Mental Health Services in Minn. Schools 
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Photo credit: John Picken Photography, Flickr

As May is celebrated as Mental Health Month this year, Minnesota is marking the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Act, one of the earliest and most comprehensive pieces of mental health legislation in the nation. The 1989 Legislature recognized the unique needs of children with emotional disturbance and their families and emphasized developing children's mental health clinical services and expertise. The law also envisioned a comprehensive system integrated with the medical, educational and other community sectors that touch the lives of children and their families.

Since then, remarkable progress has been made in building a children's mental health system of care. Minnesota has distinguished itself as a national leader in supporting mental health services in schools, which allows us to reach young people early, including those who might not otherwise access these services. Whether they live in the Twin Cities or in Greater Minnesota, have health insurance or are uninsured, these programs give children help when they need it and where it is most convenient for them and their family.

Last year Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature acted to double the capacity for school-linked mental health services with $45.4 million in grants over five years. This will help about 35,000 students in more than 800 schools across 82 counties. More than half of the students will receive mental health services for the first time.

School-linked mental health services are one significant way to address the mental health problems that are estimated to affect one in five young people at any given time. In Minnesota, 9 percent of school-age children and 5 percent of pre-school children are estimated to have a serious emotional disturbance- a mental health problem that has become longer lasting and interferes significantly with the child's functioning at home and in school. These serious emotional disturbances include depression, anxiety disorders related to eating, conduct and attention-deficit.

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