Mandatory mental health screening for kids

[Caligirl]

Is this a good idea? I think the idea is that a mental health screen would be required, like vaccinations, for entry to public schooling.

This is from a .gov.

For consumers of all ages, early detection, assessment, and linkage with treatment and supports can prevent mental health problems from compounding and poor life outcomes from accumulating. Early intervention can have a significant impact on the lives of children and adults who experience mental health problems.

Emerging research indicates that intervening early can interrupt the negative course of some mental illnesses and may, in some cases, lessen long-term disability. New understanding of the brain indicates that early identification and intervention can sharply improve outcomes and that longer periods of abnormal thoughts and behavior have cumulative effects and can limit capacity for recovery.115

Do you support mandatory health care screening for your kids before they can go to school?

 

[dilloduck]

Is this a good idea? I think the idea is that a mental health screen would be required, like vaccinations, for entry to public schooling.

This is from a .gov.



Do you support mandatory health care screening for your kids before they can go to school?

that's a damn tough call---a whole lot of variables involved that could make it really worthwhile or a disaster.
Who would to the screening would be my first question.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

The problem is that children are not sane. AT least not like an adult. And most Mental health people can not seem to grasp the concept. Children are NOT little adults. Until they are grown they simple do not think nor act like adults.

I am a strong supporter of increased mental health care for those that need it. The problem is that as a society we use health care now as an excuse. Someone feels down for a couple days and they get medication they do not need. Some 14 year old acts out like a 14 year is going to and they get sent to the mental health lockup. Some 8 year old acts like an 8 year old and has to see a shrink every week.

The Facility I used to go to when I had to be safe now has almost NO adult care facility at all, they got rid of old folks section and cut the adult section to just a few rooms. Guess what they do now? Yup they house kids. LOTS of kids. I would bet most of them do not need to be locked up in a nut ward at all.

 

[Caligirl]

Sounds like we agree. I lean towards "disaster" as putting kids on meds when they are just being eight year olds outweighs any positive.

Plus, why isn't the parents' and teachers' responsibilities to manage children, why should they be medicated by a separate agency - one that makes money by diagnosing people with mental illness?

Serious conflict of illness, sounds like some sort of misguided socialism to me.

 

[Skeptik]

For consumers of all ages, early detection, assessment, and linkage with treatment and supports can prevent mental health problems from compounding and poor life outcomes from accumulating. Early intervention can have a significant impact on the lives of children and adults who experience mental health problems.

Emerging research indicates that intervening early can interrupt the negative course of some mental illnesses and may, in some cases, lessen long-term disability. New understanding of the brain indicates that early identification and intervention can sharply improve outcomes and that longer periods of abnormal thoughts and behavior have cumulative effects and can limit capacity for recovery.115

Early intervention is a good idea, no doubt, whenever someone is suffering from mental illness.

Where does the above say anything about mandatory screening?

 

[random3434]

Ya all do know there is such a thing as behavior modification, right?

Not every child needs to be put on meds for behaviors that are "outside the box" so to speak.

Some of these children just need a firm, loving environment to thrive.

Though, for children with TRUE mental illness, meds seem to help them. But, too many parents and teachers want little Johnny or Susie on meds so they don't have to "deal" with their behaviors, instead of using other solutions.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Ya all do know there is such a thing as behavior modification, right?

Not every child needs to be put on meds for behaviors that are "outside the box" so to speak.

Some of these children just need a firm, loving environment to thrive.

Though, for children with TRUE mental illness, meds seem to help them. But, too many parents and teachers want little Johnny or Susie on meds so they don't have to "deal" with their behaviors, instead of using other solutions.

Here they send them to the mental lock up. Like I said the facility I used to go to now has almost no adult beds, they have converted almost the entire facility in the last 6 years to children some as young as 6.

 

[Luissa]

I think there should be more screaning for learning disabllities but most mental illnesses don't develope until they are teenagers so maybe high school students and then it should be up to the parents along with the help of teachers or such things. I can tell you they have children on medicine they should never be on. I watched something on dateline or some show like that where they had this four year old on serquel and depakote with it being an adult dose and she died from an overdose. No child should be on either, I worked with adults that were on the same dose as her and some were like zombies. These types of medicines can also build up in your system. For that matter some elderly people do not need to be on some of these meds or at least not as many as some of them are on.
I do think that if you child show signs of mental illness the parents should put them in some sort of therapy.

 

[Luissa]

Here is the article on that four year old girl!

Alliance for Human Research Protection - 4-year old Rebecca Riley,a Casualty of Psychiatric "Treatment"_BostonGlobe_NYT

 

[Silence]

I vote no on the mandatory screening but I think ALL parents should be willing to have their children screened if a problem presents itself.

So many people are ashamed of mental illness. I wish society would just realize it's like any other illness that can be controlled with the right medication.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

I vote no on the mandatory screening but I think ALL parents should be willing to have their children screened if a problem presents itself.

So many people are ashamed of mental illness. I wish society would just realize it's like any other illness that can be controlled with the right medication.

Except kids are not sane in the same way adults are. You can not judge their mental state like you would an adult. They progress in stages. And they can and do act nuts when that is just NORMAL behavior.

It is to easy if you have the money to send your kid to the nut house for a time out so mommy and daddy can get some time off.

 

[dilloduck]

Except kids are not sane in the same way adults are. You can not judge their mental state like you would an adult. They progress in stages. And they can and do act nuts when that is just NORMAL behavior.

It is to easy if you have the money to send your kid to the nut house for a time out so mommy and daddy can get some time off.

Been in the business a long time. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly. There are therapists that are excellent with kids and have problem saved their lives and their families. Others are lazy boneheads who should be mixing manure for a living.
The RIGHT meds for the RIGHT diagnosis can work miracles. The wrong ones can kill.
We are relatively ignorant about the brain but we are catching up rapidly ( considering so many people are freaked out by what they might find out).
The History Channel has a good new serious out on the brain. I suggest you catch it if you can.
Personally I think all our answers are locked up in there. It's powers are enormous !

 

[Mad Scientist]

Why does this make me think of Nazi Germany?

 

[dilloduck]

Why does this make me think of Nazi Germany?

Because you were a Nazi brain surgeon ?

But seriously---the fear of the human mind is extraordinary

 

[GigiBowman]

Absolutely NOT. I'm pretty sure a lot of you have already read the story of my daughter. They give out those little blue pills like candy as it is.....this will just give them more reason to drug more of our children.

Tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of my 15 year old daughter's funeral.

This drugging of our children has to stop. What they need is good nutrition, exercise and love. Not little blue pills at THEIR discretion!


Guest Book - Kathleen Anne Spohrer

 

[Skeptik]

Here's a reason that some parents are anxious to have their child diagnosed with ADHD. I found this out when my son was teaching fourth grade in an inner city school, and he looked in to why so many parents wanted their children tested.

Read up on this, and, after the flash of anger and thoughts of revolution have passed, just ask yourself what the hell a 9 year old kid needs with a disability pension.

 

[eots]

I HOPE SOME OF YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO VEIW THIS

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pssR-NL_LNE]YouTube - The Drugging of Our Children (Trailer)[/ame]

the drugging of our children - Google Video

 

[dilloduck]

Here's a reason that some parents are anxious to have their child diagnosed with ADHD. I found this out when my son was teaching fourth grade in an inner city school, and he looked in to why so many parents wanted their children tested.

Read up on this, and, after the flash of anger and thoughts of revolution have passed, just ask yourself what the hell a 9 year old kid needs with a disability pension.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr fucking lawyers

 

[Skeptik]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr fucking lawyers

Hey, it was our government that made the rules!

 

[dilloduck]

Hey, it was our government that made the rules!

Our rule makers ain't grocery store clerks.