Woman says NH needs better mental health resources for children

The mother of a child with severe behavioral needs said Friday that New Hampshire needs to do more to help families like hers.

Amy Robinson is a former nurse, head teacher, and mother of seven children. She quit her job to care for her 13-year-old adopted son full-time.

“He is undergoing some mental health evaluations,” she said. “Once those things settle down, I think there will be more.”

She said her son was flown to a long-term care facility in Virginia after spending 47 days in the emergency room because it takes six to nine months to get into a facility in New Hampshire.

“It was tough,” Robinson said. “It was also difficult when he came home. I mean, there was a lot of trauma. We live in a house with cameras in every room. There are no doors on the doors to keep everyone safe. It comes with a lock and an alarm.”

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She said he had been in and out of Hampstead Hospital, other facilities and emergency departments for more than a year. He was removed from the facility because it failed to meet his needs.

“I understand the desire to help, but I see there is a huge gap,” Robinson said.

Robinson said infrastructure within the facility needs to be improved, including surveillance video to record. She also said there needs to be more resources available to children when they return home.

She said when children need such care, they often cannot wait months to receive the treatment they so desperately need.

“These kids are not where they need to be, it’s not safe for them to be out in the community,” she said.

Robinson said he worries about his children and others like him. She worries about what will happen if they don’t get the care they need while they’re still young, but change is still possible.

“I think the sooner we can address the issue and hopefully help someone heal and become a productive member, the less criminal activity will occur later on,” she said.