Re: “Focus on youth mental health or face unimaginable costs” [Dec. 7, Opinion]:
Worldwide Group Well being Providers operates school-based well being facilities in Seattle and Bellevue with employees to supply trauma-informed emotional and psychological well being assist. SBHCs meet youth the place they already are — in school. We function the one SBHC within the Bellevue Faculty District.
Lots of our college students and households are immigrants or refugees dealing with numerous challenges adjusting to life right here and overcoming trauma. In response to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, a few of their most typical boundaries to accessing well being care embody: language, monetary assets, disgrace/stigma, well being care information and worry of deportation. It’s no shock that this mix results in poor well being outcomes.
Youngsters who don’t get assist when it’s wanted face larger dangers as they develop into adults, together with violence, homelessness and substance use. Early funding and intervention will stop crises and outcomes sooner or later that value our society tens of millions in social providers. And with out sufficient grownup psychological well being suppliers, investing at school helps is that rather more important. With assets embedded at colleges, households don’t must navigate discovering a supplier, transportation or taking break day.
The time is now to completely spend money on supporting the psychological and emotional well being of all our youth.
Kelli Nomura, MBA, MHP, chief govt officer, Worldwide Group Well being Providers