LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A bill in the Nevada Legislature would add more mental health professionals in Nevada schools and children’s programs, all to help tens of thousands of children and families who do not have access to care.
Nevada consistently ranks 51st in the nation for mental health services for children, according to Mental Health America. Data from the Clark County Children’s Mental Health Consortium in 2021 found that 86,000 children in the Valley needed mental health services; more than 60% of children with depressive episodes did not get the care they need.
“In the district, the ratio is roughly 1 [school psychologist] to 1,200. We would need 600 psychologists today and an additional 600 psychologists today to meet the national average compared to other states around the country,” said psychologist Michelle Paul, UNLV assistant vice president of Mental & Behavioral Health Training.
“It’s difficult to find a provider. So if you are a parent or a caregiver who is looking to find somebody to help your child, you’re going to, basically you’re going to run into long wait lists,” she said.
Senate Bill 165, following in the footsteps of universities in states like Washington and Oregon, would create a bachelor’s degree statewide for “behavioral health and wellness professionals” at schools like UNLV.
While under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, these professionals could work in schools or programs, help screen children, refer families to licensed professionals, and train staff to spot warning signs.
“Before COVID, we had kids in distress, and we didn’t have the resources to serve them. Now we have exponentially more kids struggling with anxiety, struggling with depression, and we still don’t have the resources to serve them currently,” said Tara Raines, deputy director of Children’s Advocacy Alliance. “The kids now are really tuned in to their mental health and wellness. It’s our job to come and give them the tools and to support them,” Raines said.
Paul tells FOX5, adding more professionals would help children with early intervention; some of these professionals can help detect early onset of diseases such as schizophrenia.
“You can stave off the disease entirely or minimize the severity of it, and you don’t have to wait for the worst-case outcome when somebody has their very first psychotic break,” Paul said.
The bill would also create a residency for Psychology graduate students; many students have to leave the state to properly train for their field.
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