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Consulting with Schools on Health Issues
E. MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SERVICES
Mental health problems profoundly affect a child's ability to learn. Stresses affect self-esteem, drop out and substance abuse rates, and academic achievement. An estimated 12% - 22% of all children have diagnosable mental health problems, yet few schools have the resources to effectively address mental health issues. Health care professionals and schools can work together to coordinate and develop effective programs for schools that will be supported by the community, students, and parents.
Pediatricians who want to consult with schools on mental and behavioral health issues should consider the following:
How prepared are you to consult on mental health issues?
- How extensive was your training or subsequent education on mental and behavioral health issues?
- Challenging mental health cases often carry social stigma and may lead to crisis situations, particularly when violence or drugs are involved. How involved are you willing to become?
- How comfortable are you working with students who may be seeing other health care professionals in the community?
- Do you have productive working relationships with the mental health professionals in your community?
Pediatricians can provide a variety of input to schools in the area of mental health.
- General information and in-school education on a variety of mental health topics.
- Consultative services for individual students with particular problems, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) or aggressive behavior.
- Consultation on specific crisis situations, such as suicide, homicide, and rape.
- Consultation regarding broader issues that affect the school and community, such as drugs, violence, and truancy.
Familiarity with the mental health programs and services already offered by the school or school system is key.
- Who are the school's contacts for counseling, school psychology, and social work?
- What are the attitudes of the key decision makers, such as principals and board members, toward mental health programs and services?
- What services and other mechanisms are in place to address mental and behavioral health issues?
- What kinds of problems have occurred in the past, and how did the school and community respond to those problems?
- Has the school system been sued for mishandling mental or behavioral health issues?
- Is the system under any mandates related to mental health issues?
- What is the school's record on disciplining or suspending of students for drug and alcohol abuse? For fighting? For weapons possession?
- How many students have committed suicide?
- How active is the student body in correcting problem situations, and how are students organized?
- How active and involved are the parents in the community?
The issues surrounding children's psychological health affect society as a whole. Children faced with psychological challenges that have not been addressed have an increased incidence of absenteeism and delinquency. The pediatrician who consults on mental health issues has the opportunity to actively influence children's psychological health and academic performance.
