Mental health services for children and teenagers work!
The Surgeon General of the United States has concluded, after a painstaking study of both scientific and clinical data, that young people who need and receive mental health services benefit.
That is good news for any parent or caregiver who thinks a young family member may need one of the services offered by the programs of the Staten Island Mental Health Society.
According to a report recently released by former Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., “Many seriously depressed young people can now, with treatment, lead normal lives, largely free of illness and the threat of suicide. Research-based advances have also helped thousands of youngsters with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to focus on their schoolwork and manage their social relations more successfully. In addition, many anxious and terrified children—including victims of trauma and abuse—can now be helped....”
The report also points out that children who need and receive mental health services show improvement in school grades and attendance, have less contact with the law enforcement system, and experience better mental health and more stable family lives. Furthermore, the report notes that substance abuse prevention programs are successfully reducing the costs to society of crime, absenteeism at school and work, and substance abuse treatment.
The Surgeon General's report supports two main conclusions:
- Treatment for emotional disorders is available.
- Treatment for mental health disorders is effective.
The report confirms and supports the SIMHS's own experience and outcome research, based on our more than 100 years of providing mental health and related services to children with a variety of special needs.
Without fail, outcome studies and reviews of the SIMHS's programs show that our services are not only effective, but essential to giving troubled children the positive emotional support that will raise the quality of their lives and give them hope for a better future.
We can only reiterate the Surgeon General’s strong recommendation that caregivers should seek professional help if their child has the symptoms of a mental health disorder. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of improved behavior and functioning.
Similarly, young children with suspected developmental disabilities require early and skilled diagnostics to properly plan for services. If properly diagnosed and treated, over one-third of these children can fully compensate for their neurologically-based impairments. Then, when they are of school-age, they can be successfully integrated into mainstream classrooms.
We hope that once you have visited our website you will choose the services offered by the Staten Island Mental Health Society for your child and your family.
Our record of consumer satisfaction is excellent. We consistently receive outstanding “grades” on the annual “Report Cards” that we compile from the results of consumer satisfaction surveys distributed to families who receive services at our facilities.
For example, according to our latest Report Card, 100% of responding families had an “extremely favorable” or “favorable” opinion of the SIMHS; 98.6% rated their satisfaction with our services as "very good" or "good"; 98.6% rated the overall care as “very good” or “good”; 100% rated the quality of our services as “one of the best” or "better than average"; 98.6% rated the concern of our therapists as "very good" or "good"; 99% rated the courtesy of our staff as “very good” or “good”; and 99.5% said our environment was “very friendly” or “friendly.”
The Staten Island Mental Health Society truly lives up to its motto:
" We are here when you need us."
Kenneth Popler, Ph.D., M.B.A.
President/Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Popler would like to hear from you. If you would like to send an E-mail to Dr. Popler, please send it directly to: DrPopler@SIMHS.org (Sorry, attachments cannot be opened.)
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