Study: Mental illness on rise among children

ALMA D. SHARPE, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published November 2, 2001

OLYMPIA -- Mental health problems rise to the top in the latest report on the status of Washington children, and the proposed cuts to social programs across the state could make things worse.

At the very least, there's little chance that some of the solutions suggested by researchers will be funded.

"It could be an uphill battle," said Susan Lucas, budget and finance manager for the mental health division of the state's Department of Social and Health Services.

The University of Washington's ninth annual Kids Count report indicates that mental health problems are the top reason why children ages 5 to 19 are hospitalized in the state -- ahead of injuries.

The hospitalization rate for those ages 5 to 14 suffering from mental illnesses has jumped from 1 in 900 in 1990 to 1 in 750 in 1999, the latest year for which data is available.

Suicide accounts for 1 in 6 deaths among adolescents 15 to 19 years old, even though injuries are still the major cause of death among the state's children.

State officials are preparing for a potential $1 billion shortfall in state revenue through 2003, and agency officials already have proposed possible cuts. Among them is the loss of cash and mental health services for about 20,000 of the most unemployable individuals in the state, many of them mentally ill.

Services to their children -- at least those who don't qualify for the federal Medicaid program -- could be lost.

"We'll continue to make the argument (in favor of more services) because we now have data that shows what happens when children don't get treatment," said state Sen. Jeanine Long, R-Mill Creek. "It's going to be very difficult."

Other health needs are highlighted in the report.

They include untreated dental problems among 20 percent of second-graders, and growing child-care costs. Guns and cars are listed as the leading causes of death among adolescents, far ahead of infections, cancer and other medical reasons. Immunization levels also are declining, and obesity is rising.

The view from school

But the need for mental health services wasn't lost on educators, who are often the first line of response against such problems.

Maddy de Give, director of student and staff support at North Thurston Public Schools, said that while schools offer counselors, psychologists, parenting classes and other services to help improve children's mental health, there's little in the community for those with serious problems.

"There is one child psychiatrist in Thurston County," de Give said. "This is a community-wide issue; it's not only a family issue and a school issue. We need to get to these children earlier and support their families better than we do."

Services are limited throughout the state, said Sheri L. Hill, assistant director of Kids Count.

Earlier research has shown that boys, children from low-income families and those whose parents are unemployed or possess low levels of education tend to exhibit more behavioral and mental problems. That trend is true nationally, Hill said, as is the access to services from one community to the next.

Still there are things parents can do to help, Hill said. They can begin by talking to their children, observing their behavior and staying alert to changes in their academic performance or emotional well-being.

But parents must work with others, Hill said.

"Parents and communities as a whole have to recognize this problem and build a community response," she said. "Right now there's a lot of stigma about mental health problems. We need to support parents and start building resources."

Alma D. Sharpe covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-4226.

On the web:

Washington Department of Social and Health Services.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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