<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Children take up a lot of resources, all of which are required to ensure proper development.&nbsp; Often overlooked in favor of services such as education development and physical development, mental health services are a critical factor in the proper, healthy development of children, though many do not optimize it as such.&nbsp;</p> <p>The problem with children&rsquo;s mental health services</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While there are mental health services designed specifically for children, they are often underfunded and not implemented.&nbsp; Many children considered to be &ldquo;disturbed&rdquo; and/or in need of any kind of mental health treatment are more likely to go without than an adult in a similar situation.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Even those who are fortunate to get into the system and access treatment, often are mis-matched and do not get the right kind of care and support that they actually need.&nbsp; This leads to children dropping out of programs and continuing into adulthood without support that is needed for proper development.</p> <p>How do children access mental health?</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Generally, the access to mental health services is seen as one of the biggest challenges that children face.&nbsp; The main access point to services is through the educational sector.&nbsp; Someone will refer a child to care and they will be assessed and then either enter treatment programs or not.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When compared side by side, those who accessed the mental health services through education access points are not as successful, with poorer service.&nbsp; Those who accessed that service did not get the same amount of treatment.&nbsp; Those who accessed mental health services through the physical healthcare system were more likely to get better quality treatment, long-term.</p> <p><strong>How do these services and access to them need to change?</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Generally speaking, the programs themselves are rudimentary at best.&nbsp; In order to best serve children and their parents and caretakers, they need to be integrated together.&nbsp; By blending together mental health care with physical health care and educational systems, children will be able to access and benefit from the programs that are already there.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As more children access these systems, experts and officials can see where the treatment is lacking and work to address it so that better, more specific approaches can be added to the system to make it stronger.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both in terms of access to, and the programs themselves, it falls on the officials in each of these sectors to come together to make this a priority.&nbsp; Since children are unable to advocate for themselves, those in charge of various parts of their lives must do it for them.</p> <p><strong>Better access means better services</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When access to, and integration with, all childcare services is prioritized, children and caretakers get support and access to help that is very evidently needed.&nbsp; Since childhood is the prime time for severe mental health disorders to be diagnosed, the sense of urgency can not be understated.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In order for mental health to be effective in children, the right systems need to be blended together.&nbsp; By working collaboratively, a child&rsquo;s needs can be identified, assessed, matched with proper, effective treatment, and made a priority in a child&rsquo;s development, just like every other aspect.</p> <p>Sources:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED223346">https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED223346</a></li> <li><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1989-27149-001">https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1989-27149-001</a></li> <li><a href="https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.54.1.60">https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.54.1.60</a></li> </ul>