The Urgent Need to Prioritize Children's Mental Health

One of the most important outcomes sought with Enlightened CoParenting is mental well-being for children.  When children face serious mental health issues, it is more important than ever for parents to collaborate to give their children the urgent and preventative mental health care.

Youth and young adult suicide is a serious health concern in the United States. More screening to prevent suicides is only one part of the solution.  More screening won't help without places to refer patients who seek help.

Pediatric emergency physician Samantha Rosman, MD, MPH, delegate for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), said,

"We are in the midst of a massive pediatric mental health crisis in this country.

Rosman testified that at the state and national level we are in urgent need for policies to prioritize children's mental, emotional, and behavioral health and to advocate for a comprehensive system of care that includes prevention, management, and crisis care.

"While we agree screening is critical, we cannot prevent suicide if we do not have the resources to refer children in crisis to manage them when they are depressed and get them in to counselors," she said.