Public News Service – Lack of behavioral health care for children may be undermining West Virginia’s efforts to reduce truancy, cut juvenile incarceration and improve foster care, advocates say.
They pointed to surveys showing that a much higher than average portion of state high school students complained of mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. And when those young people go untreated, they often end up in trouble, either with the schools or the justice system, said Kelli Caseman, co-founder and chair of Mental Health Matters West Virginia.
