Report: Mentally Ill Kids Lack Treatment

W A S H I N G T O N, Jan. 3, 2001 -- One in 10 children suffers from mentalillnesses severe enough to impair development, the surgeon generalsaid in urging changes to fix what he termed a crisis.

A report released today says too often children who windup in jail had mental health problems that went unnoticed oruntreated until too late. Fewer than one in five children gettreatment for any mental health problems, the report adds.

“If children can’t learn, can’t develop appropriately, thenit’s going to interfere with their whole life,” said SurgeonGeneral David Satcher. “Clearly it is a crisis.”

Satcher’s newest call adds to his report a year ago declaringmental disorders a major undertreated problem for adults andchildren. It comes amid a recent backlash against one prominentchildhood problem, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Lawsuits charge ADHD is overdiagnosed to push the drug Ritalin tochildren who merely are rambunctious.

ADHD, Depression Strike Often

There is some overtreatment, but also “there are many childrenwho could benefit from medications as well as behavioraltreatment,” Satcher said, identifying ADHD and depression asleading mental disorders affecting children.

According to the report:

Regular pediatricians treat most affected children and reportdifficulty referring serious patients to mental health specialists,including appointment waits of three to four months. Somecommunities offer no child mental health services at all.

In one study, some children with emotional disorders didn’t getproper school services until age 10.

Just as for adults, insurance coverage for children’s mentalhealth is spotty. Advocates told of parents who relinquishedcustody so their children could receive welfare-funded therapy.

One juvenile detention center study found over two-thirds ofdetainees had a psychiatric disorder. Yet the juvenile justicesystem seldom screens children for treatable illnesses.

The report urges mental health training for doctors, teachers,welfare and juvenile justice workers, and better access to care.Satcher said Medicaid is developing community models for mentalhealth services, and that the federal justice and educationdepartments will work with health officials on training.

Also, the National Institute of Mental Health increased researchfunding on children’s disorders by $33 million this year.