SOCIAL JUSTICE WORKS
Pay Now or Pay Later: CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH BY TARA HOGUE HARRIS WITH THANKS TO ANN REILLY AND THE ACSW CHILD & YOUTH INTEREST GROUP
The loss of mental health supports, announced pre-pandemic in February of this year, is of great concern to social workers, including those who provide these crucial frontline services. Clinical social worker Ann Reilly, MSW, RCSW is a member of the Alberta College of Social Work’s (ACSW) Child and Youth Interest Group, which is working to raise awareness of these cuts. “These are the most vulnerable children and families being affected. Even people with strong resources are having trouble coping during the COVID crisis,” says Reilly. “We need to give a voice to these children.”
Trevor* is a ten year old boy who flew under the mental health radar for a long time. A social worker assigned to his school was in the classroom and noted very dark themes in Trevor’s art. Upon speaking with the teacher, she met with Trevor for a risk assessment. Trevor was assessed as a high risk for suicide, complete with intent and a plan. The art was his desperate cry for help. The social worker was able to connect the family seamlessly to counselling, consult with the family physician and make internal referrals as needed for the family and child. Without school-based mental
SOCIAL WORKERS KNOW that investments into publicly-funded mental health supports are essential and that intervention at an early age could prevent more serious long-term effects. The Regional Collaborative Service Delivery (RCSD) grant program helped coordinate and deliver in-school services to children and youth with a broad array of complex needs — students like Trevor. Those services included speech, physical and occupational therapy; supports for children who
health, Trevor may not be with us today.
are hearing or vision impaired; and
*Trevor is a composite of real clients.
mental health supports.
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WINTER 2020
Studies show that half of those who develop mental health disorders show symptoms in their early teens. A 2017 study by Alberta Health Services (Valuing Mental Health: Next Steps1) prioritized a focus on prevention and early intervention for children and youth, saying “This will not only benefit them, but their families, the community and the province.” Paying for care at later stages of mental disorders is more expensive, as it can include hospital stays and social services. Unfortunately, mental health issues in children are on the rise, even in early childhood. The Centre for Disease Control reports that 1 in 6 U.S. children aged 2 to 8 years had a diagnosed mental, behavioural
