Iowa Business Council’s Post

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported that Apalachee high school students have gone back to school. It was a stark reminder of how quickly daily activities return to “normal” after such a tragedy, although there is still so much work to be done to address these students’ mental health needs. Life moves forward, and the underlying issues of our country’s unresolved mental health crisis persist. The grief, trauma, and anxiety sadly felt now by students at Apalachee and elsewhere occur amidst a critical shortage of pediatric mental health services in the U.S., particularly in underserved areas. Nationally, just 20% of youth with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders receive care from a mental health provider, and wait times for appointments can be measured in years instead of months. As a clinical child psychologist, it’s devastating to learn a child with mental health issues cannot access treatment they need, want, and deserve. Identifying students who are at risk is critical so that they can be helped before they experience irreversible damage or delay. The REACH Institute (REsource for Advancing Children’s Health) is committed to ensuring the most effective, scientifically proven mental health care reaches all children and families. Clinicians and schools, we are ready to assist and provide you with gold-standard mental health training. Children’s lives depend on it. #childmentalhealth #youthmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthcrisis #youthwellness #accesstocare #breakthestigma

Don't miss out on this webinar presented by Professor Stephen Scott! 'How should we best improve the behaviour and relationships of children aged 2 to 10 who display disruptive and challenging behaviour?' https://lnkd.in/dYzH6i-V About the session Firstly, there will be a brief introduction about the science behind disruptive behaviour and why it is important to get on top of it early if possible. Then there will be a description of how parents can manage this, including videotapes of the methods ‘Love and Limits’. Finally there will be a summary of the evidence base underpinning these techniques, showing that if they are implemented, they have long-lasting effects. Key learning takeaways - To understand the harmful long-term effects of disruptive behaviour if it is not treated - To see some of the techniques that are effective in action on videotapes - To become familiar with some of the objective evidence about what works This is part of the ‘Professor Judy Dunn Webinar Series’ and we are delighted to welcome Professor Stephen Scott, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Professor of Child Health and Behaviour at IoPPN, KCL, and ACAMH President. It will be of particular interest to parents, those working in education, such as teachers, educational psychologists, and those with a pastoral care responsibility, plus those who oversee youth work such as social workers. Additionally, those working as therapists and practioners should attended, and those interested in the effects of sleep on mental health. #ConductDisorder #MentalHealth #Attachment

In some cases children are placed inpatient when schools and parents don’t have options to deal with the crisis the child is facing. We have to have more options for parents and schools readily available. Children should not be placed inpatient unless they are a risk to themselves or others and not just because they said something they didn’t mean. The trick is knowing the difference. Interesting feedback from this survey about how difficult the mental health situation is and how great the need is for additional supports for youth.

Grad school City University of Seattle 🏫 is going great! I was very grateful to have my studies coincide with my work as a MH case manager. Every thing I am learning has been a RECAP of my undergrad studies w/ LWTech Behavioral Health & Social Services with in depth lectures and discussion boards. I am cohort 22 🥳 & in mixed mode we are Clinical Mental Health Counselors and School counselors. This journey has been eye opening and one thing I've learned is to hold on to the WHY!? Why am I doing this? Why do I want this? Why do I want to serve this population? Every time my answer grows with more reasons to Keep going. the struggle with mental health is detrimental to society. mixed with drug addictions and homelessness it will always be instilled in me to REACH out & provide others with Hope, Support, and Belief that change is possible. In fact, change is inevitable. When paired with the right counselor and support system I have seen a significant change within my OWN caseload of clients. This is something that is so important to me. That is WHY I am doing this. When times get hard and the nights are grim. Hold on, because Joy comes in the morning! Hope is there when you arrive to your appointment. That 1 on 1 with someone who will let u vent without judgement and someone to be a listening ear will not only get u out of ur intrusive thoughts but will become an important part of the healing journey. This is why I want to become a LMHC.

Once a year, Andrew Buher invites me to come teach about mental health policy in his Princeton University policy seminar. Today very much felt like being Rory at Yale on the perfect fall day (if you don’t get that reference, keep scrolling). Every year, I’m more and more impressed by these students, and more inspired to keep doing this work. They asked tough questions that remind me we still have some work to do! 💚 Social emotional learning and mental health literacy are different, but essential tools we need to feed our students in schools. Why aren’t we explaining this to students better? 💚Prevention works. Why aren’t we pouring more money into to the services that can’t be billed for but reduce rates of justice involved juveniles and more severe MH difficulties? 💚Students are more savvy than we are when it comes to social media. Why aren’t tech companies investing in their opinions and feedback to make policies better for mental health on these platforms? 💚How do we help parents and adults weigh in just enough on their teens social media and cell phone usage without micromanaging social interactions? 💚Why aren’t there school based wellness centers in every school- and why is it so hard to get funding for a plan that makes so much sense? I gave them my best thoughts today, but we owe it to this next generation of students to keep our foot on the pedal as we create change. How do we keep creating good change? #mentalhealth #schoolbasedMH #mentalhealthliteracy #teaching #mentalhealthpolicy #socialemotionallearning #psychology #princeton #policychange

Did you know that Black Orchid Counseling offers Behavioral Health Consulting as well as other services to meet the needs of your growing business? Just a glimpse of the services I offer: 1. Program Evaluation: Black Orchid LLC can conduct comprehensive evaluations of your agency’s existing behavioral health programs to assess their effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and recommend evidence-based strategies for enhancing outcomes. 2. Staff Training and Development: Black Orchid LLC can provide training sessions and workshops for your staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in delivering behavioral health interventions. These sessions will cover topics such as therapeutic techniques, trauma- informed care, crisis intervention, and cultural competency. 3. Policy and Procedure Review: Black Orchid LLC can review your agency’s policies and procedures related to behavioral health services to ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices. We will provide recommendations for updates or revisions as needed. 4. Consultation and Collaboration: Black Orchid LLC will be available for ongoing consultation and collaboration with your agency’s leadership and staff to address any behavioral health-related concerns, assist with grievances and conflict resolution, provide guidance on complex cases, and support the development of innovative approaches to service delivery. We are also able to assist with referrals and partnerships with other private practices and Community Mental Health Centers in Marion County. 5. Student Supervision: Black Orchid Counseling LLC offers supervision services to MSW students in need of qualified LCSWs to provide clinical supervision and consultation. We are also able to act as Field Instructor for those in BSW/MSW programming. Message me here or shoot me an email at BlackOrchidCounselingLLC@gmail.com

Understanding School Refusal: A Growing Challenge for Parents and Educators School refusal is more than just skipping classes; it's a serious issue where a child experiences intense anxiety or fear about attending school, resulting in prolonged absences. It often stems from underlying mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. 📊 Key Statistics: - An estimated 2-5% of school-aged children experience school refusal. - It’s most common in children aged 5-11 and adolescents aged 12-18. - 70% of children with school refusal have at least one co-occurring mental health condition. 💡 How Can We Help? 1. Early Identification: Pay attention to patterns—frequent absences, complaints of physical symptoms, or increased anxiety about attending school. 2. Collaborative Approach: Parents, educators, and mental health professionals need to work together to create a supportive plan. 3. Intervention: Implement strategies such as gradual exposure to the school environment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and family therapy. 🔑 Remember, addressing school refusal early can prevent long-term academic and social impacts. Let's support children and adolescents by fostering an environment that feels safe, nurturing, and open for them to express their challenges. #SchoolRefusal #MentalHealthMatters #ChildPsychology #Education #ParentingSupport#NavitaHealth

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Georgia Appleseed is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of students through our School-Based Behavioral Health (SBBH) programs. Given the pivotal role schools play in students' lives, providing mental health support within these environments is crucial. SBBH programs address the significant rise in behavioral health disorders among American youth—a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By integrating mental health services into school settings, we remove barriers to access such as transportation and stigma, making these essential services available right where students are most comfortable. This month, we highlight the importance of these programs, which not only support individual students but also contribute to healthier, more engaged school communities. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eEKD4_Yd and help ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed and thrive. Let's make mental health support as common as the school lunch! #MentalHealthAwareness #SchoolBasedBehavioralHealth #SBBH #GeorgiaAppleseed

Closing the education equity gap is a start to opening pathways to careers in mental health. Read the full article: Breaking Barriers: Advancing Equity in School Mental Health for BIPOC Students ▸ https://lttr.ai/AN7r6 #mentalhealth #InclusiveEducation #MentalHealthMatters #EarlyCareerYears

The findings from our project CESAME: Culturally Engaged and Sensitive Approaches to Mental health Education now published in the Health Education Journal: https://lnkd.in/eSv4W6WM From (re)framing language and conceptualising #mentalhealth, #ethnic and #cultural #identity and #school #transitions from a lived experience perspective to enabling #genuine #participation and #codesign with young people across all stages of the work – including development of the proposal and co-authoring of this article with a peer researcher (young person with lived experience) and everything in between – the project and team truly embraced the ethos of collaboration and mutual learning across academic, practice and lived experience expertise. We will be reflecting on this process specifically in an upcoming publication. In the meantime, the findings here will be of interest to #practitioners, #policymakers and #researchers interested in supporting mental health in schools, intersectional experiences of transitions from primary to secondary school, and lived experiences of young people from ethnically diverse groups during this transition. Emily Cunningham Andrea Taylor Abdul-Moiz Siddiqi Nadia Svirydzenka Kadra Abdinasir Professor Raghu Raghavan