I had the privilege of attending the Josh Groban and Idina Menzel concert at MSG last night. Not only are they two of my favorite artists of all time, but the message that Josh Groban spoke
of at his concert was one of hope. He spoke of writing his song the River, and his grapples with anxiety and depression. He noted that mental health affects everyone in every walk of life, and the importance of seeking help.
Mental Health America (MHA) relea
sed its annual State of Mental Health Report[1]detailing important statistics regarding the rise of mental health issues in the United States. 43 million Americans have a mental health condition, yet 57% of American adults have not received treatment . Not only are rates of severe youth depression increasing, but 50% of screeners age 11-17 reported often feeling thoughts of suicide or self harm.
As a mom, wife and a special education attorney, I work with families everyday that suffer from mental illness. It is important for individuals to understand the services and supports available to assist them. Many estimates show that even though mental illness affects so many of our kids aged 6-17 at least one-half and many estimate as many as 80% of them do not receive the mental health care they need.[2] Whether or not your child receives special education services you can work with the school to try to get some supports in place to meet their needs.If you feel your child’s mental health issues are making them unable to learn and progress at school they may qualify for special education or supports from Section 504 or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The school can provide counseling and or the appropriate contacts so that your child can connect and receive the services they need.
Check out his amazing new song!!!
[2]Kataoka, S.; Zhang, L.; & Wells, K. (2002). Unmet need for mental health care among U.S. children: Variation by ethnicity and insurance status. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(9), pp. 1548-1555
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