Statistics show that children's mental health is a major issue in the community, but experts say the attention it receives it is not up to par.
According to Clarity Child Guidance Center (CGC), approximately one in five children has a mental illness, many however, go undiagnosed.
In an effort to educate the community about the struggles of mental health in children, CGC hosted its third annual summit: Claritycon2015.
Mental health professionals and experts from around the world gathered this week to create dialog about the issue at hand.
"We must have conversations not just at a conference like this, but at work, at a picnic, across the aisle, at a church, at the dinner table, that's where the conversations are really needed," Rebecca Heiterbrand, senior vice president of marketing and resource development for CGC said. "We have to care for our children's mental health the same way we do for their physical health."
She added that many parents don't talk about their child's mental illness because they are afraid to be judged.
"Will people think I'm a bad parent? Or worse, will they blame my child? I'm just worried that if I talked about what was going on with my child that my child's future was going to be limited. Will their employer see this information? Can they join the military if a mental health incident is on their record? Those are the things that parents are worried about day in and day out," Halterbrand explained.
The worst sentiment she receives, though, is one she hears all the time: I wish I would have gotten help sooner.
"That friends, is stigma at play," Halterbrand said to a crowd of mental health advocates.
One particular advocate knows the struggle of receiving mental health help all too well.
In November 2013, Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds was slashed in the face and stabbed multiple times by his mentally ill son, Gus, who then ended his own life.
Days prior to the incident, Deeds tried to get his son help at a mental health facility, but they were unable to find an open hospital bed in the area.
"Someone experiencing cardiac arrest is not turned away from an emergency room because there is no space, someone who commits murder is not turned away from the jail because the jail is full," Deeds said.
Since the incident, Deeds has worked to improve Virginia's mental health system in various ways, including extending the amount of time allowed to find a psychiatric bed and to require state mental facilities to provide a bed of last resort.
"As a father and as a legislator, I am determined to use my time to improve the mental struggle," Deeds said. "I demand the same of all policy makers."
His colleagues, on the other hand, may not understand the importance of mental illness because there are so many issues that can grab their attention.
"Eve always been concerned about mental health, but never until it hit me in the face, literally, was it at the top of my to-do list," Deeds said. "At the top of other politicians is the creation of jobs, improving education, improving transportation."
He added that if a person is not healthy, nothing else matters.
In terms of advice for a parent dealing with a child with mental illness, Deeds recommends loving the child, listening to the child and most importantly, getting the child the services needed.
"Know that there is no shame in living with mental illness," the senator concluded.
Clarity Child Guidance Center is the only nonprofit in South Texas providing a full continuum of mental health care to children ages 3 to 17. The center offers outpatient therapy for children and families, day treatment and acute inpatient hospitalization.
"9 out of 10 parents tell us that their child improved as a result of treatment and the majority states that the treatment was significant," Heiterbrand said. "There is hope and healing for kids."
By Natalie Bobadilla
natalie@laprensasa. com