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MONTGOMERY –In honor of National Mental Health Month in May, the Alabama Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation is highlighting two issues that are vitally important to this state and nation: children’s mental health and suicide prevention. "Education is the key to understanding and addressing both of these issues," said DMH/MR Commissioner Kathy Sawyer. Commending U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher for his recently released Suicide Prevention Plan, Sawyer pointed out that report revealed the ties between children’s mental health and suicide. The report says that suicide is the third leading cause of death among U.S. youth ages 15 to 24, which reinforces Dr. Satcher’s findings published in 1999 that one in ten children and adolescents suffer from a mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairment. "Unfortunately, the report notes that, in any given year, only about one in five of those children receive specialty mental health services," Sawyer said Of course, not every mental health problem ends in suicide, but untreated mental illnesses do interfere with children’s success and overall quality of life. "Parents and guardians should understand that, like an adult with untreated mental illness, a child’s quality of life can suffer greatly from lack of treatment," said Steve LaFreniere, Coordinator of the DMH/MR Office of Children’s Mental Health Services. According to Dr. Satcher’s report, children with untreated mental illness are at a much greater risk for dropping out of school and of not being fully functional adult members of society. Professionals agree that symptoms of mental illness in children can appear as early as the preschool years and can persist and worsen as the child ages. Symptoms can include difficulty sleeping and/or persistent disordered sleeping; reluctance to participate in age-appropriate activities; frequent and unexplainable behavior problems; inappropriate hyperactive behavior and/or pronounced difficulties with attention, concentration and organization; persistent opposition to authority figures; a pattern of deliberate disobedience or aggression; noticeable changes in appetite; in older children, abuse of alcohol and/or other substances; and frequent outbursts of anger. "Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment can certainly reduce the prevalence of suicide among children, adolescents and adults in our country," Sawyer said. The treatment success rates for mental illness are extremely high and higher in most cases than comparable physical ailments like heart disease. Sawyer also encourages people to be aware of the signs that mental health professionals agree can signal suicide attempts. These include: talking about committing suicide; trouble eating or sleeping; drastic changes in behavior; noticeable withdrawal from friends and/or social activities; a loss of interest in hobbies, work, school, etc.; preparation for death by making out a will and/or final arrangements; giving away of prized possessions; previous suicide attempts; and taking unnecessary risks. Increased use of alcohol or other drugs may also be a sign. Someone who is experiencing the above symptoms should seek help from a physician or a qualified mental health professional immediately. Families are encouraged to be aware of the warning signs and to seek professional help for children or adolescents showing signs of mental illness and/or suicidal tendencies. Help is available from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. RESOURCES The DMH/MR Bureau of Mental Illness Community Programs can provide contact information and referrals to a local mental health professional in your area. Contact them at (334) 242-3200. The DMH/MR Office of Children’s Mental Health Services can be contacted at (334) 242-7832. You can access the Report of the Surgeon General’s Conference on Children’s Mental Health: A National Action Agenda at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/cmh/childreport.htm. or the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention at http://www.mentalhealth.org/suicideprevention The American Association of Suicidology provides facts about suicide, tips for prevention and crisis referrals. The website is http://www.suicidology.org The official website for the Alabama DMH/MR is http://www.mh.state.al.us
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