Mental Health and Families

Public Policy Brief Summary

Children, Youth and Family Consortium

University of Minnesota

Positive mental health is essential for successful growth and development for people of all ages. Yet about 10% of children and 20% of adults are impaired by mental health problems, according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on mental health. Families and individuals often need help to identify mental health problems and find appropriate care.

Mental health is more than the absence of mental health problems or illness. It is a state of mental and emotional well-being characterized by flexibility, adaptability, resilience and the capacity to balance and cope with strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and adversity.

The view of mental health has changed from an “illness” perspective to a holistic perspective that encompasses the entire range of mental health and illness and the entire lifespan, from infancy to older adulthood.

Text Box: The mental health of a family is a composite of the mental health of all of its members. When parents have mental health needs that are not being met, it may affect their ability to provide for the mental, physical and spiritual needs of their children.

Older adults face unique mental health challenges, which may be complicated by misconceptions about aging.

Mental health policy is intertwined with prenatal care, early care and education, freedom from neglect and violence, quality education, adequate housing, employment policies, and respite care and living options for seniors.

The accessibility and quality of mental health services available statewide are inconsistent and often inadequate.

Policy Recommendations From Research

Early interventions can improve mental health and shift the odds toward more favorable outcomes. Prevention and early intervention services are a critical part of an effective set of treatment options.
Program sand policies should aim to reduce risks that can lead to mental health problems in families of all social classes, backgrounds, and ages.
Public policies must recognize and support the influence of children’s early experiences on their overall development, including their brain development, development of social skills, and school readiness.
Rigorous mental health outcome evaluations are needed to improve services and the outcomes that are achieved.

For more detail on this topic, see the full Policy Brief, “Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence,” published by the Children, Youth and Family Consortium in the Fall, 2002.

It is available in its entirety, including references, on the CYFC website:

http://www.cyfc.umn.edu/policy/issues/health.html,

or call CYFC at 612/625-7849 for a print copy.