It Takes A Village — Navigating Mental Health Crisis for Youth
As a single mother of two children with special needs, I never imagined how difficult it would be to get mental health services in Stanislaus County.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CHALLENGES ARE SIMILAR STATEWIDE.
My daughter is 14 and has a diagnosis of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) or Children’s Bipolar, which manifests as chronic depression and severe mood swings. I also have a son with high-functioning autism. My daughter has been enrolled in special education programs since the 1st grade. Since then, we’ve done exhaustive assessments and tried many medications. We’ve worked within the school system and with mental health service providers.
The mood stabilizing medication she takes now makes a huge difference and requires a monthly refill from a psychiatrist. Getting access to a psychiatrist for medication management has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever tried to do. There is a severe shortage of psychiatrists in general, particularly those who treat children and accept our health insurance. Last year, my daughter was hospitalized five times for severe depression and self harm. The isolation of COVID was detrimental to her mental health and mine, to be honest. Psychiatric hospitalization is pretty terrifying, and even though it does help stabilize my daughter, I don’t think it’s an experience we’ll ever get used to.
My daughter’s mental health requires constant monitoring and tending to. Advocating for her needs is exhausting and often defeating. Fortunately, I have learned how to be a fierce advocate for my daughter. The one thing I tell other parents in my situation is that they will need to be prepared to fight. It will be exhausting and continuous. It will require stamina.
It will take a village, whether that’s already available or needs to be built.
They will need community support which may not come from family. As a parent, it’s easy to feel lost between clinicians, medical doctors, psychiatrists, ER staff, case managers, teachers, school administrators, community advocates, post-hospitalization service providers, etc. It’s a lot.
Everyone trying to help, holds only a very small piece of the entire picture.
It’s up to the parent or caregiver to make sense of it all and that is incredibly hard to do on your own. Working at Center for Human Services has given me an understanding of the types of support available for families in Stanislaus County.
There is no easy fix and mental health is something that needs regular tending to. Being able to talk with a clinician or social worker who knows what you are going through and how all the pieces fit together can make all the difference.
Parents need support as much as the children they are seeking services for.
Even though my daughter is the one who stays in the hospital (usually about one week at a time), it’s something that affects my entire family. We all go through it with her.
Sometimes the most helpful thing is just knowing what to expect next and having someone explain the process to you, even if the process feels fragmented and broken.
Mental Health Resources
Center for Human Services (Stanislaus County, CA)
Serving youth and families through prevention, education, intervention, shelter, counseling and treatment services.
Child Mind Institute
Dedicated to transforming the lives of children & families struggling with mental health & learning disorders.