Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems
Fact Sheets for School Personnel

Introduction

"Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems - Fact Sheets for School Personnel" are designed to provide a brief overview of the mental health diagnoses most frequently encountered by those who work with students who have educational disabilities. These are complex issues and the answers are not simple, but the Fact Sheets are intended to provide a starting point. On each Fact Sheet there is background information, common symptoms, ideas for school-based interventions, and general resources.

According to the Policy Leadership Cadre for Mental Health in Schools , mental health is often a discussion in terms of mental illness, and this has led to a de-emphasis on the school's role in the development of positive social and emotional functioning. While there is generally agreement that schools are not in the mental health business, there is a role for schools to play when learning is directly affected. In addition to direct services such as special education, other modifications and accommodations, school counseling, school psychology, and school social work, schools link with families, community agencies, and other resources.

A mental health diagnosis is not an automatic qualification for special education. In some cases, the student's mental health diagnosis does not significantly impact his/her education. In other cases, the student might be referred and evaluated to determine whether he/she has a disability under the Individual's with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If the student has a disability as defined by those statutes, a plan - either an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan - would be developed. Links for additional information on IDEA and Section 504 can be found on the DPI Special Education Index at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/tm-specedtopics.html

An educational disability can only be identified by a school-based team (e.g., an IEP team under IDEA or a committee under Section 504). Physicians cannot mandate a special education placement. They can - and do - provide useful information, including their recommendations, but cannot make educational decisions. Conversely, school personnel cannot make diagnoses under the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition ). It is always important to communicate with the student's family and mental health provider(s) concerning how the student's illness is manifested, and to coordinate efforts to serve the student.

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) is a critical process in helping schools to match interventions to the function of a student's behavior, identify triggers for challenging behaviors and maintaining consequences, and considering whether behavior is learned or a manifestation of the student's illness. Additional information about FBA can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/sbfba.html

During the summer of 2003, Blueprints for Success were developed, and those documents provide suggestions for positive, proactive interventions linked to the functions of behavior. Resources and materials for school use are also included. The Blueprints can be accessed at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/ebdbluepri.html

Special thanks for their input in the development of these materials go to Tom Blankenheim and Patricia Robertson of the Green Bay (WI) School District, Tom Potterton of CESA 12 (Ashland, WI), and Richard Van Acker, Ed.D. of the University of Illinois-Chicago.

If you have questions about these fact sheets or want more information, please contact Lynn Boreson, EBD Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, at 608-266-1218 or by e-mail at lynn.boreson@dpi.wi.gov

Contents:

1. Mental Health and Schools
2. Anxiety Disorders (Generalized anxiety disorder, phobia, panic disorder)
3. Bipolar Disorder
4. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
5. Depression
6. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
7. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
8. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
9. Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
10. Schizophrenia
    
11. Entire Document

For questions about this information, contact Lynn A. Boreson (608) 266-1218

Last updated on 2/22/2008 1:25:02 PM