Improving Life Outcomes for Children with Mental Health Challenges

Improving Life Outcomes for Children with a History of Mental Health Challenges and Trauma

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the release of a new report, Helping Children and Youth Who Have Traumatic Experiences, which shows that nearly half of the nation’s children have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Children and youth who have experienced traumatic events are at risk of developing serious emotional disturbances or serious mental illness. Evaluation data in the report shows that after one year of treatment:

  • Rates of suicidal thoughts among youth who experienced trauma and received treatment through systems of care reduced 68 percent, and suicide attempts reduced 78 percent.
  • Displays of externalizing behaviors (not following rules, exhibiting aggressive behavior, or expressing behaviors that are difficult to manage) reduced 17 percent.
  • Internalizing symptoms such as withdrawing from others and being anxious or depressed reduced 22 percent.

 Read more about the report.

The Effects of Cyberbullying on Society’s Most Vulnerable Teens

In a new study presented in the American Psychiatric Association’s 2018 annual meeting, it was found that depression and anxiety showed significant increases in adolescent psychiatric outpatients and inpatients who were recent victims of cyberbullying.

One of the study’s co-authors says that in addition to asking about patients’ physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect, a psychiatric interview should specifically ask about bullying and cyberbullying, which might be more prevalent than other kinds of abuse.

Resources for You:

For additional resources, visit Box Out Bullying’s cleint resources.