- 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

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 

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

Additional Factors:
- Family burden
- Distress of the Mother

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

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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