Family Mental Health

Family Matters: Mental Health of Children and Parents, July 2003

Family Matters Policy Brief (216k)

This policy brief highlights the link between the emotional well-being of Washington children and their parents' mental health. We found that elementary school children whose parents experienced symptoms of poor mental health or high parental aggravation were almost five times as likely to have severe emotional and behavioral problems as children whose parents reported better mental health or only moderate aggravation. Similarly, parents who had a child with severe emotional and behavioral problems had about a five-fold risk of reporting their own mental health challenges.

Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Our Children

Forum Proceedings: Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Our Children (30k)

The forum on Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Our Children: Early Identification, Intervention and Policy Implications took place in October 2000. The forum was convened by HSPC following the release of the Washington Kids Count research report on Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among Washington's Children. The forum gathered child advocates from approximately 50 organizations around Washington State to examine these serious problems. Attendees included the Washington State Department of Health, Puget Sound Educational Service District, Seattle Children's Home Society, the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, among many others.