Explaining Medicine
  • News
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Nutrition, Food & Recipes
    • Prevention & Wellness
  • Conditions
    • Custom1
      • Conditions A-Z
      • Procedures A-Z
      • Allergies
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Arthritis
      • Asthma
      • Blood Pressure
      • Cholesterol
      • Cancer
    • Custom2
      • Chronic Pain
      • Cold Flu
      • Depression
      • Diabetes
      • Digestion
      • Eyesight
      • Health Living
      • Healthy Kids
      • Hearing Ear
    • Custom3
      • Heart
      • HIV/AIDS
      • Infectious Disease
      • Lung Conditions
      • Menopause
      • Men’s Health
      • Mental Health
      • Migraine
      • Neurology
    • Custom4
      • Oral Health
      • Pregnancy
      • Senior Health
      • Sexual Health
      • Skin Problems
      • Sleep
      • Thyroid
      • Travel Health
      • Women’s Health
  • Medications
    • Medications
    • Supplements and Vitamins
  • Medical Dictionary
  • Health Alerts
The ABMS Spider and the Fly
Embryo pooling for patients with poor ovarian response
Walnuts, Almonds Help Hearts in Type 2 Diabetes
Study: FDA Fell Short on Tracking Fentanyl Use
Heart Attacks Rising Among Younger Women
CDC: Turkey-Linked Salmonella Cases Now at 279
Finding LGBTQ-Friendly Health Care a Challenge
Common Yeast Infection Pill Tied to Miscarriage
Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Deer in 24...
White House Plan To Stop HIV Faces A...
Top Posts

Explaining Medicine

  • News
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Nutrition, Food & Recipes
    • Prevention & Wellness
  • Conditions
    • Custom1
      • Conditions A-Z
      • Procedures A-Z
      • Allergies
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Arthritis
      • Asthma
      • Blood Pressure
      • Cholesterol
      • Cancer
    • Custom2
      • Chronic Pain
      • Cold Flu
      • Depression
      • Diabetes
      • Digestion
      • Eyesight
      • Health Living
      • Healthy Kids
      • Hearing Ear
    • Custom3
      • Heart
      • HIV/AIDS
      • Infectious Disease
      • Lung Conditions
      • Menopause
      • Men’s Health
      • Mental Health
      • Migraine
      • Neurology
    • Custom4
      • Oral Health
      • Pregnancy
      • Senior Health
      • Sexual Health
      • Skin Problems
      • Sleep
      • Thyroid
      • Travel Health
      • Women’s Health
  • Medications
    • Medications
    • Supplements and Vitamins
  • Medical Dictionary
  • Health Alerts
  • News

    Parents Are Leery Of Schools Requiring ‘Mental Health’ Disclosures By Students

    by Julio Ochoa September 21, 2018

    Enlarge this image

    “If you do say, ‘Yes, my child has seen a counselor or a therapist or a psychologist,’ what does the school then do with that?” asks Laura Goodhue, who has a 9-year-old son on the autism spectrum and a 10-year-old son who has seen a psychologist. Andrea D’Aquino for NPR hide caption

    toggle caption

    Andrea D’Aquino for NPR

    “If you do say, ‘Yes, my child has seen a counselor or a therapist or a psychologist,’ what does the school then do with that?” asks Laura Goodhue, who has a 9-year-old son on the autism spectrum and a 10-year-old son who has seen a psychologist.

    Andrea D’Aquino for NPR

    Children registering for school in Florida this year were asked to reveal some history about their mental health.

    The new requirement is part of a law rushed through the state legislature after the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

    The state’s school districts now must ask whether a child has ever been referred for mental health services on registration forms for new students.

    “If you do say, ‘Yes, my child has seen a counselor or a therapist or a psychologist,’ what does the school then do with that?” asks Laura Goodhue, who has a 9-year-old son on the autism spectrum and a 10-year-old son who has seen a psychologist. “I think that was my biggest flag. And I actually shared the story with a couple of mom friends of mine and said, ‘Can you believe this is actually a thing?'”

    Goodhue worries that if her children’s mental health history becomes part of their school records, it could be held against them.

    “If my child was on the playground and something happened,” she says, “they might think, ‘This child has seen mental health services. This must mean something’ — more than it really means.”

    Florida House Passes Gun Control Package; Measure Awaits Governor's Signature

    The Two-Way

    Florida House Passes Gun Control Package; Measure Awaits Governor’s Signature

    The question was largely overlooked until parents started filling out school registration forms this summer. It was five words in a 105-page school safety bill that contained controversial measures like increasing the minimum age to buy a gun, and arming school employees.

    Parents worry that the information could fall into the wrong hands and may follow children throughout their education, says Alisa LaPolt, executive director of the Florida chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

    “In a perfect world, getting treatment for mental health challenges would be no different than getting medical treatment for a skin rash or a bad cold or a broken leg,” LaPolt says. But that’s not the world we live in right now. There is stigma around mental illness and getting treatment for it.”

    School districts say counselors will use the information to help Florida students get the services they need.

    Some districts will only share the information with psychologists and administrators. Others say they will provide access to teachers and front office staff as well.

    School counselors say they understand the stigma surrounding mental illness. Some say the way the law was written doesn’t help. The mental health question was grouped with requirements to report arrests or expulsions.

    Community-Based Care Can Reduce The Stigma Of Mental Illness

    Shots – Health News

    Community-Based Care Can Reduce The Stigma Of Mental Illness

    “I can certainly understand parents having a reaction when they see those questions, sort of, asked back to back, says Michael Cowley, manager of psychological services for Pinellas County Schools.

    But in order to help students, Cowley says school officials must first determine who needs mental health services.

    “The process we’re trying to develop and everything we’re trying to do is just with an eye toward reducing stigma, increasing awareness and getting students access to more care,” Cowley says.

    The requirement has school districts worried about more than just stigma. The state left implementation of the provision up to local districts.

    At a meeting in Tampa, Hillsborough County School Board member April Griffin raised the issue of patient privacy and a federal law that protects it, known as HIPAA.

    “I could foresee some lawsuits around this,” Griffin said.

    Still, counselors say more parents may support the law once they start to see children getting the counseling they need.

    The school safety law provides nearly $70 million dollars to increase access to mental health services in schools.

    National experts say the money is long overdue.

    Florida has historically been among the worst states in terms of providing money for mental health care, says Ron Honberg, senior policy adviser for the National Alliance on Mental Health.

    Here's How To Prevent The Next School Shooting, Experts Say

    NPR Ed

    Here’s How To Prevent The Next School Shooting, Experts Say

    “We know that the symptoms of mental health conditions and serious mental illnesses in particular tend to surface during the teen years and early 20s,” Honberg says. “And that’s a time when we should be putting the most resources into interventions.”

    In Broward County, where Parkland is located, the district is using part of the $6 million it received to hire 50 staff members — many of them counselors, psychologists and social workers.

    Their ability to reach students in need could depend on whether parents feel comfortable checking “yes” on a registration form.

    This story is part of NPR’s reporting partnership with WUSF and Kaiser Health News, which is an independent journalism organization and not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

    Read the article here

    Share this Post

    Share Explaining Medicine Share Explaining Medicine

    Parents Are Leery Of Schools Requiring ‘Mental Health’ Disclosures By Students was last modified: October 2nd, 2018 by Julio Ochoa

    Related

    autism spectrumchild psychologyFloridaparkland shootingschool counselor
    Comments
    0
    Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
    Julio Ochoa

    previous post
    Thank you Dr Malpani – from a proud IVF parent !
    next post
    Regular Bedtime Might Be Key to Better Health

    Related Articles

    Cyber Monday Skin Care Sale – Today Only!

    November 26, 2018

    Severity of Alzheimer’s Can Vary by Season

    September 4, 2018

    Are High-Tech Baby Monitors Worth It? Even Safe?

    August 21, 2018

    Selecting a good IVF clinic

    February 26, 2018

    Is there too much sex on TV?

    May 14, 2018

    New drugs for hyperkalemia

    May 21, 2018

    Doctors Test Bacterial Smear After Cesarean Sections To Bolster Babies’ Microbiomes

    October 30, 2018

    Fewer Women Need To Undergo Repeat Surgery After Lumpectomy

    June 5, 2017

    Brain ‘Pacemaker’ Could Lessen Alzheimer’s Effects

    February 2, 2018

    Lillie Shockney, RN: 2018 WebMD Health Hero, Caregiver

    January 2, 2019

    Recent Posts

    • The ABMS Spider and the Fly

      February 21, 2019
    • Embryo pooling for patients with poor ovarian response

      February 20, 2019
    • Finding LGBTQ-Friendly Health Care a Challenge

      February 19, 2019
    • White House Plan To Stop HIV Faces A Tough Road In Oklahoma

      February 19, 2019
    • What's Up With the Cup?

      February 19, 2019

    Keep in touch

    Facebook Twitter Google + RSS

    Recent Posts

    • The ABMS Spider and the Fly

      February 21, 2019
    • Embryo pooling for patients with poor ovarian response

      February 20, 2019
    • Finding LGBTQ-Friendly Health Care a Challenge

      February 19, 2019
    • White House Plan To Stop HIV Faces A Tough Road In Oklahoma

      February 19, 2019
    • What's Up With the Cup?

      February 19, 2019
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy

    @2019 - Explaining Medicine. All Right Reserved.


    Back To Top
    Explaining Medicine
    Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: soledad child.