This background paper on children's mental health indicates that less than one-third of the children who have mental health problems receive treatment. Types of mental health problems are discussed, including intellectual, developmental, behavior, emotional, psychophysiological, and adjustment disorders. Enviromental risk factors of poverty and…

Describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a training program in the primary prevention of childhood mental disorders for caregivers, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Cites the program's positive impact, as measured by increases in participants' knowledge and skills. (Author/MJL)

Issues are presented which concern today's children, even those growing up under the best of environmental, social, and economic conditions. All will face an increased probability of emotional stress accompanying problems of living, undoubtedly resulting in increased demands upon child mental health services. The history of child mental health…

Many mentally ill children, especially those who are seriously disturbed, are not receiving the mental health care they need. Although the federal government offers financing to the states for child and adolescent mental health programming, the primary responsibility for financing mental health services has been assumed by state governments. At…

Describes recent professional developments having an increased impact on provision of social work mental health services to children: the emergence of practice guidelines from government and disciplines, the growth of empiral research evidence documenting efficacy of selected interventions, and the impact of managed care programs. Reviews…

Mental health services for children and adolescents from the states' perspective is the topic of this document. The introduction provides statistics on mental health service needs and utilization in this population, while highlighting underserved needs. The history of mental health services provision and funding is traced from isolated state…

Describes Tourette syndrome, a chronic, neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscular movements, uncontrollable sounds, and inappropriate words. Notes that Tourette syndrome is frequently misunderstood and mistreated, presents symptoms, and suggests a multidimensional approach to treatment. (Author/NB)

Notes that, although progress in understanding and treating children's mental disorders is limited, more is known today about how to prevent mental disorders, what treatments are effective, and importance of providing multiple services. Presents current knowledge on assessment, treatment, and service delivery to help social workers improve…

Examines historical and conceptual bases of counseling psychology relative to their fit for work with children from birth to 12 years of age. Considers mental health needs of today's children and argues that counseling psychologists can make legitimate contribution to prevention and remediation of common problems that children encounter during…

This article reviews the current state of research on the assessment of anxiety and depression in Asian American children and adolescents. Contrary to lay perceptions of Asian Americans as a "model minority," research indicates that rates of depression and anxiety among Asian American adults are comparable to those found among European American…

Presents a systematic attempt to help counselors operate within the areas of transcendence and states of consciousness. Consciousness counseling recognizes that human experience includes the person and that it also goes beyond the self to include transpersonal experiences. Consciousness counseling recognizes that people experience many states of…

Reviews the history of primary prevention in public and mental health, with special focus on the prevention of emotional problems in children. Emphasizes the need to approach prevention efforts from understanding causes of mental illness in the context of general social conditions, rather than from an individual perspective. (Author/MJL)

Recognizing that researchers and clinicians are increasingly faced with assessing, treating, and studying ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse populations, one question is whether the appropriate tools exist. This special section aspires to advance the available assessment strategies that are appropriate for the treatment, prevention, and…

This report focuses on the more than 7 million American children who suffer from mental disorders. It was written in response to a Congressional request for development of a national plan delineating how the National Institute for Mental Health would expand basic, clinical, and services research in the area of child mental health, and also…

This booklet attempts to provide important background information on programming and financing systems for children with emotional disturbances to enable legislators to make educated decisions regarding child mental health in their states. The booklet is in a question-and-answer format. The first two questions define emotional disturbance and…