Proposal
to Study the Mental Health Treatment Needs of Youth Committed
to the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services:
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is developing a proposal to
evaluate the adequacy of mental health services for youth committed
to the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS). Many
incarcerated youth in the Massachusetts' juvenile justice system
have unidentified mental health disorders, and it is possible
that many youth with identified or unidentified mental health
disorders end up unjustly detained, committed, or committed
for longer periods of time in DYS than youth with no mental
illness. During incarceration, youth with mental illness may
not be receiving appropriate mental health treatment.
PHR
is designing and evaluation to determine the mental health
needs of youth committed to DYS and the types of services
they require, and to advise DYS on the most appropriate services
and programs. PHR is planning a study of the prevalence of
mental disorders among a sample of youth newly committed to
DYS.
PHR is also interested in examining how youth with mental
disorders are being committed in the first place, whether
identification or screening would have made a difference in
their disposition by the court, and whether such youth are
provided specific services or programs that address their
mental health problems. Finally, policy implications will
be addressed, in regards to the appropriateness of placement
and commitment, and the appropriateness of services provided.
Individuals
interested in the epidemiology of adolescent psychiatric disorders,
access to and quality of mental health services of youth in
state custody, policy implications, or those interested in
receiving further information about this project are encouraged
to contact:
Elliot Pittel, M.D., M.P.H.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
Youth Services Program
617-522-8110, ext. 3492
Asst. Clinical Prof. Psychiatry
Tufts University School of Medicine
Voice Mail: 781-553-0867
Email: epittel@attbi.com
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