Our current health care system does not meet the needs of children with mental health disorders. Although 1 in 5 children in the United States suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder, only 21% of affected children actually receive needed treatment. Mental illness is like any other disease; the earlier it is identified and treated, the better the health outcomes.Across the United States, there are serious shortages of pediatric subspecialists and child mental health providers, both groups that provide essential services to children and adolescents with special mental and physical health care needs. These shortages lead to decreased utilization of needed treatment, long wait times, and long distances traveled to care.
The AAP has been advocating tfor Congress to promote children's mental health by adopting policies that will develop a robust workforce of child and adolescent mental health specialists, facilitate the ability of primary care pediatricians to provide early identification and treatment for children with mental health disorders, and improve school-based mental health services and supports.In anticipation of congressional consideration of mental health reform, the AAP helped co-found a DC-based coalition called the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Coalition. Members of the coalition include provider groups, patient advocacy organizations, and organizations representing state mental health directors and counties. The Coalition sent a letter to congressional leaders offering recommendations for comprehensive mental health legislation.
The AAPapproaches mental health as a component of overall health, andhas long-standing support for federal mental health parity, thePaul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). In April 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule outlining the application of MHPAEA to Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), Medicaid alternative benefit plans (ABPs), and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). AAPsubmitted comments on the proposed rule.In March of 2016 CMS finalized the MHPAEA rule; AAP is continually monitoring implementation of MHPAEA in the public and private insurance markets and will continue advocating to ensure that children have access to robust mental and behavioral health benefits.
The AAP Department of Federal Affairs has been working to promote care and payment models that better integrate behavioral health in the pediatric primary care setting. One such approach is through support for statewide child psychiatry access programs. These innovative programs such as the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project and the Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care in Maryland program, support pediatricians' efforts to assess and manage mental health needs of children from infancy through adolescence through phone consultation, continuing education and resource and referrals.Legislation introduced by Rep. Dave Loebsack (see Children's Access to mental Health Services Act below) would provide an enhanced Medicaid administrative funding match to support states who want to create or expand access to this model.
Mental Health Legislation: Where AAP Stands
The AAP has endorsed the following proposals this Congress:
Learn more:
Continued here:
Promoting Childrens Mental Health - AAP.org
- Mental Health - June 23rd, 2018 [June 23rd, 2018]
- Mental Health - Harvard Health - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health UK :: Home - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health : NPR - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health | Youth.gov - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health - Orange County, Florida - November 2nd, 2018 [November 2nd, 2018]
- Care Manager - Tarrytown, NY | MHA - November 3rd, 2018 [November 3rd, 2018]
- Home - Henderson Behavioral Health - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Adult Mental Health | Georgia Department of Behavioral ... - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- A Digital Home - Mental Health Partners - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Mental Health | Health & Wellness - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Mental Health UK - Working together for everyone's mental ... - November 23rd, 2018 [November 23rd, 2018]
- Mental disorder - Wikipedia - December 20th, 2018 [December 20th, 2018]
- Mental Health | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Home - SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Volunteers of America's Mental Health Services | Volunteers ... - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Mental Health CSG Justice Center - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- WHO classifies 'gaming disorder' as mental health condition - CNN - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Adult Mental Health - December 26th, 2018 [December 26th, 2018]
- Mental health - Wikipedia - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- New York State Office of Mental Health - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- Mental Health and Mental Disorders | Healthy People 2020 - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Mental Health - CHOC Children's - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Mental Health Care | Health.mil - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Outpatient Mental Health Facilities programs City of ... - January 2nd, 2019 [January 2nd, 2019]
- Mental and Behavioral Health - AAP.org - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Sleep and mental health - Harvard Health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health: American Diabetes Association - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health Problem Symptoms, Causes and Effects - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health | University ... - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health | MS Department of Mental Health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health Screening Tools | Screening 2 Supports - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- What is mental health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- MS Department of Mental Health - February 11th, 2019 [February 11th, 2019]
- Mental Health Hotline | 24 Hour Mental Health & Illness Helpline - February 12th, 2019 [February 12th, 2019]
- 50 Mental Health Quotes for Happiness and Success (2019) - February 12th, 2019 [February 12th, 2019]
- Mental illness - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - February 21st, 2019 [February 21st, 2019]
- Home Page | Department of Mental Health - March 8th, 2019 [March 8th, 2019]
- Mental Disorders: MedlinePlus - March 23rd, 2019 [March 23rd, 2019]
- Mental Health | Healthy People 2020 - March 23rd, 2019 [March 23rd, 2019]
- Health - lds.org - April 13th, 2019 [April 13th, 2019]
- Mental Health | ADA - September 11th, 2019 [September 11th, 2019]
- Faces of Loudoun: Mental Illness Just Means I Need Help Now and Then - Loudoun Now - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Youth mental health work more important than ever after tornadoes, shooting - Dayton Daily News - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- BOMBARDED Part 3: Mental health struggles weigh heavily on LGBTQ+ youth - Keizertimes - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- The Uses and Abuses of the Term Mental Illness - National Review - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Natures Role in Mental Illness: Prevention or Treatment? - Psychology Today - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Meghan Markle Says There Is a Global Consciousness Crisis Regarding Mental Health - TownandCountrymag.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Letter from the Editor: Michigans mental health crisis is affecting all of us. Something must be done - MLive.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Voices For Mental Health: Clodagh, on how Ireland has changed its perspective on mental health #NowWereTalking - hotpress.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Timberlake Jr. High teacher's focus on mental health earns her Idaho Teacher of the Year award - KXLY Spokane - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- New rule could leave tens of thousands in Michigan without their mental-health counselor - MLive.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Lawmakers and law enforcement officials push for more mental health beds in northwest Wisconsin - WEAU - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- One Way to Think About Mental Health: Zero-Proof Cocktails - Houstonia Magazine - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Evaluating Jumaane Williams' proposal to reform mental health crisis response - City & State - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- How to talk to children about their mental health - TODAY - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- NC bill aimed at providing more mental health resources in schools - WSOC Charlotte - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Northeastern University researcher studies the use of social robots in mental health and well-being research - News@Northeastern - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- 'The way universities are run is making us ill': inside the student mental health crisis - The Guardian - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- TC's Greg Epstein and Kate Clark talk mental health startups and the 'Cult of the Founder' - TechCrunch - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Key resources: Shining light on mental health in New Hampshire - WMUR Manchester - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Mental-health issues hit home for lots of Michigan families. Including mine. - MLive.com - September 27th, 2019 [September 27th, 2019]
- Voices For Mental Health: Kano, on telling his truth - hotpress.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- See which Michigan counties have highest, lowest ratio of mental-health providers - MLive.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- The Politician: why the Netflix show is being criticised by mental health charities - iNews - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- In survey of working women in Japan with mental health issues, a third blame harassment at work - The Japan Times - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Brexit is affecting our mental health, warn doctors - cosmopolitan.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Odd Socks Day helps to tackle stigma and discrimination around mental health - The Sector - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Statehouse Online: Rep. Puppolo advocates for mental health and education funding - WWLP.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Living By The Coast May Be Better For Your Mental Health, Study Finds - CBS Boston - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Jumaane Williams: De Blasio and McCray have failed on mental health crisis - New York Post - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Family of accused Woodfield Mall driver says his mental health is to blame, not terrorism - WGN TV Chicago - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Supes Haney And Ronen Unveil Sweeping Mental Health Bill, Mayor Is Quick To Oppose It - SFist - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Discord in SF City Hall over ambitious mental health system overhaul - Mission Local - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Your Mental Health and Your Work - Harvard Business Review - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Mental health and the court system - WCBI - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Artists to work on mural downtown in support of mental health - pacificsandiego.com - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- Providence St. Patrick Hospital How to know if you have a mental illness? - KPAX-TV - October 3rd, 2019 [October 3rd, 2019]
- This 100 mental health app is offering FREE lifetime membership - cosmopolitan.com - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]