New research shows an urgent need to address children’s mental health

MANKATO, Minn. – Experts say children’s mental health has been declining over the past decade and this epidemic is only getting worse.

Now, a new report from the Center for Rural Policy and Development highlights the fact that it is becoming more and more difficult for rural families to get the help they need.

There are administrative challenges, such as travel and waiting times, on top of the growing shortage of mental health professionals.

That raises the question: What should parents do?

That’s what led CRPD Vice President of Research and Operations Marnie Werner to dive into this year-long project.

“Rural life, in general, is good, but in rural areas, there are barriers to getting help that cause a lot of problems for rural families,” said Werner, who has studied rural issues for decades. two.

The CRPD began in the 1990s to collect neutral data on policy issues in greater Minnesota.

When it comes to mental health, Werner says solving the problems will take years. But the data shows the news speaks volumes for girls. Thirty-five percent of survey respondents admitted to dealing with mental health issues in 2019. That number rose to 45% in 2022.

Werner says to remember that “mental health” is not the same as “mental illness” and focuses more on a person’s emotional, mental and social state. It affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves, and how well they interact with others, deal with stress and make decisions.

“You can definitely get that feeling, the kids can get that feeling – ‘Am I the only one dealing with this?’ — and when you feel like you’re the only one, it becomes a barrier to seeking help,” said Montevideo Public Schools Superintendent Wade McKittrick.

It’s on top of long wait times, limited clinics, and a shortage of doctors, as well as the constant stigma around getting help.

“It’s a slow process, you’re trying to turn the ship around,” Werner said of the long-term solution. He said people can’t wait that long and said research has identified important recommendations that families can turn to now. I was amazed at how easily these things were available and how quickly these things became a solution for rural families.

His findings point to three solutions, including existing education. Werner said knowledge can reduce fear and the report highlights several national and local resources from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the MN Department of Health and the Minnesota Association for Child Mental Health.

He added that many schools across the country already offer mental health services in schools. For example, government subsidies pay for doctors in almost every state. Having services in the school helps a lot to eliminate the fear of not choosing children.

There is also the integration of mental health into primary care. According to the MN Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, a large proportion of urban and rural physicians already provide some level of mental health services (89% of rural, 83% urban) when there are no alternatives.

“Instead of going to a specialty clinic to see a mental health doctor, there’s a doctor right there in your regular clinic and it makes the connection start right away,” said Werner. who called these shortcuts to lower the barriers when the time came. meaning.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health problem, there is help available from the following resources:

Crisis Text Line – text “MN” to 741741 (standard data and text rates apply)
Emergency Hotline Number for your state in Minnesota
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, Talk to Someone Now
Throughout Minnesota call **CRISIS (**274747)
Trevor Project at 866-488-7386