When relating mental health policies and children living in poverty, the availability of financial coverage for mental health illness is usually a barrier to care. Studies have proven that poor family access to mental health care is because of health policies that do not support access. For example, in a study done by Gyamfi, he points out that “despite receipt of Medicaid and SSI, poor families received fewer services in general. He pointed out that, although it is easier to participate in Medicaid than SSI due to eligibility criteria, it has been well documented that as welfare caseloads decline, so does enrollment in Medicaid, which in consequent means that many people are losing health insurance and not receiving services”. Therefore, state action expanding insurance coverage for low income children and families can lead directly to increased service access (Behrens, et al. 2013). An example of this is implemented in Massachusetts, where the children’s behavioral health initiative, a component of MassHealth, requires primary care providers to offer standardized behavioral health screens at well child visits. However, it is still unknown how many are identified as needing follow up services (Behrens, et al. 2013). It is clear across the board that policy implications include the need for expansion of health insurance coverage for all children and the need to achieve parity for mental health benefits in private health insurance, regardless of family income (DeRigne, 2010). However, parents of children with long-term emotional or behavioral conditions often struggle to access and afford mental health services for their children (DeRigne, 2010). In his article DeRigne (2010) pointed out an interesting fact, “that when a child has ... ... middle of paper ... ...Odar, C., Canter, K. S., & Roberts, M. C. (2013). Future Directions for Advancing Issues in Children’s Mental Health: A Delphic Poll. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 22(7), 903-911. Stroul, B. A., Pires, S. A., Armstrong, M. I., & Meyers, J. C. (1998). The impact of managed care on mental health services for children and their families. Future of Children, 8, 119-133. Tolan, P. H., & Dodge, K. A. (2005). Children's mental health as a primary care and concern: a system for comprehensive support and service. American Psychologist, 60(6), 601. Tuma, J. M. (1989). Mental health services for children: The state of the art. American Psychologist, 44(2), 188. Yoshikawa, H., Aber, J. L., & Beardslee, W. R. (2012). The effects of poverty on the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of children and youth: Implications for prevention. American Psychologist, 67(4), 272.
Patel, V., Flisher, A. J., Hetrick, S., & McGorry, P. (2007). Mental health of young people: a
The relationship between mental health and poverty can prove to be complicated at times because of an overwhelmingly large number of outside
This paper will discuss the different effects managed care has on the quality of mental health care for its clients. On the positive, managed care has increased availability to a cliental that would otherwise not be able to afford mental health care. On the negative, there has been a reduction in quality in order for managed care corporations to keep costs low and still make money. Proper implementation of managed mental health care would likely result in high quality, low cost mental health care.
Sturm R, Ringel JS, Andreyeva T. Geographic Disparities in Children’s Mental Health Care. Pediatrics. 2003; 112(4):308-315.
Challenges due to poverty could be addressed by providing financial assistance, food, and clothing. Time spent with parents is essential when dealing with children who have behavioral issues because parents or guardians may not have the funds or time to spend with their children due to other obligations needed to support the family. Parents and guardians play a major role in helping children grow and develop to their fullest potential. As children grow, they depend on their parents or guardians for basic needs and support such as food, shelter, education, protection, and care. During their life difficulties and times of crisis, they depend on family for guidance. Mental disorders in childhood and adolescence can be chronic, require proper attention, help, and support from caregivers and teachers as well. Parents and guardians living with children with mental illness disorders have additional responsibilities and roles to care for them as they do for healthy children. The best way to help those families are to have them participate in their own income generating activities such as respite services or programs accepted by Medicaid where they receive counseling from social workers or other healthcare professional. Pelham et al. (2007) found that using a cost of illness (COI) framework examines the economic impact of ADHD in childhood and adolescences and identified studies; therefore, most conducted on existing databases by using diagnostic and medical procedure codes focused on health care costs. The costs were examined for ADHD treatment and other health care costs, education, parental work loss, and juvenile justice. According to Pelham et al. (2007), this incomplete evidence base estimated that annu...
Around the nation, many parents are plagued with the thought of how they can afford to provide proper care to their children with mental illness. Millions of individuals suffer daily from the effects of various forms of mental illness. Such forms vary from moderate to extremely severe forms that require expensive treatment. Some individuals are fortunate to beat illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, while others suffer from permanent illnesses that are extremely difficult to maintain and treat. As healthcare is very costly, many rely on financial assistance through medicaid. As congress moves to repeal the Affordable Care Act, parents continue to struggle with the realization that they may no longer be able to support
Goldstein (1995, as cited in Gol & Jarus, 2005) and Cantwell (1996, as cited in Gol & Jarus, 2005) explain referral to mental health services is prevalent for children with this chronic behavioural problem. For parents needing guidance in addressing concerns, a first point of contact may be a General Practitioner where symptoms can be discussed and referral to an appropriate service considered. As Laver-Bradbury (2013) states, clinicians within a children’s mental health service or paediatric setting are recommended, although McGonnell, Corkum, McKinnon, MacPherson, Williams, Davidson, Jones, and Stephenson (2007) suggest waiting lists for services can be detrimental. Child, Adolescent and Family Services (CAFS) is a mental health service specifically aimed at targeting the needs of children 0-19 years of age. Medical and health professionals wi...
I think we should really value the mental health of our children in the society if we want to develop this great Nation. The psychological well-being of our children affects us both directly and indirectly whether we accept this fact or not. It is very important that we ensure that our beloved children have the capabilities to adapt to the stresses, working productively both in school and also contribute to the developments in the community. Problems associated with mental illness or health are very common in this society especially in the institutions of learning be it high schools, colleges or even universities. Some health problems associated with mental health include depressions, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders and at time schizophrenia. It is therefore of vital importance to encourage and promote the improvement of mental health among our children.
...(as discussed previously), attentiveness for the need of such an intervention is a step in the right direction. Furthermore, Wotherspoon, Laberge, and Pirie (2008) indicate that the “… rapid increase in the number of requests for a consultation from our child welfare partners…” (p. 391) demonstrates the positive benefits of their CMHC program. This program has built a relationship with Child Welfare and included opportunities for those workers to enhance their knowledge (Wotherspoon, Laberge, & Pirie, 2008) on child development, mental health and trauma implications. As highlighted in Bass’s et al. (2004) report, the policies and practices for child welfare agencies are varied between different states, hence their contribution towards alleviating and preventing mental health problems in young foster children is unbalanced and hard to measure in terms of success.
If the United States had unlimited funds, the appropriate response to such a high number of mentally ill Americans should naturally be to provide universal coverage that doesn’t discriminate between healthcare and mental healthcare. The United States doesn’t have unlimited funds to provide universal healthcare at this point, but the country does have the ability to stop coverage discrimination. A quarter of the 15.7 million Americans who received mental health care listed themselves as the main payer for the services, according to one survey that looked at those services from 2005 to 2009. 3 Separate research from the same agency found 45 percent of those not receiving mental health care listing cost as a barrier.3 President Obama and the advisors who helped construct The Affordable Care Act recognized the problem that confronts the mentally ill. Mental healthcare had to be more affordable and different measures had to be taken to help patients recover. Although The Affordable Care Act doesn’t provide mentally ill patients will universal coverage, the act has made substantial changes to the options available to them.
Mental health care disparities can be rooted in inequalities in access to good providers, differences in insurance coverage, or discrimination by health professionals in the clinical encounter (McGuire & Miranda, 2008). Surely, those who are affected by these disparities are minorities Blacks and Latinos compare to Whites. Due to higher rates of poverty and poor health among United States minorities compared with whites. Moreover, the fact that poverty and poor health are
In the released research, the National Alliance on Mental Illness told the public that, “1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have, or will have, a serious mental illness” (Source A). This proven fact, along with the other statistics provided, emphasize the rapidly growing issue of the large number of untreated and treated mental illnesses in adolescents. New processes and technologies have made the screening process easier; however, it is still not available to everyone who needs it. The cost of the technology is not the primary concern of those who are discouraging the allowance of making screening processes available at schools; their concern is that once a mental illness is detected many believe the schools, who have the ability to screen, must also have the resources available to service every uncovered mental health issue and many facilities do not have the funds to even allow for screening or can barely afford the screening processes (Source D). Experts say, in concern to the rising number of reported violence in schools, that these issues may be related to the amount of students who struggle with untreated or undiagnosed mental illness; in light of this, schools are working to find “the best way to offer mental health services in a
The Children’s Center is a private, not-for-profit mental health clinic located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Their mission is to provide “comprehensive mental health care to enhance the emotional well-being of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families.” They provide affordable services and subsidize families in need with charitable funds. It is the largest agency of its kind and provides care to over 2,000 families a year, helping children under the age of seven to improve in managing their feelings, learning to play, making friends, and succeeding in school and at home.
Children are a crucial part of society. They participate in almost all aspects of a society whether it is in schools, community activities, or in the workforce. However, not all children develop the same skills and are granted the same opportunities as others because of a mental illness. Mental illnesses are as serious as physical illnesses and they negatively affect a child’s life. There are a variety of mental illnesses children may have with different levels of severity; mental illnesses hinder childhood development, and they affect a child’s social and home life.
When analyzing children growing up in poverty a lot of factors come into play such as their physical, psychological and emotional development. To grow up in poverty can have long term effect on a child. What should be emphasized in analyzing the effects of poverty on children is how it has caused many children around the world to suffer from physical disorders, malnutrition, and even diminishes their capacities to function in society. Poverty has played a major role in the functioning of families and the level of social and emotional competency that children are able to reach. Children in poverty stricken families are exposed to greater and emotional risks and stress level factors. They are even capable of understanding and dealing with their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Some of the implications of poverty include educational setbacks, issues with social behaviors and hindrances in psychological and physical development. Poverty deprives children of the capabilities needed to survive, develop and prosper in society. Studies have shown that the income status of a household and even the neighborhoods in which they reside can affect the amount of readily available resources needed to sustain a healthy child. This essay will examine the psychological and physical effects of poverty on children. The psychological aspect will include a look at behavioral problems in children, depression, chronic stress, and conduct disorders such as ADHD. Poverty is known to decrease the amount of psychological and physical capabilities in children which can have long term adverse effects on their wellbeing.