1. Mental Health Needs Of Children And Youth In Dane County: 2007 Update
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Mental Health Needs Of Children And Youth In Dane County: Update
Based on data collected by:
Madison Metropolitan and Sun Prairie School Districts
FACE-Kids Provider Agencies
Data collected in all MMSD schools first semester of school year.
Gathered by student support staff (psychologists, nurses, social workers) in the schools who have some training about mental health issues and know the kids in the schools who may be dealing with such concerns.
Important to keep in mind that this data reflects the school staffs’ assessment of students that may be dealing with mental health concerns – THE DATA DOES NOT REFLECT CONFIRMED DIAGNOSES
But it is helpful in providing a broad-brush overview of what may be going on for a good number of students – and those who are teaching and working with them – in the Madison schools.

2. Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Local data on mental health needs of children/youth is consistent with national findings.
Students w/identified mental health concerns
5-17 yr olds total estimate (2002) 13.6%
Data collected in all MMSD schools first semester of & again school year. Sun Prairie also in
Gathered by student support staff (psychologists, nurses, social workers) in the schools who have some training about mental health issues and know the kids in the schools who may be dealing with such concerns.
Important to keep in mind that this data reflects the school staffs’ assessment of students that may be dealing with mental health concerns – THE DATA DOES NOT REFLECT CONFIRMED DIAGNOSES
But it is helpful in providing a broad-brush overview of what may be going on for a good number of students – and those who are teaching and working with them – in schools.
AFFIRMS: THE PICTURE LOCALLY IS RIGHT IN LINE W/NATIONAL ESTIMATES: about 15% of kids dealing w/some kind of mental health issues
12-17 yr olds treated (2001) 18.4%
12-17 yr olds treated (2000) 14.2%
Sources: National Health Interview Survey Data; Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) & Sun Prairie School District data,

3. Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Middle schools report the highest percentage of mental health concerns.
1060
1681
3622
881
Two years worth of data suggests a consistent picture:
Middle schools are dealing w/highest proportion of students w/mental health concerns.
It’s likely the actual percentages are higher w/high school students, too, but teachers & staff may not be as aware of these issues
Don’t work w/these students as closely as teachers at younger grades
Students/families may be getting help for their concerns completely outside of school setting
N=24,320 students
Source: MMSD
#s = number of students

4. Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
African American students are disproportionately represented among students with mental health concerns.
This slide raises some questions which bear further exploration:
Does this finding about African American students reflect true mental health concerns OR
Cultural differences or biases?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT…
Source: MMSD data, 06/07

5. Depression, anger, anxiety and attention disorder issues top the list of concerns (all ages).
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
N=3622
Here are the top 5 mental health concerns seen in the student population. Similar to findings from previous year.
Depression is an issue at all grade levels.
Anger, anxiety & ADD at elementary and middle school levels/
AODA becomes a significant issue at the high school level –by this time students are turning to alcohol and drugs due to peer influences or to medicate themselves to avoid pain caused by other issues
% of Total Student Population
Source: MMSD data, 06/07

6. The top 5 mental health concerns are similar for Madison and Sun Prairie school students.
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
N=432
The top 5 issues are not unique to the Madison School District.
Not in MMSD’s “Top 5”
(MMSD’s = “Anger”)
% of Total Student Population
Source: SPSD data, 06/07

7. Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Mental health issues are not uncommon in students who are having difficulty in school.
We looked at mental health data in relation to students who were having difficulty in schools for the work being done by the Delegation on Disconnected and Violent Youth.
Not surprisingly, as a whole, these students deal with mental health concerns at a higher rate than the student population in general.
~5 or more unexcused absences 1st semester
*East DCP High, Shabazz High, Work and Learn Center High, Registrar
2/23/2019
Source: MMSD data, 06/07

8. One third of truant students have mental health issues.
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
One third of truant students have mental health issues.
1109
287
125
116
Another look at data pulled for the DAVY’s work.
In general, about 30% of students who are truant are dealing with mental health concerns that could be interfering with their ability to learn.
128
618
1521
374
Source: MMSD data, 06/07
#s = number of students

9. Greatest barrier to treatment is family/student resistance
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
N=804
Here are the top 5 barriers to treating these concerns that have surfaced in the district-wide data collection.
Family/student resistance is the greatest barrier.
% of Barriers to Treatment
Source: MMSD data, 06/07

10. Largest percentage of calls: middle school age.
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
These next slides reflect calls that have been received by FACE-Kids agencies asking about services for children/youth. Reported on a website to United Way as the calls are taken.
Likely duplication in calls between agencies – but this gives us a picture of what these community service providers are seeing re: need/demand for their service.
Highest percentage of calls for middle schoolers. Correlates w/the previous finding that middle schools report the largest percentages of students w/mental health concerns.
Source: Provider report on United Way website; 9/28/06-11/30/07

11. #s of calls listed next to each bar – calls may be duplicated
Calls for service look a bit different than top mental health concerns in schools
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007 4 3 13 82
105
137
162
170
Here is a picture of the types of calls being received.
Calls could be made by parents, school staff, etc. Probable duplication in calls between agencies.
Anger, disruptive behavior, trauma are among the highest.
Perhaps depression is not so high on this list because schools are helping to address this issue?
185
#s of calls listed next to each bar – calls may be duplicated

12. Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Calls to agencies do not track directly with top issues identified in schools.
N=1517
This slide compares the types of calls with the types of mental health concerns seen in MMSD students.
N=3622
% of Total Student Population & % of Total Calls
Source: MMSD data, 06/07; Provider report on United Way website; 9/28/06-11/30/07

13. Majority of children appeared eligible for services.
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Most of the callers were eligible for service provided by the agency.
Source: Provider report on United Way website; 9/28/06-5/2/07

14. Source: Provider report on United Way website; 9/28/06-11/30/07
Disparity in calls, wait lists, and service
available
Children’s Mental Health Data Presentation
Optimist’s Club Presentation
May 9, 2007
Number of Calls
N=612
This slide compares the number of calls received and the disposition of those calls among the 5 agencies reporting this data.
Is there unused capacity in the mental health system that could take care of some waiting list issues?
Source: Provider report on United Way website; 9/28/06-11/30/07