Parents, children and professionals involved in the Kandiyohi County children’s mental health system say there’s reason to feel optimistic about the system.
Professionals and parents who participated in a series of focus group meetings this past year said they’re seeing less stigma surrounding mental health and more recognition that children can and do have mental health disorders.
They felt positive about the increasing number of children’s mental health services that are available and the focus on early intervention and family inclusiveness.
Among the youths themselves, the vast majority reported having parents who loved them and people in their lives who view them as capable of accomplishing things.
But there’s still progress to be made, representatives of a five-county local advisory council on children’s mental health said in a recent report to the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners.
“There still is a lack of services. There are more mental health needs than the current system can support,” said Debb Sheehan, director of the PACT 4 Families Children’s Mental Health Collaborative.
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