A Community Task Force on Child Mental Health

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A group of concerned community leaders gathered on July 13, 2022, to discuss the rising rates of child suicides in Wake County. Bettie Murchison called friends and colleagues together to discuss the challenges faced by children in schools and homes. Research done by Dr. Rodney Harris predicted this trend over a year ago.

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Fields represented include: therapy interventions, nutrition, substance use disorder, education and academic, gardening, faith/religion, youth programming, nonprofits, fatherhood, research, curriculum development, grantwriting, grant reviewing, community organizing, community advocacy, parenting, case management, child development, business development, and more.

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The Problem

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• Children’s mental health is in crisis

• African Americans are 20% more likely to have serious psychological distress than other ethnic groups

• In 2019 suicide was the second leading cause of death for African Americans ages 15-24

• Youth ages 5 and up are also attempting suicide at higher rates

• There are not enough therapists, especially African Americans, to serve the children who wait listed

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​The Causes

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• COVID losses (parents, grandparents, safety nets are gone)

• School safety (active shooter drills reinforce trauma)

• Violence in home (stress on parents taken out on children)

• Lack of culturally competent counselors

• Lack of insurance

• Healthcare system bureaucracy

• Physical health challenges in youth – diabetes, brain development, etc.

   

Village of C.A.R.E. is born

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Compassion, Awareness, Resources, and Education are what we seek. If we can find enough compassionate people and make them aware of the crisis, provide the education and training for them to become the resources within their village, we can heal our community.