APA News Release

Date: January 9, 2001
Contact: Mara Greengrass
(202) 336-5700

APA APPLAUDS SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, FORMS WORKING GROUP TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL ACTION AGENDA

WASHINGTON - The American Psychological Association (APA) applauds the release of the Report of the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health: A National Action Agenda, and supports Surgeon General David Satcher's efforts to give American children a healthy start. The APA's new Working Group on Children's Mental Health will investigate ways for psychology to best address the issues raised at the conference.

"We in this country owe a great debt of gratitude to Surgeon General Satcher for his outstanding leadership in efforts to improve the mental health of our nation's children," says APA President Norine G. Johnson, Ph.D. "His message -- that mental health problems are real, treatable, and often preventable -- can have a profound impact in our nation's schools, families, and communities for the betterment of our children."

The Surgeon General's report directs long overdue attention to the unmet mental health needs of our nation's children. Whereas in the past, children with mental health problems were often regarded as "going through a phase" or "acting-out," there is now growing awareness that about one out of ten children suffers from mental disorders significant enough to cause some degree of impairment. Yet, it is estimated that in any given year, less than one in five receives needed treatment.

At the first meeting of the Working Group in early December, the Working Group identified five areas of concern; issues that if addressed would provide the most real benefit to children in need. They are:

1) promoting public awareness of children's mental health issues
2) improving the financial infrastructure to address funding and parity issues
3) increasing access and coordination of quality mental health services
4) training providers about a wide range of issues including child development, working with different cultures and how to work in schools, primary care facilities and other settings
5) monitoring access and coordination of quality mental healthcare services.

"There is a national crisis in children's mental health," according to Patrick H. Tolan, Ph.D., Chair of the APA Working Group. "The Surgeon General's report provides an excellent opportunity to address the mental health needs of all of our nation's children." The Working Group noted that appropriate and adequate mental health care for all children needs to be a recognized and sanctioned aspect of primary health care.

The APA looks forward to continue working with the Office of the Surgeon General and the National Institute of Mental Health to fully implement the National Action Agenda. The Surgeon General's Report is available at: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/cmh

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