MEDIA ADVISORY: INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

CENTER AT COLUMBIA & PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE TO BRING MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM
TO NEW YORK CITY KIDS

 
WHAT:
Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health: Presentation and discussion on launching the New York City Mental Health Assessment Partnership to help identify at-risk youth

WHO:
David Shaffer, MD, Chief of the Division of Child Psychiatry
Peter Jensen, MD, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health
Laurie Flynn, Director of the Carmel Hill Center at Columbia University
Parent Speaker

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 24, 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1st floor auditorium
1051 Riverside Drive @ W. 165th St.

While no one would dispute the importance of meeting the physical needs of children, children’s mental and emotional needs are largely ignored. As a result, experts say, many young people are at risk for substance abuse, depression and suicide and are not getting the early evaluation necessary to identify debilitating and sometimes life-threatening problems.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. Yet, only 25-35% of youths who meet full criteria for a mental health diagnosis are identified as having emotional and/or behavioral difficulties and receive treatment. Minority youth are among those with the highest unmet need for treatment.

To address this problem, the Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health at Columbia University and New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have formed a special partnership with eight New York City healthcare providers who operate school-based health and mental health clinics in New York City public schools to assist in identifying and helping youth at risk for depression and related problems.

 

Go Back to News Releases