Comments for TeenScreen National Center for Mental Health Checkups

Comment on Technology, Teen Depression & Suicide Prevention: Update from Indian Country by Susan

Susan — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:20:27 +0000

I appreciate the effort of the doctor to bring a high quality mental health care for those who live in rural areas. Everybody has the right for that kind of access and that is what the good doctor is doing. If thing like that is deprive from those people then the tendency related to suicide might increase because they are able to get enough help.

Comment on Bipolar Disorder in Young People: Can Research Diffuse Controversy? by Paula

Paula — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:26:52 +0000

Psychologists often forget to consider whether a person actually suffered an insult to the brain, and the symptoms appear similar to bipolar disorder. Prescriptions for the wrong diagnosis can wreak havoc, of course. But in the case of a person with a traumatic brain injury, the wrong prescription, such as Paxil, known to have vascular issues now, can confound providers and greatly increase suffering.
The 3tessla MRI of the brain can identify far more than prior brainscans. Trauma to the brain such as t2 hyperintensity spots indicates a brain injury, not personality disorder.

Comment on First Aid for Mental Health? A New Way to Respond by N.C.R. Wallinder

N.C.R. Wallinder — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:35:05 +0000

Great article, concise and exactly what
I needed for my professional development
training seminar I will be instructing
for school administrators and staff on
the Native American Reservation in Arizona. There are very few articles that cover basic assessment interviews for the layperson.
Thank you again, I am hoping you will write
more articles.
NCRWallinder

Comment on First Aid for Mental Health? A New Way to Respond by Colleen

Colleen — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:51:28 +0000

I found this article to be very interesting. I work in special education as a paraprofessional and wish there were a professional development program on this very subject.

Comment on Integrated Care: What Are We Really Talking About? by Kimberly Hoagwood

Kimberly Hoagwood — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:07:53 +0000

Great commentary! I wonder if the exceptionalist preference has been driven by policy issues in adult mental illness that may be irrelevant or tangential to the needs of children and families? The number of systems that children are often involved with, the waxing and waning of health conditions (vs. more stable diagnoses), the range of services beyond medication that are preferred by parents and effective for kids–all of these issues may imply the need for a different kind of integrated system. And perhaps they suggest that an exceptionalist stance is less likely to be useful in effecting positive outcomes for children.

Comment on Teen Mental Health Gets Bipartisan Support by Grace Bouchoucha

Grace Bouchoucha — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:15:10 +0000

As a Former Middle and High School Teacher of ten years and a Master’s of Social Work graduate, I think that not enough is being done to educate our youth and their families about Mental Health Issues. In addition, Master’s students in the Mental Health Field are required to take and pay for additional licensure BEYOND their Master’s Degree.

Many behavioral / mental disorders, “Show their heads,” in the teen years. Schools need to implement Teen Screen Mental Health Check-up Screenings that are available through TeenScreen.org.
I am working to implement this Screening Program at a Middle School at this time to begin a, “First of its kind,” in this part of North Carolina – Mental Health Screening.
Having lost loved ones to suicide, I am confident that these screening programs can and will catch Mental / Brain Disorders early, (Before Youth are severe Substance Abusers or take their own lives)

If students are screened for potential Mental Illnesses starting at the 8th Grade Level, they can get referred to Child Psychiatrists and Professional Counselors before they self-medicate. Now we just need the government to stop putting so many regulations and licensing requirements on top of Master’s Degrees. I am unclear why I studied for a Master’s Degree and then have to go on to pay to get Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker. On top of getting, “Licensed,” I need to be, “Practicing under an M.D. of Psychiatry for two years.”

I’m not as much concerned about the pay as I am concerned about all the obstacles Master’s Students in the Mental / Behavioral Health Fields have to endure to screen a student/client or work with a patient.

I would say that 7-8 years of college (In itself) is enough. These licensure agencies are only making it harder for people to get treatment.
Schools will be safer if confidential Mental Health Screenings are available where they attend school.
Students will be more productive. Who knows, maybe even their grades will increase.

Right now, School Nurses screen for Vision and Hearing in Schools, but our Nation statistically has far more Teens dyeing of Suicide than we do have Students with Hearing and Vision Problems. School Nurses are usually distributed among many schools in a district and are not trained in Behavioral Health. School Counselors are utilized to administer testing and spend less time counseling students.
Schools need to hire Social Worker Degreed Professionals who can link families and students to Programs and Resources that will improve their quality of life. School Guidance Counselors and School Nurses are not able to or are not qualified to address Mental Health Counseling.

Please go to TeenScreen.org for more information about how your school can do something about this issue.

Comment on Teen Mental Health Gets Bipartisan Support by Trista Mortensen

Trista Mortensen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:28:41 +0000

I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 12 years and work in Nevada. A big part of the problem of limited mental health workers is that the salary is very low which make student loans often too difficult to pay. I love my career and work specifically with children and teens and wouldn’t change my career for anything. Other people looking at the profession may change their minds. I lived in WA for several years and for a therapist the pay was 14.50 and hour for 7 years of education and 3 years post grad supervision.

Comment on Teen Mental Health Gets Bipartisan Support by Mario de Obaldia

Mario de Obaldia — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:43:36 +0000

As crucial as is our current situation with youth mental diability, more important to our nation is, being honest about dealing with their root cause.

Comment on HEADSPACE: Innovative Mental Health Program Where Teens Take the Lead by Susan Hickey

Susan Hickey — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:33:25 +0000

Hello! I had to connect with you to see if you are aware how how similar the Australian program is to the School Based Youth Services Model we have here in New Jersey! Funded by the NJ state department of Children and Families, School Based Youth Services all of the mentioned services in more! I would love for you to check it out! The program I direct has been in operation for 12 years however SBYSP has been around for over 22 years! We would love the national attention that you are able to provide and would love for someone to contact us to give you any information you may be seeking! We have some extremely innnovative ways to connect with kids and provide the much needed mental health and health care services they need and deserve!

Comment on Teen Suicide: What Can Schools Do to Prevent Tragedies? by Pat Garrison

Pat Garrison — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:07:39 +0000

Thanks Sherry,

We invite you to check the webinar we discuss in the blog, which includes the latest information, resources and best practices for schools and communities. Also, our website, http://www.teenscreen.org, includes background on teen mental health issues, much of it downloadable for distribution. Contact us via the site, if you need any additional assistance.