May Is Mental Health Month
The Washington County Community Partnership for Children
& Families (WCCP) recognizes mental illness as a
permeating factor in all of the social issues that impact
Washington County. Research suggests that stressful life
events are more likely to spawn mental illness in people who
are vulnerable biologically, socially, and/or psychologically
(Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Brown & Harris, 1989;
Kendler et al., 1995). While it is impossible to ascertain how
many individuals in Washington County possess a biological
proneness for mental illness, the data for Washington County
suggests that there are many residents socially and
psychologically vulnerable due to the continued increase in
the rates of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect,
juvenile aggravated assaults and poverty. (
Click here to see Washington County Data Trends)
Washington County is not alone. The Maryland Coalition of
Families for Children’s Mental Health shared the following
statistics for the State of Maryland in their annual fact
sheet on children’s mental health released earlier this
year:
- More than 49,400 children and youth were served in
Maryland’s public mental health system last year.
- More than 9,350 children in special education were
identified with “emotional disturbance” (ED).
- Tragically, 86 youth and young adults under age 25
committed suicide last year.
- More than 16,300 children and youth went to the
Emergency Department last year for psychiatric treatment.
The National
Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC) estimates
that at least one in five people has a diagnosable mental
illness. Applying this prevalence estimate to the U.S. Census
Bureau’s 2004 population estimate for Washington County
indicates that, conceptually, there were 21,541 adults with a
diagnosable mental illness. Further, this prevalence estimate
indicates that, conceptually, there were 6,384 children and
youth with a diagnosable mental illness. The NMHIC estimates
that at least one in ten children and youth, ages 0-17, suffer
from a mental illness that severely disrupts their
daily functioning in home, school and/or community. Sadly, the
NMHIC estimates that less than two thirds of those with a
diagnosable mental illness actually seek treatment. For more
information on the prevalence of mental illness and strategies
to promote public awareness, please visit NMHIC’s Web site
(click
here) or the National Mental Health Association’s Web
site (click
here).
The Mental
Health Authority of Washington County, Inc., which
oversees the public mental health system (customers utilizing
Medical Assistance for the procurement of mental health
services) in Washington County, reports that 1,626 children
and youth, ages 0-17, were served in the public mental health
system in fiscal year (FY) 2005. The total costs for services
rendered in FY 2005, was $4,769,000.00. These statistics are
cited from a preliminary FY 2005 report dated September 30,
2005. The public mental health providers have up to nine
months following the rendered services to bill Medical
Assistance, therefore, the statistics stated above will likely
increase once the finalized FY 2005 report is released. For
more information about the public mental health system in
Washington County, please contact the Washington County Mental
Health Authority, Inc. at 301-739-2490 or (click
here) to visit them on the Web.
In recognition of Mental Health Month, the WCCP funded
The
Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc. $500.00
to develop and publish a flyer to send to Parent-Teacher
Associations, pediatricians, organized children’s
clubs/groups, sports leagues, scouts, after school programs,
etc. The flyer not only proclaimed that May is Mental Health
Month, but focused the content of the flyer on childhood
depression – that it is real, that it is common and that it is
treatable!
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May Is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
“Families Finding Voices”
