Jeff Bingaman: “the landmark report Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General brought the hidden mental health crisis to the…”

“the landmark report Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General brought the hidden mental health crisis to the attention of the U.S. public. According to that report, 13.7 million of the Nation's children and adolescents, twenty percent, have a diagnosable mental disorder, the most common of which include Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Depression. Unfortunately, only one out of five of those in need will receive mental health care. One of the primary reasons for this across the Nation is that mental health services to help treat children are in short supply. Long waiting lists for children seeking care, even those in crisis, are not uncommon. In New Mexico, it's estimated that 56,000 children and adolescents have a mental or emotional disorder. Of these, almost 20,000 have serious emotional disorders. As of June 2003, there were only 13 licensed child and adolescent psychiatrists to serve the entire State of New Mexico. In addition, there are fewer trained psychologists and social workers per 100,000 population in New Mexico than the country as a whole. Children with untreated mental disorders are at a higher risk for school failure and dropping out, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity. A 2002 report documented that approximately one in seven youth in New Mexico detention centers incarcerated because mental health care is not available.”