A commentary by a retired clinical psychologist
I want to strongly endorse the “pinballing” position suggested by pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Balfour, in the Dec. 13 Times 91原创.
I speak from my experience as a clinical psychologist who worked in private practice and with school boards in Ontario and British Columbia.
I have assessed and treated children and adolescents and provided parent counselling. The pinballing Balfour speaks of in British Columbia means that children, teens and families are not getting the help they need.
Sadly we have a “reactive” management approach, rather than a “proactive” approach. The sooner children and their parents get help, the sooner the problems can be addressed.
The longer it takes to get them help, the more severe the problems can become, such as school absenteeism, academic failure, mental illness and drug addiction.
As Balfour suggests, let’s provide our schools and teachers with more educational assistants, social workers, speech pathologists and psychologists.
In fact, with the exception of clear medical, physical problems, most of the hundreds of children and teens I assessed over three decades of practice did not require a pediatric assessment or treatment.
Psychologists can and do diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, intellectual and learning disabilities, neurodiverse conditions.
Very often a psychologist, educational assistant and/or social worker can advise parents, teachers and the students about how to manage the problems. In the case of children with speech/language difficulties, a speech pathologist can assess and treat the problems.
While psychologists cannot prescribe medications, they can advise if a medication might be indicated. And because they will have completed the assessment and written the report that information will expedite the meeting with the family doctor or pediatrician.
Another service that British Columbia is not offering its families are programs provided by the Strongest Families Institute.
SFI, a not-for-profit organization, has been around for more than 20 years. SFI provides evidence-based assessment and treatments for anxiety, depression, childhood behaviour problems.
A leader in digital mental health, SFI can be accessed directly by parents. In 2017 SFI was awarded a Governor General’s Award for its programs.
SFI is available to the military across Canada, and in every province except British Columbia.
An October report compiled by Mental Health Research Canada has indicated that mental health in 91原创 youth is in a crisis situation.
Stop the “pinballing,” British Columbia, now.
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