Forest City, IA: "Personal and social problems" most common mental health issue for preK-6th graders

Dec 5, 2017, KIOW Radio, Forest City, IA: Area Legislators Discuss How Local Schools Deal With Mental Health Issues https://kiow.com/2017/12/05/area-legislators-discuss-how-local-schools-deal-with-mental-health-issues/ In a survey which was funded by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Surgeon General in 1999, it was found that 73% of schools said that the most common mental health category for children in the in the PreK-6 grade levels are personal and social problems that involved family and friends. The survey goes on to break down the second most prevalent issues. For boys, it included displaying aggression while for girls, it was anxiety. The survey also found that depression and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) were the also major issues. According to a report in 2003 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, many of these children do not receive help and services for their mental health needs due to a number of reasons such as personal attitudes, organizational constraints, and demographic factors such as family finances. As a result, many children who go without assistance have trouble learning in school. To circumvent these potential issues, schools are hiring school counselors who can assist teachers and students through individual and group counseling. Depending on the size of the school enrollment, counselors can offer anywhere from extended to brief assistance.