Test Shows Many Youths In Juvenile Justice System Suffering Mental Health Problems

A new screening test being used with youth entering the state’s juvenile justice system discloses that a majority of them display signs of mental health problems. Nearly 300 adolescents were screened over a two-year period. Of those screened, 80-percent showed symptoms of mental health problems in at least one category of the survey. The results confirm those of another survey taken of 1,700 youth three years ago. Those were already in the state juvenile justice system. Researchers do caution that the results don’t necessarily mean the youth are mentally ill. They say the screenings aren’t designed to diagnose mental illness, but to alert workers of youth who many need further attention.