About 50% of all mental illnesses develop by the time a person is 14 year old. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly 21% of teenagers will develop treatable psychiatric illnesses. If left untreated, the illnesses are more likely to continue into adulthood.

"One advocate for primary care teen mental health screening is Kathleen Delaney, RN, DNSc,... 'Screening alerts you to risk and the need to send a patient for more in-depth [evaluation],' she says."

She suggests that a general screen can and should be included with a high school physical exam. Read more at News.Nurse.com.

The programs for troubled teens offered at Island View help young people identify their issues and then work on them in a caring, nurturing environment.

Labels: mental_health, psychiatric_illness, treatment_programs