Delivering Mental Health Services to Children and Adolescents

Although one out of every five to seven children and adolescents has elevated psychological symptoms or a diagnosable condition warranting treatment, most will not access mental health services. Children from ethnic, linguistic, or cultural minority communities are at greatest risk for being underserved. Many communities lack professionals who are trained to work with this population. Yet effective and efficacious treatment options are available for children and adolescents who present with a range of conditions. Clinicians must consider developmental level, socioecological context, and culture when selecting and delivering evidence-based treatment approaches. Future steps include the use of remote technologies and creative co-location of services to improve access, the use of coordinated services to improve quality of life, and robust specialty training to provide the professional competencies necessary to reach this underserved population.