Behavioral Health Disparities Among Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs.

Abstract

The burden of mental health morbidity, disability, and mortality in children is not equally distributed across populations in the United States. The consequence is widespread differences in health status between certain groups of children that result in systematic behavioral health disparities. In the US, an estimated 12.8% of children (9.4 million) have a special health care need. Mental, emotional, and behavioral problems and disorders are widespread among children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), but are often undetected and untreated despite the adverse consequences to children throughout the life course. CYSHCN experience behavioral health disparities in the prevalence of behavioral health problems and conditions, and in the access to needed services. Further investigation is required to fully identify behavioral health needs, the mechanisms contributing to the disparities, and effective strategies to prevent and provide interventions for CYSHCN. Investing in research and interventions is vital to reducing behavioral health disparities. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(10):e382-e386.].