Saturday, February 14, 2009

Children’s Mental Health Disorders Cost US $247 Billion a Year


A new report from the National Research Council says that childhood depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental and emotional disorders are as common as broken bones in children, take a huge toll on kids and their families, and end up costing the US about $247 billion annually. According to the authors, the federal government should make preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and promoting mental health in young people a national priority.
There is a substantial gap between what is known about preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and what is actually being done. It is no longer accurate to argue that these disorders can never be prevented. Many can. The nation is well-positioned to equip young people with the skills and habits needed to live healthy, happy, and productive lives in caring relationships. But we need to develop the systems to deliver effective prevention programs to a far wider group of children and adolescents.” - Kenneth E. Warner, committee chair and dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
There is currently no federal entity to lead these efforts, and the White House should create one that can and will coordinate national initiatives, set goals for prevention, and provide the research and funding to achieve those goals, said the committee.

An estimated 14 to 20% of children have some mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, and over half of adults who have experienced them state that the disorder began in either childhood or adolescence. This is a clear example of the need to take the initiative for our children’s health and make it a national priority through education and funding for programs that make a difference.

The report recommends that the White House lead the effort with a broad implementation of prevention approaches and research on interventions rather than just treatment.

“The new leadership body should set public goals for preventing specific disorders and promoting mental health and provide the funding to achieve them. The departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services should align their resources and programs with this strategy. These agencies should also fund state, county, and community efforts to implement and improve evidence-based programs.”

The committee also recommended that the National Institutes of Health should develop a 10-year plan to research ways to promote mental health and prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in young people.

The report was sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The full report “Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities” is available to read online for free.
My Two Cents- Ok more like my quarters worth-
People Note in the story above where they say that we need FUNDING for PREVENTATIVE measures to ensure that our children live more productive lives..
IMO if the funding were in preventing dysfunctional families.. instead of funding as it is now to DRUG them into a vegetarian state of mind..the future generations may have a chance!
As it stands now - the Federal Funding Titles IV D and E and IV are being abused by ripping good parents away from their children so those children can "MAKE MONEY" for the States!
These children are then given to the more dysfunctional parent in divorces or they are put into foster care if the families can't afford to fight the corrupt courts (most attorneys and judges alike are in on this scam!) Or as you can read in my earlier postings they are not "using our children" for funding by putting them into Juvenile Detention Centers!
How many of these traumatized families will end up "needing" psychotropic drugs? ALL!
Each and every person.. child and adult alike... that is being traumatized by our system because we have become a way for the states to make more money -- will eventually NEED TO BE MEDICATED to numb the pain!
What a flipin scam!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! You or someone you love may be next!!
There is nowhere to hide.. these corrupt &^%$# have figured out a way to use each and every family as a money making machine... so what if these innocent families need to be medicated after the fact.. so what if these children appear to show no signs now of trauma - they will.. and guess what? That's just assurance of these &%$# making money into the next generation or five!!!!!
STOP sitting around with your fingers up your *&$$# and scream as loud as you can -
STOP ABUSING FAMILIES FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING!!!!
STOP ABUSING FAMILIES SO THAT THESE BIG PHARMA CO'S CAN LINE THEIR POCKETS WITH BLOOD MONEY!
INSIST THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDING BE USED FOR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND OFF PSYCHOTROPIC MEDS --
ENOUGH DUMMING DOWN aka DRUGGING THOSE THAT WONT COMPLY --OR THOSE THAT JUST DON'T KNOW BETTER -- THIS IS AMERICA REMEMBER? THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE - BE BRAVE AMERICA OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT!!!

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