- Race/Ethnicity
- Gender
- Age
- Socioeconomic status (SES) and where they live
- Health Problems
- Disability Status

Additional Factors:
- Family burden
- Distress of the Mother

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Children with disabilities are much more likely to need mental health support than their non-disabled peers. Despite this, children with disabilities are very rarely diagnosed with and receive treatment for mental health issues. 

Mental Health Services Use Among School-Aged Children with Disabilities

Witt, W. P., Kasper, J. D., & Riley, A. W. (2003). Mental Health Services use among school-aged children with disabilities: The role of Sociodemographics, functional limitations, family burdens, and care coordination. Health Services Research, 38(6p1), 1441–1466. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2003.00187.x 

Mental Health Services Use Among School-Aged Children with Disabilities Reference 

Socio-Demographic Factors for Seeking Services

- Potential major factor in access and quality of care
- Since majority of care is through a primary care provider for children, a lack of communication between primary doctors and mental health professionals can lead to a lack of proper mental health care
- Family involvement is another huge factor in success of care: since families are around children the most, they are invaluable in identifying any potential mental health changes or problems
- The amount of care coordination was influenced by SES status and severity of disability 


The Importance of Care Coordination

- Children with disabilities and lower psychosocial adjustment (emotional and behavioral issues) were 3.5x more likely to use mental health services, with older children (around 11-15 years) being the most likely to receive services
- Black children were less likely to receive care than their White peers
- Poverty status did not show any significant difference, but insurance coverage did
- Overall, the highest influencing factors over which children received services were social, functional learning, and communication hindrances

Use of Mental Health Services

Research shows that 2 out of 5 children with a disability receive mental health services. As with many other aspects of living with a disability, there are many societal barriers to accessibility. The major ones affecting children receiving mental health services are race, age, and type of insurance. Results indicate there is a lack of accurate identification of who needs services and a large range in mental health care needs for children with disabilities. Research also shows that the inclusion of a health professional in care coordination may have an important role in increasing mental health care accessibility.

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