A landmark 1999 Surgeon General report on mental health found that nearly 14
million children-one in five-have a diagnosable mental disorder. Yet most,
even those with severe impairments, get no care. This 2004 issue brief
explores the shortage of trained psychiatrists, especially in rural areas;
the shift to social workers for talking therapies; and the lack of research
on the safety and effectiveness of psychotropic drugs for children.

Learn more about why the relief of pain and stress in children receiving emergency medical treatment is a critical -- and readily available -- aspect of care.

One out of every five teenagers experiences depression by age 18, and 6
percent of all teens face major depression. Primary care physicians
typically see teens more than other doctors, but even when they suspect
depression, they often lack the diagnostic tools to confirm it. A new
randomized trial found that using "care managers" - therapists and
nurses trained in teen depression - to work with doctors and families to
facilitate diagnosis and to select appropriate treatment led to
statistically significant improvements. After six months, teens in the
study reported fewer depressive symptoms and an improved quality of
life, and had greater access to mental health care than usual care
patients.

Seventy percent of American families are headed by either two working parents or a single working parent. Work brings enormous benefits; but most working parents also face difficult trade-offs. The New America Foundation examined the effects of current working conditions on families and found that the lack of flexibility -- in paid leave, telecommuting or nontraditional hours -- has been linked to depression in women. Negative maternal attitudes tend to result in more negative behaviors among kids. Children with parents who works nights or evenings or who lack paid time off typically have lower reading and math test scores. To help keep workers and children healthy and productive, the foundation recommends expanding access to quality child care and adopting policies to encourage businesses to provide more flexible work arrangements and paid leave options. States should also consider altering the school day and school year calendar to meet the needs of parents, without sacrificing children's education.

The chances that a mentally ill child will wind up in the juvenile or criminal justice system rather than in treatment are disturbingly high. But Laurel Stine, director of federal relations with the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, says the legal landscape is changing for the better.

Nearly 7 to 9 percent of all children (ages 9 to 17) have a serious emotional disturbance, which means there are one or two kids with serious emotional problems in virtually every classroom, according to the report. This report also addresses mental health issues associated with children, adults, older adults and suicide prevention and highlights a variety of model programs that address the mental health needs of children and adolescents.

It's been three years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but the moment remains with us all ? even more so in this political season. While most kids may be coping well with their changed world, anniversaries can trigger a return to difficult emotions. Connect for Kids has some resources to help.

Middle and high school students learn about AIDS and cancer, but little is done to educate them about mental illness and reduce the stigma attached to seeking mental health services, argues Janet Susin, head of a group working to break the silence

Some research indicates that antidepressant medications may increase suicidal ideation among depressed teens. But the Journal of the American Medical Association reports on a clinical trial that found a combination of fluoxetine ("Prozac") with cognitive behavior therapy offered the most favorable tradeoff between benefit and risk for adolescents with major depressive disorder.

Many youth -- some as young as age 7 -- are locked up in juvenile detention facilities awaiting mental health services, according to a U.S. House of Representatives' Special Investigations Division survey of juvenile detention facilities.