Between August of 2013 and April of 2014, a 20-member task for met to examine how the state treats and supports young adults with mental health issues. Yesterday, they released their final report.
What they found is that the state does not adequately support young adults suffering from mental health problems. So 47 recommendations later they hope they can help the state meet the needs of young people.
Much of the report focused on the education system and starting there to identify mental health disorders at an early stage and moving forward with a support system to help the child or teen.
The report called for an increase in school based social workers and in school psychologists. The task force also proposed mental health education to health classes and equipping teachers with prep courses that focus on mental health.
In addition, the task force wants to require primary care doctors to screen patients under the age of 25 for behavioral health problems.
One of the more controversial topics – involuntary outpatient treatment – that is essentially allowing the state to force someone to receive care without their authorization. The group felt that merits its own task force.