Fewer than one in five children get treatment for any mental health problems, the report adds. Clearly it is a crisis. Satcher's newest call adds to his report a year ago declaring mental disorders a major undertreated problem for adults and children. It comes amid a recent backlash against one prominent childhood problem, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Lawsuits charge ADHD is overdiagnosed to push the drug Ritalin to children who merely are rambunctious.
Some communities offer no child mental health services at all.
Advocates told of parents who relinquished custody so their children could receive welfare-funded therapy. Yet the juvenile justice system seldom screens children for treatable illnesses. The report urges mental health training for doctors, teachers, welfare and juvenile justice workers, and better access to care. Satcher said Medicaid is developing community models for mental health services, and that the federal justice and education departments will work with health officials on training. The Associated Press.