Agenda - 11-16-1993 - III-B (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 developing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia resulting in adolescent clinic referrals. Mental health: Nationally, there is a higher reported lifetime prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among 12 to 17 year olds living in urban areas (19.1%) in contrast to rural youth (16.5%). Despite the lack of baseline data to support advocating for the mental heath needs of adolescents in Orange County there is substantial anecdotal evidence to warrant the need for more mental health services. In the four years of service through the Adolescent Clinic at the OCHD it has become apparent that a substantial proportion of adolescents seeking care for medical problems suffer from psychological problems serious enough to warrant mental health treatment. It is the most prevalent issue not adequately addressed by the present health care system. In the school based Adolescents in Need project, the majority of adolescents followed on a regular basis have mental health problems causing significant morbidity. Problems range from post- traumatic stress syndrome secondary to the aftermath of physical or sexual abuse, loneliness, depression, suicidal ideations, loss of a parent through divorce or death, family dysfunction secondary to alcoholism, depression, schizophrenia and school truancy. In a review of forty four ongoing cases by school psychologist in Northern Orange County,forty three percent of clients were being followed for depression and suicidal ideations. During the present school year, in Northern Orange County, there have been two hospitalizations of adolescents for suicidal ideations and depression and one completed suicide in a child with known mental health problems. In Southern Orange County, three children, from three different schools were admitted for inpatient treatment of a mental health problem within the same week. Finally, over 900 contacts were made to a students involved in a Peer Helper Program (PHP) during an eight month period in Northern Orange County. Referrals were diverse with many centering around sexuality, loss/grief, depression, stress, academic pressure and relationships. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the mental health needs of adolescents in Orange County are diverse and unmet with the present system of care. Substance Abuse: Tobacco and alcohol are the primary drugs abused by North Carolina youth. One out of every four North Carolina adolescents uses cigarettes or smokeless tobacco on a regular basis compared to one out of ten who use marijuana, cocaine or other drugs besides alcohol. According to a 1987 survey, drug use among North Carolina youth was found to be equal to or exceed the national average and almost 13 percent of students reported coming to school drunk or high at least once in the previous year. For eleventh and twelfth graders, the figure was almost one in five. It is estimated that twenty percent of all students in the school system are projected to have or develop a problem with chemical dependency, serious enough to warrant intervention. This past year 227 students were referred to Student Assistance Program in SOC with twice as many white females being referred than the previous year and five students at one of the middle schools were referred for in-patient care. Substance abuse is a common problem in adolescents in Orange County and warrants further organized efforts at prevention and recovery. Mortality: In North Carolina the five leading causes of death among adolescents ages 15 to 19 are accidents, homicide, suicide, cancer and cardiovascular problems. Nationally more than forty percent of the deaths of sixteen to nineteen year olds are caused by motor vehicle accidents and ten percent by suicide. In Orange County, between 1988 and 1990, the rates of death among people under the age of 20 by accidents, both motor vehicle (9.90/100,000 ) and other (1.41/100,000), are 32% and 85% lower than the state, respectively. However, the suicide rate for Orange County