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Tag Archives: AACAP
Kids and Depression…What Does the Data Say?
Suicidal thinking and behavior is very common among youth with depression. Approximately 60% of teens diagnosed with depression will experience thoughts of suicide…30% have made one or more suicide attempts. Continue reading
Obstacles Families Face in Finding Mental Health Care For Kids
Parents of kids with significant mental health disorders frequently experience great frustration in negotiating the confusing maze that constitutes our system of mental health care in many communities across the U.S., along with the yet more confusing (intentionally?) system of paying for needed care. Quite frequently, pastors and ministry leaders are trusted resources to parents of children or teens in crisis, and my own professional society encourages parents who are looking for help for their kids to seek recommendations from their spiritual leaders. This post seeks to help ministry leaders better appreciate common challenges families face in finding the proper help for their kids, and offer some resources to share with parents looking for help.
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Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Parents, Resources
Tagged AACAP, access, adolescents, children, church, Facts For Families, families, mental health, NAMI
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Hot Topics: Why is effective mental health care for kids so hard to find?
Reflecting upon these observations, one barrier to kids receiving effective mental health care is that parents often lack an appreciation of the standard of care they should expect for their children. Another barrier is that many parents don’t know the right questions to ask to ensure that their kids get the treatment they need. Parents may be intimidated by the prospect of questioning professionals about their child’s care, especially when access to other qualified professionals is limited by geography or finances. An additional reality is that too many professionals treating kids aren’t especially competent or effective, but continue because the need is so great and alternatives are scarce in many communities.
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Posted in Advocacy, Controversies, Resources
Tagged AACAP, access to care, children, church, effectiveness, Inclusion, Key Ministry, mental health care, NAMI, NIMH
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The Mental Health Needs of Kids in Foster Care
Churches planning ministry initiatives to serve kids in foster care need first to develop competency at serving kids with serious mental health issues and their families.
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Posted in Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies
Tagged AACAP, antipsychotic medication, children, church, Disability Ministry, Foster Care, inclusion ministry, Key Ministry, mental health
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Depression and Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents
Children and youth who meet criteria for a full-fledged episode of Major Depression are especially prone to comorbid mental health disorders. The slide below illustrates some of the most common comorbidities associated with depression in children and teens. Depending upon the practice setting, as many as 90% of kids with depression have at least one comorbid condition, while 50% experience two or more conditions. Continue reading
Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Resources
Tagged AACAP, ADHD, anxiety, comorbidity, Depression, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, mental health
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Pediatric bipolar resources for church staff, volunteers and families
Here are four resources I’d recommend highly to anyone looking to learn more about bipolar disorder in children and teens: Continue reading
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