The hospital has seen a 47 percent increase in youth patients from multiple districts across the region, Windy McCarty, regional director of Central Florida Behavioral Hospital, said in the report.
Cherlette McCullough, a licensed counselor at Winter Park, Fla.-based Center Peace Couples and Family Therapy, attributed the heightened number of pediatric admissions to changes in school curriculum and guidelines, bullying, academic pressure and economic hardships faced in the home.
Parents must be alert to changes in their child’s behavior, such as a change in eating habits or a lack of motivation, as these are potential signs of anxiety or depression, Ms. McCarty and Ms. McCullough said in the report.
At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.
