The Child Advocate

Surgeon General on Children's Mental Health

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January 3, 2001

Washington, DC—David Satcher, MD, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon
General, today released a National Action Agenda for Children's Mental Health, which outlines
goals and strategies to improve the services for children and adolescents with mental health
problems and their families. According to the report, the nation is facing a public crisis in mental
health for children and adolescents.

In the United States, 1 in 10 children and adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to
cause some level of impairment. Yet, in any given year, it is estimated that fewer than 1 in 5 of
these children receives needed treatment. The long-term consequences of untreated childhood
disorders are costly, in both human and fiscal terms.

"This report provides a blueprint for change," said Dr. Satcher, "and presents an overarching
vision aimed at fostering social and emotional health in children. The burden of suffering by
children with mental health needs and their families has created a health crisis in this country.
Growing numbers of children are suffering needlessly because their emotional, behavioral, and
developmental needs are not being met by the very institutions and systems that were created to
take care of them."

The National Action Agenda identifies eight goals and multiple action steps, which include
promoting public awareness of children's mental health issues, reducing the stigma associated with
mental illness, and improving the assessment and recognition of mental health needs in children.

"We must educate all persons who are involved in the care of children on how to identify early
indicators for potential mental health problems. This begins with families. We need to help families
understand that these problems are real, that they often can be prevented, and that effective
treatments are available," said Satcher. "We also need to better educate frontline
providers—teachers, health care workers, school counselors and coaches, faith-based workers,
and clinicians of all disciplines—to recognize mental health issues. Finally, we need to train health
care providers in scientifically-proven, state-of-the-art approaches of assessment, treatment, and
prevention."

The Surgeon General's action steps encourage the wide adoption of science-based prevention and
treatment services, as well as continued research. According to the report, bridging the gap
between research and practice is not the only step. Connecting research and practice to policy is
critical to ensuring access to quality mental health care for children and their families.

The report calls for an increase in the coordination of mental health care services for families with
mental health needs. At present, there exists no primary mental health care system for children.
Despite the existence of mental health programs in many communities, the nation lacks a basic
mental health care infrastructure. Mental health treatments and services are fragmented across
many institutions, ranging from schools to primary care to child welfare and often the juvenile
justice system. Moreover, disparities in access exist across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic
groups.

"The multiple systems for mental health care can be very difficult to navigate for many families,"
said Dr. Satcher. "In reality, services are often just not available. The agenda in this report
presents an unparalleled opportunity to make a difference in the quality of life for all of America's
children," said Dr. Satcher. "It will take the efforts of all of us at the Federal, State, and local level
to implement the action steps outlined in this agenda. I am confident that we will succeed."

The National Action Agenda reflects the culmination in a series of activities over the past year,
including the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health in September 2000. The
report includes proceedings from this conference and synthesizes recommendations from three
major Federal agencies-- the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of
Education, and the Department of Justice—and a broad section of mental health
stakeholders—youth and family members, professional organizations and associations, advocacy
groups, faith-based practitioners, clinicians, educators, health care providers, and members of the
scientific community and the health care industry.

The National Action Agenda on Children's Mental Health is available on the Surgeon General's
website at www.surgeongeneral.gov/cmh/. Print copies of the report are available through the
National Institute of Mental Health, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, at (301)
443-4513.

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