On Middle School Is Too Late: Developmental and social risk factors show up in early childhood

More on the importance of early identification of mental and behavioral health problems comes from a study cited in on an article on the Washington Post website. -gw

• Over 70 percent of students diagnosed with mental illness and behavioral health problems by middle school exhibited warning signs by second grade. 

• Almost 25 percent exhibited red flags during pre-kindergarten years, including developmental and health issues, adverse social factors and exposure to trauma. 

• Twenty-five percent of the children studied had documented traumatic experiences in their records. 

Yet it is not until middle school that mental and behavioral health problems are identified, according to educational records of children referred to the Center for Children’s Advocacy, a Connecticut nonprofit that provides legal support for abused and neglected children.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/09/19/study-impact-of-unaddressed-mental-health-issues-on-students-is-severe/