Feb 15, 2019, Danbury (CT) News Times: Early intervention key for schools to address youth mental health issues https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Early-intervention-key-to-combatting-youth-mental-13620198.php Faced with a growing number of students with mental illnesses, Danbury-area districts are embracing new tools, resources and programs that tackle social and emotional learning during the school day. Most districts emphasize an approach that teaches students to understand and regulate their emotions, while developing positive relationships. Some schools have also hired more staff to help tackle the issue. … One in five teens have or will have a serious mental illness, while suicide is the third-leading cause of death in youth 10 to 24, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Meanwhile, the rates of youth with severe depression have increased to 8.2 percent from 5.9 percent over five years, according to Local educators said it is hard to provide figures on the amount of students with mental health needs because the state does not require them to submit this information, and these students can be categorized in various ways. “It’s fair to say there is more anxiety in our culture and therefore in our student bodies,” McMorran said. “It may be that we’re simply better at picking up on cues and taking childhood maladies seriously.” … More students are also experiencing trauma — whether that be witnessing a grandfather die or a physical fight between parents, said Maureen Ruby, the Brookfield assistant superintendent. … It is more common for children to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety as they grow older, but Danbury-area schools said elementary-age students are also showing signs of mental illnesses. “Even statewide and nationally, we’re not prepared for those really young ones coming in with mood disorders,” said Laura Olson, director of pupil personnel and special services in New Milford. She added the district has a licensed clinician working specifically with kindergarten through second grade. Newtown, meanwhile, is piloting a mental health program at the elementary level. … Teachers and staff are trained to recognize when students might be battling mental health issues. …
top of page
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.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
Search
bottom of page