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Two recent news articles point to the growing prevalence of mental illnesses in the US, including early signs in young children.  An article in the Miami Herald, “School Psychologists Help Students Cope,” (8/22/2005) promotes the benefits of early identification and support.  "Without help, speech-language delays, dyslexia, depression, and a host of other disorders would progress to a level where the damage becomes difficult to undo."

On the other hand, in a Washington Post editorial, “Defining Down Mental Illness,” (8/14/2005), Sally Satel and Christina Sommers argue that early identification poses risks, including the problem of self-fulfilling prophecies:

"While the catch-it-early approach might be the correct one for some number of youngsters who display minor distress or behavioral problems, we don't know which ones.  If we treat all youths who display low-level symptoms, many risk being given medications or other treatments they don't really need.  An already overburdened child mental health care system will buckle."

To read these articles in full, go to the two publications' web sites and search their archives for the titles above [Note: both sites have small charges for these articles]:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/

This item was contributed by Kirsten Haugen.

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