May is Mental Health Month: Nemours Applauds Partnership by National Organizations to Promote Children’s Mental Health Awareness
Jacksonville, Florida
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 @ 12:00 AM EDT
Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, applauds the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (FFCMH) for recently forming a joint partnership to celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, as part of a growing need to promote children’s mental health. At a milestone luncheon held in early May, in Washington, DC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released key findings from its 2005 national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and Their Families, or Systems of Care.
Systems of Care provides cooperative agreements to states, communities, territories, Indian tribes and tribal organizations to improve and expand community based delivery systems for children’s mental health.
“We joined forces to better meet the needs of our most vulnerable children and their families,” said Cynthia Wainscott, acting president and CEO of NMHA. “Mental health disorders are widely prevalent among our children. One in five youth in America may have a mental health problem; and at least one in ten may have a serious mental disturbance. Of those, only a third receive any treatment at all, adequate or not.”
“Nemours salutes this effort because there is a national need to address the growing need of our nation to promote resiliency, wellness, recovery and the transformation of Americas mental health system for children and youth with serious mental, behavioral and emotional needs and their families,” said Michael De La Hunt, MD, Chief of Psychology and Psychiatry at Nemours Children’s Clinic, and member of the Board of Director’s of the Mental Health Association of Northeast Florida. “We need to look to strengthen and promote further awareness in schools and within our communities, as well as to reduce dropout rates and educational shortfalls, substance abuse, involvement with the juvenile justice system and suicide.”
According to Elizabeth Clark, executive director of NASW, more than 20 percent of youth aged 12-17 received treatment or counseling for emotional or behavioral problems in 2003. “Social workers are uniquely poised to address the mental health needs of children and their families. Ensuring a vital and robust social work labor force will allow those needs to be met by social workers,” said Clark.
At the recent unveiling in Washington, DC, SAMHSA showcased data documenting successful outcomes of community-based initiatives that provide comprehensive services and supports to children, youth and families. The data provides evidence that the promotion of mental health when combined with much needed treatment can enable youth to thrive, in school, at home and in the community.
“The Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health believes children and families must have easy access to effective, culturally appropriate services and supports without discrimination, stigma and disparities,” said Sandra A. Spencer, executive director of the FFCMH, “We support family-driven advocacy that ensures children’s mental health remains a highly visible, national priority.”
The Mental Health Association of Northeast Florida joins in this effort to improve the mental health of children and adolescents. “Children are our future and while research shows that one in five children is dealing with a mental health issue, two thirds are not getting the help they need.” said Susan Byrne, MSW, LCSW, President & CEO of the Northeast Florida Mental Health Association.
For more information on May is Mental Health Month, call 904-730-8291 or visit MHA of Northeast Florida’s Web site at www.mhajax.org. For information on pediatric mental health services in North Florida, please contact Nemours Children’s Clinic at 1-800-SOS-KIDS or visit www.nemours.org.
modified: Monday, January 07, 2008 @ 10:48 AM EST
created: Monday, January 07, 2008 @ 10:47 AM EST
About Nemours
Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.
Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.
Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.
