This story on NPR is showing up in several other news outlets as well. I would like to make a couple of observations. Be sure to read the entire article because it goes on to state:
“Psychotropic drugs have proven effective in treating mental illness, and the higher rate could be “due to foster children’s greater exposure to traumatic experiences and the unique challenges of coordinating their medical care.”
The fact is, the study focuses on children receiving Medicaid. What that means is that these children are coming from families that are already dealing with economic challenges. And, if the children are in foster care, this often (though absolutely not always) is related to parental drug/alcohol use, incarceration, sometimes parental mental illness or other things that have caused the child to be removed from the home. What effect do these conditions have on a child’s mental health? Not surprisingly, they very often experience mental health issues of their own.
Please do not think that I am advocating the kind of over-the-top medication management that this study seems to to suggest happens all too often. It is simply that I want to be sure that we are looking at all of the factors that may contribute to the statistic.
We actually find that Equine Therapy can be a very powerful part of a comprehensive mental health treatment program for all kids of issues, including those listed in this study. Through work with horses children are often to decrease medication dosages or even be weaned off of them all together.
We would love to have you visit our beautiful ranch, meet our wonderful horses and learn more about how our program can help address many mental health issues. We are a NV Medicaid mental health provider and work with children as young as 4, teens, adults and even seniors. Call us today to schedule a visit.