Blind Spot: Missed Early Warning Signs and Children’s Mental Health

A dark picture More than one in five Connecticut children struggles with a mental health or substance abuse problem Suspensions and expulsions begin early Negative behavioral and social outcomes for students with emotional disorders Failure to identify problems Inadequate access to appropriate services Increased academic performance pressures

A developmental trajectory Josue Born to a 12-year-old mother Early ear infections Difficulties with auditory perception, memory and speech Exposure to sexual abuse and domestic violence Grade 4 – exited from bilingual services; special education evaluation

A downward spiral Full inclusion in regular high school program Weaknesses in reading, math and writing Minimal small group skills lab Social work – 45 minutes a week Suspensions from school Involvement with juvenile justice system

The Blind Spot study 7 th, 8 th, 9 th grade students with mental health problems Persistent school failure, truancy, juvenile justice involvement, other court involvement Urban school systems Total cases: 102

Key findings Court or juvenile justice intervention, FWSN referrals 51% Multiple school suspensions, aggressive incidents or disruptive behavior 82% Depression 25% Anxiety disorders 20% Post-traumatic stress disorders 17% Self-injurious behaviors 16% Psychiatric hospitalizations 17% Reports of physical, emotional, sexual abuse 12%

Failing grades Developmental challenges and absence of consistent family structures and support Failure of schools to recognize and address multiple adverse events that affect children Failure to recognize and respond to behavior patterns that mask underlying learning and mental health problems

Needed next steps Improved screening for mental health risk factors Early, coordinated intervention including mental health and special education Improved community and parent education around mental health risk factors Improved training and accountability for service providers