PART II OF A SERIES
CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH: A NATIONAL FAMILY GUIDE
SUBMITTED BY SPAN ADVOCACY NETWORK
Editors Note: The SPAN Parent Advocacy Network has recently updated its National Children's Mental Health Family Guide and have provided it to EP Magazine for publication in a multi-part series. SPAN is here to support you in making the important decisions needed to ensure that your child with mental health challenges receives the services and supports needed for the best life possible. Connect with SPAN at 800-654-7726, online at spanadvocacy.org , on Facebook at @parentadvocacynetwork, and on Twitter at @SPANadvocacy
WHAT PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
Access to care: Mental Health is just as important as physical health. The Affordable Care Act strengthened access to mental health services. One of the ten Essential Health Benefits is coverage for “mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment.”
Increased access to behavioral health treatment may also make it easier to get coverage for autism. Although some states like NJ have an “autism and other developmental disabilities” mandate, it only applies to 25% of plans which are subject to state regulations. Federal mental health parity means that mental health treatment must be equal to that for physical health.
Avoiding Stigma: In dealing with mental health, families must try to avoid the stigma associated with mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI; www.nami.org) likens it to any other biologically-based illness except the organ affected just happens to be the brain, and the symptoms manifest as behavior. Just as no one would blame someone with diabetes who needed insulin, the same should be true for those who need treatment for mental illness. Although the recent displays of school violence have opened the dialogue on mental illness, research indicates that people with mental health issues are more like to be victims, rather than perpetrators, of violence. NAMI has programs that help parents and schools work together.
WHEN TO GET HELP
Sometimes families can be confused or even unnecessarily embarrassed about getting help. It may be difficult for parents to know what their child is thinking (e.g., sad, angry, lost interest, etc.) Sometimes families just have indications that something is wrong by how the child is acting. Clues can be:
- Frequent temper tantrums
- Crying more than usual ✓ Not doing things they enjoy
- Waking up at night
- Needing a routine or doing the same things over and over
- Overeating or extreme dieting
- Not being able to sit still or pay attention
- Doing poorly in school
- Drinking, smoking, drugs
- Not dealing well with loss (such as death in the family)
- Trauma (natural disaster, abuse, accident etc.)
- Any behavior that is harmful to themselves or others
If the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are frequent, intense, long duration, or are having a negative impact on anyone, it's time to seek help.
Families should know that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Parents are brave in recognizing that there is a problem and trying to fix it. Families also need to realize that they are not alone.