Community Mental Health the Question Case Study

Rather than treating their problems, the community attempts to punish them for their behaviors, placing them in systems where they rarely have access to the type of treatment that will teach them how to avoid engaging in further antisocial behaviors (Thomas & Penn, 2002). In fact, the overrepresentation of mental illness in the juvenile delinquent population as compared to the normal population suggests that the shifting of ill kids to the criminal justice system is commonplace.

Even more troubling is the idea that juveniles who are not involved in the criminal justice system but who experience significant mental health issues may not have access to mental health care. Out-of-pocket expenses for residential mental health treatment for adolescents are exorbitant, even for parents with health insurance. Copays can literally be thousands of dollars a week. However, parents who cannot afford those costs may find the state unwilling to help them; parents are asked to relinquish parental rights if they want the state to help fund residential treatment interventions for juveniles, a scenario that many parents will severely ill children find untenable.

As a community health care leader, I would stress the importance of early detection and prevention in adolescent mental illness. While some suggest that discussions about mental illness detract from the real issue (the gun control debate), the reality is that juveniles and young adults are committing acts of mass violence in increasing numbers. Moreover, many of these individuals have evidenced troubled behaviors for years before committing murders. Working to provide state funding for at-risk juveniles before they become engaged in criminal behavior would help remedy this access problem.

References

Texas Department of State Health Services. (2010, December 21). Mental health. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from State of Texas website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mentalhealth.shtm

Thomas, C.R. & Penn, J.V. (2002). Juvenile justice mental health services. Child Adolesc

Psychiatr Clin N. Am, 11(4), 731-48.