The need for mental health resources for Iowa’s children continues to grow, and two local organizations are stepping up to help.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Some signs of mental health issues are obvious, but others can be hidden beneath services. Spotting mental health symptoms in children can be even more difficult, as parents have to deal with growing pains and more serious issues like depression and anxiety.
According to the National Organization for Mental Illness, one in five children in Iowa struggles with their mental health. Local 5 spoke to two organizations in central Iowa that are working to provide safe spaces for children.
Des Moines is home to the campus of mental health organization Orchard Place, where resource provider Isabella North and her team provide mental health support to children and their families.
“We do everything from outpatient services to some in-home services,” North said. We also have residential facilities.
Since the pandemic, Orchard Place has seen an increase in children with mental health issues. Of particular concern is the impact of social media on children, which can normalize unhealthy behaviors such as thoughts of self-harm.
“If young people are looking more into thoughts like, ‘Is it normal for me to have these thoughts?’ then, of course, on TikTok, Instagram, all of that, More videos will start popping up,” North said.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, CEO Bridget Cravens Neely works with volunteers and community advocates to support the well-being of children. She said her team has seen more children cut off from deeper connections.
“Our big teams have noticed that some of our young people, especially the girls, are becoming more aloof. That means, depending on when the games are arranged, they are not as strongly connected as they used to be. It means it’s a possibility,” she told Local 5.
The Iowa Department of Education has found that 50% of lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. That particular age group is the target area of her BBBSCI’s “I Am Enough” program, which aims to uplift young girls.
“Our original goal was to teach girls between the ages of 9 and 16 because these are formative years about self-love, self-empowerment, self-esteem and self-worth,” Cravens said. Neely said.
North understands that it can be difficult for parents to recognize which behaviors are a sign of growing pains and which reveal larger mental health concerns. Her advice is to ask for a hand from those closest to your child.
“Be really proactive and get evaluations from different professionals, talk to teachers, talk to school counselors, and really use those resources to make sure that other people are seeing Just checking things out,” North said.
