New Report Shows Families Less Likely to Notice Mental Health Needs in Young Children with Special Needs

A new issue brief shows that families are less likely to notice mental health needs in younger children with special needs and more likely to overemphasize the mental health needs of older youth with special needs. Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) comprise 13.9 percent of all children in the United States. Nearly 22 percent of households with children include at least one child with a special health care need. Low income and minority CSHCN have higher rates of mental health problems yet are less likely than their counterparts to receive mental health services.