Study Urges Mental Health Intake Reforms

A new study from Florida Atlantic University shows that many youths in juvenile detention are entering facilities with major mental health struggles, yet standard screening tools may not reliably detect who needs help most.

Researchers from the College of Education found that around 70% of incarcerated youth in the U.S. have a mental health disorder. Approximately 30% report suicidal thoughts, 12% admit to previous suicide attempts and 25% face solitary confinement, a condition strongly associated with increased suicidality.

Early and accurate screening is therefore vital to identify those in urgent need of mental health care simply because, without proper intervention, issues can worsen and have lifelong consequences.

"The core philosophy of juvenile corrections is that youth can and should be rehabilitated — and that promise begins with proper mental health screening at intake," said Joseph Calvin Gagnon, Ph.D., senior author and chair and professor, Department of Special Education.

The screening tools may also under-identify risks in certain populations, he said. This includes using better, culturally sensitive tools, adding observational and interview-based input and conducting broader studies to test and improve screening accuracy for diverse groups. Until then, many youths could continue to remain hidden without care … and that could cost lives.

"If we’re serious about justice and rehabilitation, we need to ensure that our assessments are not only accurate, but also fair," Gagnon said. "Anything less risks failing the very youth the system is meant to help."

Read the press release.