Massachusetts passes a new children’s mental health law that tries to close the gap in care for children with mental health concerns and open up the screening process to more of them:

The bill requires pediatricians to routinely screen children for behavioral health problems, with parental consent, and for health insurance companies to cover those screenings. It creates a system for school personnel to receive consultation and guidance to recognize and better understand children’s’ mental health needs. And it attacks the “stuck kids” issue by setting up a process to more quickly move children stuck in hospitals because of bureaucratic red tape into more appropriate community-based settings.

I’m all for more mental health screenings (since I think many people walk around with sometimes serious mental disorders without even realizing it). Pediatricians are the professionals best equipped for such screenings, because if a child is already going in to see a psychiatrist or psychologist, then a mental health concern is already suspected.

I hope it also ensures pediatricians are paid for these screenings appropriately, since nothing is more effective as an incentive than being paid for one’s work.

Remarkably, this bill passed the Massachusetts legislature in a single session, virtually unheard of for a bill of this nature:

The substantial unmet need, combined with Torres’ powerful testimony and a strong coalition of families and organizations, helped push the bill through Beacon Hill in one legislative session, a remarkable feat, given its far-reaching effects, said Marylou Sudders, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and a former state mental health commissioner.

Which only goes to show you that, if nothing else, government can be extremely effective when it wants to be in the name of the children. It awaits the governor’s signature.

Read the full article: Children’s mental health bill wins final passage

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by John M. Grohol, PsyD (or subscribe to their feed).

Comments

This post currently has 7 comments. You can read the comments or leave your own thoughts on our new comments page.

Trackbacks

» Children’s Mental Health Bill Passess in Massachusetts (8/15/2008)

Children’s Mental Health Bill Passess in Massachusetts · (8/15/2008)

» Children’s Mental Health Bill Passes in Massachusetts (8/15/2008)

Golf Town · (8/20/2008)

capital of minnesota · (8/22/2008)

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 15 Aug 2008
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.