Think of your worst day… you woke up late, stubbed your toe on the way to the bathroom, and then get in the shower to find that all the hot water has been used up and the drain is clogged. Your day continues down this same path… traffic was horrible, meetings start late, and run late and you feel nothing was accomplished, co – workers are getting on your nerves, and your child calls for a ride home because they missed the bus. You want to crawl back into bed, in fact you wish you had never gotten out of bed in the first place.
This is the feeling for many children and adolescents dealing with mental health issues every day, but worse. Throughout their school day they feel down, irritable, unable to focus, frustrated, and angry. They want to just stay in bed. They fall behind in their school work, fight more frequently with parents and peers. They feel alone, no one understands them. Their mood is unstable to the point where it is interfering with their ability to function in their own lives.
Facts from National Alliance for Mental Illness:
· Statistics show that half of all cases of mental illness onset prior to age 14, three quarters by age 24.
· Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth 15-24
· Jails and Prisons are now the largest psychiatric wards, housing well over 350,000 inmates with serious mental illness
· Studies have shown that only 25%-35% of children and adolescents suffering from a psychiatric disorder will receive treatment. *
Children and adolescents dealing with mental health issues often end up in the “system” due to truancy, risk taking behaviors (Stealing, promiscuity, drug/alcohol use), or as a result of anger outbursts ending up in assault charges. We know that mental health treatment is available and that when kids are treated they feel relief, and are less likely to be involved in the “system”. Treating mental health issues comes in a variety of forms from medications, therapy, to accommodations in school settings.
PrairieCare is partnering with YIPA to provide a training, April 26th in St. Cloud, “Children’s Mental Health Disorders and the Medications used to Treat Them”, presented by Jane Marie Sulzle, CNS, RN.
Jane Marie Sulzle specializes in the care of children and adolescents. Her experience includes more than 20 years in the medical field, but her passion is working with youth who are dealing with mental health disorders. Jane Marie says, “I have always been drawn to working with youth and to the psychosocial aspect of nursing, so transitioning to psychiatry was logical. I believe in relieving the suffering of both children and their families, using a combination of medication and therapeutic alliances.”
Hope to see you there!
*Burns, B., Costello, E., Angold, A., et al. (1995). Children’s mental health service use across service sectors. Health Aff. 14(3): 147-159.
No comments:
Post a Comment