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Barack Obama (BO)	Mike Huckabee (MH)
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Mental Health Issues of Children

Home » Issues » Children From the Left   From the Right Mental Health Issues of Children With more and more children being put on medication for mental health issues and being seen by psychologists and psychiatrists for mental health issues, it is apparent we are truly living in a “Prozac Nation”. American began to accept therapy and medication for mental health issues for adults long ago. However, now they are starting to treat children in the exact same manner as they are treating adults. This is not always the best idea for children suffering. The problem lies in the fact that children are often misdiagnosed with mental health issues. A child who has been living through a divorce, a death in the family, or even a new sibling’s arrival can act out. Today parents are asking doctor’s to prescribe medication to control the behavior of children. This is often done in place of the parent taking the interest to solve the problem in a conventional manner. Many politicians have pulled for mandatory school mental health screenings. However, this is not the solution children need. These screenings only open children up to be labeled more than they already are. Children with mental health issues show signs that parents and doctors recognize. There is no need to bring their issues to the school system as well. There is only more room for misdiagnosis, embarrassment, and other problems. Instead of medication being the first line of defense in treating mental health issues in children, other alternatives should be explored. Behavioral therapy has shown to work extremely well, especially when it comes to children. Medication is certainly not the only treatment available for all children.