Supporting youth through school and clinic-based mental health programs
Trauma harms children emotionally, psychologically, and biologically and untreated experiences can lead to suicide, substance abuse, serious emotional disturbance, poor school and work performances, social maladjustment, and decrease health and well-being. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that one in six children and adolescents ages 6-17 years old will experience an adverse childhood experience and/or serious mental illness and that 50 percent of those mental health disorders will surface around the age of 14. The pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of many Americans and research reflects an increase in alcohol use and at least one illicit drug use disorder in the past years.
In this presentation, we will address how youths facing traumatic episodes have developed unhealthy coping skills that negatively impact their academic success and developmental growth. We will offer helpful strategies for addressing trauma and grief, substance abuse, and other barriers that can negatively affect student learning, growth, and development through school- and clinic-based mental health programs.
