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AT-RISK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT BY L.Nicole Cervantes, MSW (Spring 2013). A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Problem Statement Each year, more than 2 million children AND youth come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
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AT-RISK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENTBYL.Nicole Cervantes, MSW (Spring 2013) A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Problem StatementEach year, more than 2 million children AND youth come into contact with the juvenile justice system. 65–70 % Have at least one diagnosable mental health need. 61 % had a co‐occurring substance use disorder. 20–25 % Have serious emotional issues.
PURPOSE STATEMENT Many of these youth are incarcerated for minor /non-violent offenses or have not been charged with a crime.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS What are the barriers of mental health resources and services for at-risk youth? What are the existing programs designed for at-risk youth diagnosed with mental health disorders? What current policies and programs available for at-risk youth diagnosed with mental health disorders?
METHODS • Research Design: Qualitative, comparative analysis method. • Data collection method: Reference library professional as well as comprehensive search of academic databases. • Sample: 21 empirical articles on the topic of at-risk youth and mental health services published between 2003 and 2012 were selected . • Analysis Plan:“PICO” method.
Multicultural Relevance • Culture identity and socioeconomic status are critical components to consider when examining youth with mental health needs, as culture shapes the way individuals view and respond to emotional distress . Therefore, race and ethnicity are important factors that should be included when researching barriers at-risk youth encounter when seeking mental health services.
Social Work Relevance • The likelihood of youth receiving proper treatment and services will increase through establishing relationships with school counselors, healthcare and mental health professionals, parents, and communities. A consistent commitment from social work professionals is needed to address the diverse complexities of youth mental health issues.
RELEVANCE TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, and FAMAILIES • Research indicates up to two thirds of youth in the juvenile justice system have untreated mental health disorders. Typically, these youth have not been formally charged with a crime, but are held in detention centers as an alternative to effective treatment or because they have nowhere else to go.
FINDINGS/LIMITATIONS • Based on the review of research, a very small percentage of youth with diagnosable mental health problems seek help from mental health services. • Mental health needs for this population often are neglected as detention facilities are generally not equipped to provide adequate care to youth with mental illness. • Based on the information presented, since the 1980s, mental health programs were either drastically cut or not renewed on the premise that the tax dollars would be allocated more appropriately. • In the 1990s, the burden fell on local and state governments to address and manage juvenile delinquents with mental health issues while trying to balance their local budgets. • Dynamics such as, race, culture, demographics, and gender should be further studied to obtain an accurate depiction of appropriate services for this population.
REFERENCES • Davidson, S., & Skowyra, K. (2006). Juvenile diversion: Programs for justice-involved youth with mental health disorders. National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice. Retrieved from www.ncmhjj.com • French, R., Reardon, M., & Smith, P. (2003). Engaging with a mental health service: Perspectives of at-risk youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 20(6), 529-548.doi:10.1023/B:CASW.0000003142.13457.0a • Howell, E., & McFeeters, J. (2008). Children’s mental health care: Differences by race/ethnicity in urban/ rural areas. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 19, 237-247. • National Association of Social Workers. (2006). Social work speaks: NationalAssociation of Social Workers policy statements, 2006-2009. Washington, DC: NASW Press. • Puzzanchera, C. (2009). Juvenile arrests 2007. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. • Puzzanchera, C., & Kang, W. (2010). Easy access to juvenile court statistics: 1985-2007. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. • Scherff, A. R., Eckert, T. L., & Miller, D. N. (2005). Youth suicide prevention: A survey of public school superintendents’ acceptability of school-based programs. Suicide and Life-Threat Behavior, 35, 154-169. doi:10.1521/suli.35.2.154.62874 • U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform. (2004). Incarceration of youth who are waiting for community mental health services in the United States. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://democrats .oversight.house.gov/images/stories/documents/20050124112914-80845.pdf