Rallying for Youth Mental Health: The Crucial Roles of Key Stakeholders

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/cdc-takes-a-closer-look-at-kids-mental-health/
Nationwide mental health in adolescents and children is a topic that continues to garner more attention. As suicide is the leading cause of death among youth aged 12 to 18 years, there continue to be more efforts placed towards mental health promotion (Lindow et al., 2020). To make a difference in this issue, attention must be focused on various stakeholders. The inner circle of stakeholders would include caregivers and family members of the adolescents. This inner circle is crucial to mental health in youth as they have the potential to provide emotional and financial support. Additionally, these stakeholders play a key role in the early detection of issues and advocacy for further resources needed outside the ones they can provide. With this in mind, some consideration should be given when shifting focus from child mental health to family mental health (Biel et al., 2020).

Apart from their home, children and teens spend most of their time in educational environments. Therefore, other stakeholders in this issue include educators, counselors, school nurses, and superintendents (ADHS, 2024). Educators can often be among the first individuals aside from family to notice behavioral or emotional changes in children by paying attention to withdrawal behaviors and decline in academic performance (Paton et al., 2022). School nurses may be able to pick up on the subtle physical symptoms associated with mental health issues and implement studied screening tools that can assist in early detection and intervention for at-risk youth. Superintendents and other administrators play a more indirect role in pediatric mental health. Their role is more focused on advocacy for allocating resources for training and instruction for educators focused on early identification and mental health awareness (Paton et al., 2022).

On a larger public scale, several key stakeholders play a significant role in promoting mental health in pediatrics. Specifically in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has supported mental health initiatives and improved resources available to children and adolescents (ADHS, 2024). Additionally, ADHS has partnered with the Arizona Department of Education and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to form the Youth Mental Health Steering Committee to assist in the coordination of state initiatives to focus on improving mental health outcomes of children, adolescents, and young adults (ADHS, 2024). Together, these stakeholders have increased funding for mental health initiatives, made mental health services more accessible to low-income families, and expanded access to treatment for at-risk youth.  


https://children.wi.gov/Pages/AboutUs/Overview.aspx
Overall, the various stakeholders that play a role in the mental health of children and adolescents in Arizona each have a vital role in ensuring that mental health services are available and effective. The different stakeholders play different roles at their various levels, but each is critical for navigating the challenging landscape of pediatric mental health. While many strides have been made in recent years, there are continued issues with funding, accessibility, and stigma that need attention from these key stakeholders. 

References

Arizona Department of Health Services. (2024). Arizona adolescent mental health report: Trends in mental health. Retrieved from https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/prevention/womens-childrens-health/adolescent-health/2024-adolescent-mental-health-report.pdf

Biel, M. G., Tang, M. H., & Zuckerman, B. (2020). Pediatric mental health care must be family mental health care. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(6), 519-520. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0065

Lindow, J. C., Hughes, J. L., South, C., Minhajuddin, A., Gutierrez, L., Bannister, E., Trivedi, M. H., & Byerly, M. J. (2020). The youth aware of mental health intervention: Impact on help seeking, mental health knowledge, and stigma in U.S. adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(1), 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.01.006

Paton, K., Gillam, L., Warren, H., Mulraney, M., Coghill, D., Efron, D., Sawyer, M., & Hiscock, H. (2022). How can the education sector support children’s mental health? Views of Australian healthcare clinicians. PloS One, 17(1), e0261827. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261827


Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2025 at 1:08 PM

    Hi Arlene, thank you for posting about such an important topic.

    I agree that early detection of mental health issues in this age group should be a key focus in preventing long-term issues related to untreated mental health. Do you see further funding being cut to public schools as a potential barrier in creating more mental health resources in schools? This is something that I fear, as I also agree that we need more, not less, of mental health support in educational environments.

    I wonder if school-based services found in community mental health centers could help bridge this gap (although community mental health centers are also losing funding). This was a popular community partnership program for school-aged children and adolescents at my current job, within a community mental health center, that provided wrap around services (mainly counseling) to children while they were at school.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dawn UrlaubFebruary 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM

    Arlene,

    Thank you for bringing attention to such an important issue. As a pediatric nurse, I see firsthand the detrimental effects of poor mental health among children and adolescents. I am also aware of the lack of resources and solutions in place to properly help these children. As you stated, it is important to correctly identify applicable stakeholders relating to this issue to successfully address it.

    In discussions about mental health stakeholders for children, it's essential to recognize that peers play a significant role. Studies show that positive peer relationships during the middle years are associated with better mental health outcomes. These relationships can also influence the impact of negative experiences, such as discrimination, and serve as protective factors during transitions between primary and secondary school (Pabian & Vandebosch, 2020).

    Conversely, negative peer interactions can contribute to mental health challenges. Studies have found that adolescents who experience higher levels of peer victimization report worse mental health outcomes, while those with supportive peer relationships tend to have better mental health (Pabian & Vandebosch, 2020). Given these findings, it's clear that friends and peers are crucial stakeholders in a child's mental health. Their influence can be both protective and detrimental, highlighting the importance of fostering positive peer environments to support children's mental well-being.

    Pabian, S., & Vandebosch, H. (2020). An investigation of short-term longitudinal associations between peer victimization and adolescents’ well-being: The moderating role of peer status and friendships. Youth & Society, 52(2), 268–289. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20970232

    ReplyDelete

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