Davis County to hold mental health screening for children from preschool to 6th grade

LAYTON — If you believe that children in preschool and elementary school do not experience mental health struggles — including thoughts of suicide — think again.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Clinic and Utah's many county health departments have been aware of this phenomenon for some time. For example, the CDC reports, based on data from before the pandemic, 35% of children between the ages of 3 and 5 were in a treatment program or seeing a counselor. As such they encouraged health professionals to address the mental health struggles of everyone in their communities — including young children.

The staff at the Davis County Health Department, Davis Behavioral Health and other community partners have joined together to do just that. They host an annual mental health screening twice a year — one for elementary ages and another for secondary — where parents come with their children to meet with a therapist and discover how to get the help needed.

"If we can help one family who is struggling ... then it is worth our time," said Teresa Smith, community outreach planner for the Davis County Health Department. She is also the organizer of the mental health screening events. "Since 2012, access to behavioral health resources has been the main issue for families. Helping that one person or family ... is what we need."

On Oct. 29, Davis County will hold its mental health screening specifically for children from preschoolers to sixth grade. The organizers have made it a habit to listen to the needs of the community. When parents asked if their preschool children could also be a part of the screening, they added this age group to the list of those to be served.

After completing an online screening questionnaire by Oct. 23, parents will select a 30-minute time slot for their children to meet with a therapist. Parents will also be in the room. In the past, some parents have asked questions regarding whether their children are hitting the correct developmental stages or not. They have also found that — although the sessions are not focused on parents — adults can learn about mental health issues and how to handle struggles themselves.

"We know that when a child has mental health struggles, parents are typically stressed," Smith said. "We try to answer questions that they have, but we also have different community resources at this event so they get what they need."

The CDC, National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic and others have noted that elementary-aged children experience mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Suicidality has also increased in this population, with the CDC reporting that suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 14.

What has caused these changes? No one is sure. But psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and counselors across the country warn the answer is not to think mental health struggles among young children are not real issues. As the researchers at the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital warn, children understand suicide can lead to death, but they do not always understand the finality of death. In other words, they view suicide as an option to deal with their struggles without understanding there is no coming back from it.

As such, staff members at the Davis County Health Department strongly encourage families to come to the screening even if they are not 100% sure of what is going on with their child. Staff members from many locales will be available to help you get the information you need.

"Mental health is important at every stage of life," Smith said. "We will help you find the tools you can use."

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