The emergency room can almost be seen 500,000 children per year According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of patients with mental health conditions continues to grow.
There is a growing need for mental health services for children aged 6 to 17. 1 in 6 people report at least one mental health disorder, according to a 2019 paper by researchers at the University of Michigan. That was before the COVID-19 pandemic, which took a toll on children's mental health. An increasing number of high school students are reporting persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey42% of high school students experienced these emotions in 2021, an increase of 5 points from 2019 and 14 points from 2011.
But the same Michigan researchers found that about half of young people who need professional mental health services don't receive them. One barrier to children's access to mental health care is health insurance coverage.
counseling school.com Examining how insurance does not guarantee mental health coverage and the differences between young people covered by Medicaid and private plans; Kaiser Family Foundation data.
Even with laws requiring equal mental and physical health insurance, it can be difficult for parents to get insurance coverage for the help their children need. Historically, health insurance companies offered few mental health benefits. In 1996, federal law introduced the idea of covering mental health to the same extent as physical health services, but not all health insurance. The concept is Mental Health Equity and Addiction Equity Act This law required insurance companies to treat mental and physical health insurance the same way.
Having said that, NPR reported that insurance companies tend to be lax. Ensuring equal coverage of mental health care often treats mental illness as an acute illness rather than a chronic illness that requires long-term care.
Although the law applies to most health insurance plans, some types of exceptionsAccording to the Kaiser Family Foundation. NPR reports on the case of an Ohio family who had to pay $40,000 out-of-pocket for their daughter's chronically suicidal residential treatment because their insurance company cut off coverage. There is. The family ultimately navigated the red tape to continue treatment and receive reimbursement.
Schools seek to provide support because untreated mental health conditions can lead to: negatively impact student learning and development;.of Substance abuse and mental health services management In 2019, it was found that 15% of youth received mental health services at school. But that alone is not enough to meet your needs.
