"For these are all our children whom
we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."
-- James Baldwin
National research in the field of
children's mental health is more accessible nowadays, allowing us the
opportunity to use the findings in science to improve our work with children
and youths. Research tells us that most children and youths with mental health
problems struggle to succeed.
Children and youths with mental health
problems have lower educational achievement, have greater involvement with the
criminal justice system and fewer stable and longer-term placements in the
child welfare system than their peers. When treated, children and youths with
mental health problems fare better at home, in schools, and in their
communities.
Dishearteningly, "75 to 85 percent of
children and youths in need of mental health service do not receive them,"
according to a 2002 article in American Journal of Psychiatry by Kayaoka S.
Zhang and L. Wells.
Children and youths in preschool and
elementary school with mental health problems are more likely to experience
problems at school, be absent, or be suspended or expelled than are children
with other disabilities. According to a study (Gilliam. W.S., 2005), preschool
children face expulsion rates three times higher than children in kindergarten
through 12th grade, due in part to lack of attention to social-emotional needs.
The rates of suspension and expulsion are
three times higher than those of their peers, and among all students,
African-Americans are more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white,
Latino or Asian-American peers (Blackorby, J.; Cameto, R. 2004).
And children with mental health problems
may miss as many as 18 to 22 days of school in the course of the school year.
Youths in high school with mental health
problems are more likely to fail or drop out of school. Up to 14 percent of
youths with mental health problems receive mostly "Ds" and
"Fs," compared to 7 percent for all children with disabilities
(Blackorby, J.; Cameto, R. 2003). Up to 44 percent of them drop out of high
school, and more than 10 percent of high school dropouts were attributable to
mental health disorders.
Local situation
Now, how does this compare to our situation
here on Guam? Although we do not have local research data to compare, these
national findings are not foreign to what we know of the children and youths
that come through our doors for assistance at I Famagu'on-ta and the Department
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
We have children as early as in first grade
that are truant and refusing to go to school. We are seeing more children and
youths with a history of progressive truancy from elementary school years and
beyond. These are children and youths failing in school, but still being
socially promoted, who have become educationally discouraged. Some eventually
drop out of school.
These are children and youths who are
getting into more legal trouble, coming in and out of the Department of Youth
Affairs and the judicial system. These are young people who have not received
mental health services and support early in their struggles and are now older
and not amenable to engaging voluntarily in receiving mental health services.
Can't give up
Our challenges are great but we cannot give
up on our young people. Our task is to work together as one community in
addressing the holistic needs of our children and their families.
We know that education is the key to
success. We also know that academic success for children and youths --
especially those with mental health issues -- depends on many other life
domains.
Are they being fed adequately, or are they
worrying about having anything to eat? Are they feeling safe in their homes or
are they worrying about being abused/neglected or becoming homeless? Are they
feeling welcomed, accepted in their school environment, or are they being
threatened, ridiculed, shamed and ostracized? Are adults accessible and
approachable for them to talk to when they need help, or are they shunned and
labeled as trouble-makers because they feel and behave differently?
If you or anyone you know need our help,
please call us at I Famagu'on-ta at 477-5338/5349.
If you are interested in learning about becoming
a therapeutic foster parent to a child in need, please call us as well. We need
your help.
Annie F.B. Unpingco, LCSW, is administrator of Child
Adolescent Services Division/I Famagu'on-ta at the Department of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse.
