Lakes Region Mental Health Center

Funding will provide the 10 Child & Family therapists with additional training in the assessment and treatment of youth and adolescents with eating disorders, disordered eating patterns, and/or body shame. The C&F team treats children from 0-17 years old. The population that LRMHC serves has a high percentage of children and families living in poverty. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among children living below 100% of the federal poverty level, more than 1 in 5 (22%) have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, often resulting from trauma. Trauma, or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), experienced by children and youth is a pervasive and serious public health issue that requires a coordinated response from health and mental health providers. ACEs can include violence, abuse, and growing up in a household with mental health or substance use disorders. Multiple, chronic, persistent toxic stress from these events can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress. These changes to a developing brain have been linked to high-risk behaviors, chronic disease, and negative health outcomes in adulthood. For example, an ACE score of 4 increases a person’s risk of suicide by 1200%. (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health). It continues to be necessary for the LRMHC staff to be well-versed and trained in trauma-focused care, and to be knowledgeable about emerging, promising therapeutic modalities to treat these patients, particularly for young patients. Early intervention improves long-term outcomes. Due to the mental health workforce shortage, and the chronic critical shortage of clinicians, it is necessary to train new hires as they are onboarded, so they have the same skills in their “toolbox” as the rest of the team.