​According to a recent study, half of parents are unaware that their children are having suicidal thoughts. The study surveyed 5,000 adolescents aged 11-17 and asked them questions including whether they had ever thought about killing themselves and whether they ever thought a lot about death or dying. The parents of these same children were asked questions about their child's thoughts on suicide and death/dying. According to the study, 50% of the parents surveyed had no idea that their children had considered suicide and 76% of parents did not know that their children frequently thought about death or dying.
 
The study also showed that, as children got older, parents were less likely to be in denial about their children's suicidal thoughts. This may mean that younger adolescents are not getting the help they need. There were differences among the genders as well. Parents were more likely to be aware of their daughter's suicidal thoughts and less aware of their son's. In addition, fathers were less likely to be aware of suicidal thoughts when compared to mothers.
 
Need for Help
 
The study highlights the urgent need for children to get help with mental health issues from an early age. Primary care physicians and pediatricians should receive training on risk factors for suicide and how to identify mental illness in children. Doctors should routinely screen all children for depression and suicide risk. There should also be resources available in schools to connect children with mental health treatment.
 
In addition, parents need to pay attention to the signs that even their young children may be showing. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, warning signs of suicidal thoughts include withdrawal from friends and family, sleeping too much or too little, irritable or aggressive behavior, and use of alcohol and drugs. It can be tough for parents to discern whether their children are having suicidal thoughts and, in some cases, parents may be in denial. Suicidal thoughts are scary, and parents may not want to acknowledge the problem. It’s important for parents to overcome this denial and get their children the help they need.
 
If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental disabilities. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.

As Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made mental health one of his top priorities for the 2019 Texas legislative session, multiple bills have been filed that focus on improving mental health care in the state.
 
Senate Bill 10
 
On March 5, 2019, the Texas Senate gave unanimous approval to a bill that was designed to identify children with mental health needs and direct them to treatment. The bill would create regional mental health hubs and focuses on the safety of children. The bill creates the Texas Mental Health Care Consortium which provides access to psychiatric professionals associated with the state's medical schools that can better address a child's needs. In addition, the bill would create the Child Psychiatry Access Network which would connect pediatricians with mental health experts who could consult on treatment options. This would be an important step because pediatricians and other physicians are usually the first medical professionals to recognize a mental health issue in a child but may not always be equipped to treat the issue. Senate Bill 10 will now go before the Texas House.
 
House Bill 10
 
House Bill 10, filed by State Representative Senfronia Thompson, seeks to increase and improve mental health services to children. The bill calls for an increase in the number of child and teen psychiatrists and nurses in the state. It also establishes a telemedicine program that would connect doctors and school nurses to mental health professionals. In addition, the bill would create the Texas Mental and Behavioral Health Research Institute which would conduct research into mental health treatment options. 
 
House Bills 198 and 204
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State Representative Shawn Thierry filed two bills in the House that seek to provide more mental health education to children in public schools. The proposed curriculum would recognize the correlation between mental and physical health. The aim of the curriculum would be to provide children with coping skills and to recognize the signs of when they, or a classmate, might be in crisis. 

If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental disabilities. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.

In February, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order aimed at protecting people with disabilities. The Governor is ordering three state agencies, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security to strengthen protection for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. The aim is to protect people with disabilities from abuse and neglect by caregivers and other individuals.
 
Great First Step
 
The executive order came one week after the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council(ADDPC) issued a report calling for greater protection for those individuals with disabilities. These improvements include better training for staff, parents, and guardians. When he issued the executive order, the Governor indicated that he wanted stricter oversight, increased accountability, and to hold bad actors accountable for abuse and neglect. 
 
Many feel that the executive order was issued in response to the sexual assault of a 29-year old resident of an Intermediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled (ICF-ID). The victim gave birth in December. A nurse at the facility has been charged with rape. 
 
More Likely to be Victims
 
In the executive order, the governor notes that individuals with intellectual disabilities are seven times more likely to be sexually assaulted. This is also true for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities that live in group homes and other facilities. Two mentally disabled clients at a community center in Virginia were discovered to be pregnant. In February, Bernard Betts-King, a behavioral specialist at the center, was charged with sexually assaulting both women. DNA tests showed that he was the father to at least one of the women’s children.
 
Individuals with intellectual and other disabilities are also vulnerable to other forms of abuse and neglect by caretakers in facilities. Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) require assistance with their daily tasks. This leads to close and frequent contact with caretakers. It can be difficult for individuals with IDD to recognize when they aren’t being treated properly and to report the situation.
 
With an increase in oversight and protections for individuals with disabilities, the Governor hopes to make Arizona a safer place for the vulnerable. Requiring increased training for caregivers on how to recognize abuse and neglect and posting instructions on how to report abuse and neglect can make it so that other employees can hold their co-workers responsible. 
 
If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental disabilities. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.

​After noticing a growing number of young people with symptoms of autism in the criminal justice system, Clark County Juvenile Court Hearing Master Soonhee “Sunny” Bailey and Family Court Judge William Voy launched a new court. The Detention Alternatives for Autistic Youth Court, or DAAY Court, was launched in 2018. DAAY Court is a specialized court geared toward helping troubled young people on the autism spectrum. Bailey recognized the symptoms of autism in some of the youth she encountered and knew that many of them were not receiving the treatment they required.
 
Most of the kids who come before the DAAY Court have had no therapy at all for their condition. The arrests that bring them to court are frequently a side effect of being on the autism spectrum. The goal of the DAAY Court is to get these kids and teenagers the help they need now before they become adults. When a juvenile defendant is identified as possibly autistic, the family is connected with community service workers in court. Defendants check in with the court on a regular basis.
 
Autism and the Criminal Justice System
 
Courts like the DAAY Court are important because too often young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) become involved with the criminal justice system. Much of this involvement stems from a lack of treatment for ASD and a misunderstanding by law enforcement and the court system about the symptoms of ASD and what it means for an individual’s behavior. Perceived antisocial behavior, an inability to pick up on social cues and issues with verbal and nonverbal communication can all lead someone with ASD into the criminal justice system. A court with a judge that understands the unique challenges faced by someone with ASD is important to ensure that justice is truly achieved. Punishing someone for demonstrating the symptoms of ASD will not help the matter. Assisting someone with ASD in getting treatment can go a long way toward preventing this person from appearing in court again.  
 
If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental illnesses. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.