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US Kids Lack Needed Mental Health Care
17 Feb
Summary
- Nearly a quarter of US parents report unmet mental health needs for children.
- Homeschooled children and single-parent households face greater access challenges.
- Medicaid coverage may not fully address treatment access issues.
Nearly one-quarter of parents in the United States report that their children are not receiving essential mental health care, according to recent Harvard research. The study, which analyzed data from over 173,000 households, found that one in five households had a child needing mental health services, and a significant portion of these faced difficulties in accessing care.
Disparities in access were observed, with homeschooled children, single-parent households, and those without health insurance or on Medicaid experiencing greater unmet needs. This indicates that current insurance structures, including Medicaid, may not sufficiently resolve treatment access barriers for vulnerable populations.
Researchers emphasize the urgent need for interventions, suggesting strategies like expanding the child mental health workforce and integrating mental health services into primary care settings. These efforts are crucial to bridge the gap and ensure children receive timely and necessary mental health support, especially as rates of diagnosed disorders continue to rise.
