent in 2006.
More than 12 percent of high school students, and nearly 11 percent of middle school students, had ever considered suicide, according to the 2016 survey. Four percent of high school students and 2.7 percent of middle school students reported having attempted suicide.
"The biggest concern in the Blackstone Valley is the shortage of providers in the area," Ms. Greiner-Ferris said.
Families often have to travel to
It's particularly hard to find mental health providers for non-English speaking patients. Ms. Greiner-Ferris said it took six months to recruit a Spanish-speaking specialist to locate at the
Riverside is planning to expand and better coordinate its services by moving its entire outpatient center in
According to Riverside representatives, the building will increase capacity for pediatric mental health services, bring all its regional mental health services under one roof, and allow for easy access to 24-hour emergency services, Riverside's school and life skills day program for adolescents with serious psychiatric diagnoses, and its in-home therapy program.
And, in an attempt to reduce the stigma of receiving mental health services, it will have a child-and-youth-friendly feel, with a separate entrance for young patients.
Educators and child care providers at the forum expressed frustration with the overwhelming amount of mental health issues they're seeing now, issues they don't know how to identify or address.
"Our teachers are trained as teachers, not mental health specialists," she said.
She asked whether community training or resource networks for educators and youth program providers might be available.
Dr.
She called for increased reimbursement for pediatric mental health services and better coordination so parents can more quickly get their kids the help they need.
State Sen.
"Fifty-four percent of people in
Several school districts have started offering mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs to students.
Blackstone Valley Tech has a school-based health center in which a Riverside counselor is available five days a week, a situation that is not the norm at most schools.
In addition to the health center, the school offers a Break Free from Depression program, starting with freshmen in their career enhancement class, according to
The week-long program, which is offered each year through 12th grade, introduces different levels of curriculum including identifying depression, coping strategies and how to get help. At the end of the week, all students undergo a mental health screening and may be referred for services.
Students are also taught 10-minute mindfulness modules, where they learn to calm themselves and manage stress through such practices as breathing exercises and yoga.
"They absolutely love it,"
Franklin public schools offer universal screening at the elementary level to identify students needing mental or behavioral health services, a district representative said.
Signs of Suicide, or SOS, is built on three core steps to increase empathy and empower youths to prevent harmful behavior. The steps are summarized in the acronym ACT, which stands for acknowledge that you see a warning sign and that it is serious; let your friend know you care about them; and tell a trusted adult that you are worried about your friend.
"The earlier you can identify someone in challenge, the better the outcome,"
Participants at the regional forum agreed to meet again to target gaps in services and advocate for potential solutions, including better state reimbursement and more opportunities for telemedicine consultations.
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