Feb 4, 2018, ABC7 Chicago: Newsviews: Mental health resources for children http://abc7chicago.com/health/newsviews-mental-health-resources-for-children/3032204/ Nearly 16 percent of Illinois high school students report that they've seriously considered attempting suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that approximately one in five children ages 13 to 18 experience a severe mental disorder at some point in their life. So, how do parents know if their child is struggling with mental health issues? And if they are, what kind of help is available? Nanette Silva, program director for the Community Memorial Foundation; Ryan Alderman, director of integrated behavioral health with Pillars Community Health; and Ian Andrews, a recovery support specialist with NAMI metro suburban, visited ABC7 to talk about the issue.
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.