AT-RISK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT BY L.Nicole Cervantes, MSW (Spring 2013) A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

 65–70 % Have at least one diagnosable mental health need.  61 % had a co ‐ occurring substance use disorder.  20–25 % Have serious emotional issues.

PURPOSE STATEMENT  Many of these youth are incarcerated for minor /non-violent offenses or have not been charged with a crime.

 What are the barriers of mental health resources and services for at-risk youth?  What are the existing programs designed for at- risk youth diagnosed with mental health disorders?  What current policies and programs available for at-risk youth diagnosed with mental health disorders? RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 Research Design: Qualitative, comparative analysis method.  Data collection method: Reference library professional as well as comprehensive search of academic databases.  Sample : 21 empirical articles on the topic of at-risk youth and mental health services published between 2003 and 2012 were selected.  Analysis Plan: “PICO” method.

 Culture identity and socioeconomic status are critical components to consider when examining youth with mental health needs, as culture shapes the way individuals view and respond to emotional distress. Therefore, race and ethnicity are important factors that should be included when researching barriers at-risk youth encounter when seeking mental health services.

 The likelihood of youth receiving proper treatment and services will increase through establishing relationships with school counselors, healthcare and mental health professionals, parents, and communities. A consistent commitment from social work professionals is needed to address the diverse complexities of youth mental health issues.

 Research indicates up to two thirds of youth in the juvenile justice system have untreated mental health disorders. Typically, these youth have not been formally charged with a crime, but are held in detention centers as an alternative to effective treatment or because they have nowhere else to go.

 Based on the review of research, a very small percentage of youth with diagnosable mental health problems seek help from mental health services.  Mental health needs for this population often are neglected as detention facilities are generally not equipped to provide adequate care to youth with mental illness.  Based on the information presented, since the 1980s, mental health programs were either drastically cut or not renewed on the premise that the tax dollars would be allocated more appropriately.  In the 1990s, the burden fell on local and state governments to address and manage juvenile delinquents with mental health issues while trying to balance their local budgets.  Dynamics such as, race, culture, demographics, and gender should be further studied to obtain an accurate depiction of appropriate services for this population.

 Davidson, S., & Skowyra, K. (2006). Juvenile diversion: Programs for justice-involved youth with mental health disorders. National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice. Retrieved from  French, R., Reardon, M., & Smith, P. (2003). Engaging with a mental health service: Perspectives of at-risk youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 20(6), doi: /B:CASW a  Howell, E., & McFeeters, J. (2008). Children’s mental health care: Differences by race/ethnicity in urban/ rural areas. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 19,  National Association of Social Workers. (2006). Social work speaks: National Association of Social Workers policy statements, Washington, DC: NASW Press.  Puzzanchera, C. (2009). Juvenile arrests Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  Puzzanchera, C., & Kang, W. (2010). Easy access to juvenile court statistics: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  Scherff, A. R., Eckert, T. L., & Miller, D. N. (2005). Youth suicide prevention: A survey of public school superintendents’ acceptability of school-based programs. Suicide and Life-Threat Behavior, 35, doi: /suli  U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform. (2004). Incarceration of youth who are waiting for community mental health services in the United States. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from