Aug 22, 2017, The Detroit News: Column: Children’s mental health critical http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2017/08/22/column-childrens-mental-health-critical/104837594/ Children’s mental health is one of the most important and most misunderstood issues in our national healthcare debate. Today, mental health care represents 38 percent of children’s Medicaid spending, which is used by just 10 percent of juvenile Medicaid patients. But the benefits far outweigh the costs. ... ...Within schools, mental health issues are often mistaken for discipline problems, learning disabilities, academic struggles, and ADHD. Later, these issues may lead to addiction, incarceration and unemployment. The long-term effects are especially concerning for children exposed to trauma. Ongoing trauma can change the chemistry of the brain and the body, leading to increased lifetime risks of chronic health conditions including cancer, heart disease, substance abuse, and other issues. … As we pursue quality care, we must do more to integrate children’s mental health care with other systems, including physical health systems. We can deliver highly effective treatment when behavioral health professionals work with physicians in their offices to treat the whole child. Furthermore, we must increase connections with parents and teachers – the adults who care for children every day. That is why Starfish now trains its teachers to provide “trauma-informed” education for its early childhood students, over half of whom have at least one indicator of trauma. ...

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.