Youth Mental Health: What Works?
FROM THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK"Youth mental health: What Works?" is the Local News Network's deep dive into the youth mental health crisis in Maryland and beyond, focusing on solutions that have proved to help troubled young people. Funded with a $7,500 grant from the Solutions Journalism Network's Student Media Challenge, the project focuses on innovative programs in public schools and communities in Maryland and elsewhere. The project includes a deep dive into the state's expanded youth mental health effort under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, and also includes a look at youth mental health programs in each of the state's 23 counties as well as the city of Baltimore. About this project.
Featured Stories
College students move across state lines — and lose access to therapy as a result
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Denise Takakjy. She is the co-chair of the American Mental Health Counselors Association’s Public Policy and Legislative Committee. The story has been updated with that information. Eli Greene, a senior animal science…
Machine learning — in Maryland and elsewhere — opens new possibilities for suicide prevention
The Reddit thread that caught Philip Resnik’s attention posed a potentially life-saving question. “Formerly suicidal Redditors, what’s something that kept you alive a little while longer and helped you to get through the dark times in your lives?” the post…
Parents often struggle to find help for troubled youngsters — but this Maryland program can help
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Going into her toddler’s annual check-up at Opal Court Pediatrics, Mallory Churchey worried about his behavior. Her youngest child, 3-year-old son Bronnsen, was having unusual tantrums and outbursts. “I just knew it was not normal,” said the…
Schools can screen students for behavioral health issues – but many are reluctant to do so
After Achilles Bardos learned about the internet in the 1990s, he thought to himself, “Why not in psychology?” A school psychology professor, Bardos talked with his colleagues about using the web to quickly collect data on student behavior. A few…
‘Playworks’ reinvents recess as a learning experience
PHILADELPHIA — You won’t find swings, slides or a kickball field outside Rhawnhurst School. Instead, the school’s “playground” is a vast expanse of barren blacktop with just a lone basketball hoop. Yet at this aging two-story elementary school in this…
Despite earlier proposal, youth mental health initiatives see minimal cuts in Maryland state budget
Maryland mental health advocates and providers are relieved coming out of this year’s legislative session, where state lawmakers decided against a drastic cut in funding to the state’s year-old, big-money program aimed at improving the mental health of its young people.
Rapid-response teams aid troubled youths in New Jersey – but funding limits Maryland’s similar effort
A young New Jersey girl tormented others in her kindergarten class. Alienated from her classmates, she physically attacked other students and colored the bathroom walls with a permanent marker. Access to mental health care was complicated in her rural county,…
Schools face a shortage of social workers – but Howard University has a plan that helps
Project PRESS aims to motivate social work students to do something many of their predecessors have decided not to do: work in schools.
In Massachusetts and elsewhere, youngsters find healing through art
A nonprofit youth development organization uses art therapy techniques and the power of community to promote healing.
As youngsters struggle with mental health, some get help from peers
With youth spending much of their time in schools, many school-based peer programs empower young people to help each other while building a sense of community.
Other states have tackled youth gambling. Why hasn’t Maryland?
Nearly one in five Maryland high school students have gambled in the past year, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Youth mental health profiles by county
See a profile and data about youth mental health grants in every county in Maryland.