The REACH Institute CEO Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, on the Georgia school shooting
As a clinical child psychologist, it is devastating to learn that a child with mental health issues cannot access treatment they need, want, and deserve. Identifying children–students–who are at risk is critical so that they can be helped before they experience irreversible damage or delay.
According to The Washington Post’s Sept. 5, 2024 piece (Georgia school-shooting suspect struggled with mental health, aunt says), the shooter begged for months for mental health help before he carried out this week’s deadly attack at Apalachee High School. His story is a tragedy, as are those of the children and teachers who lost their lives, the Apalachee students who join 382,000 others who have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine, and millions more who fear the next incident will occur at their own school.
All of this grief and anxiety occurs amidst a critical shortage of pediatric mental health services in the U.S., particularly in underserved areas. Approximately 20% of children across the nation have a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, yet only 20% of them receive care from a mental health provider.1 Of the 100,000 clinical psychologists in our country, only 4,000 are child and adolescent clinicians.2 And the average school has 1 school psychologist per 1,211 students.3
That’s why The REACH Institute offers gold standard mental health training to clinicians and schools, training developed with renowned experts in the field of youth mental health, grounded in the science of behavior change, and supported by rigorous program evaluation. School personnel and clinicians, like primary care physicians and nurse practitioners, we stand ready to assist. You have our support and commitment to ensure the most effective, scientifically proven mental health care reaches all children and families. For more information, go to thereachinstitute.org/training.
Lisa Hunter Romanelli, Ph.D.
About the Author
Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer of the REACH Institute (REsource for Advancing Children’s Mental Health) and a practicing clinical child psychologist with expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy. Prior to joining REACH, Dr. Hunter Romanelli was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of School-Based Mental Health Programs at the Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health. Dr. Hunter Romanelli completed her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center. She earned her PhD from Rutgers University and her BA from Harvard University.
References:
1. CDC. Children's mental health. CDC. 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/access.html
2. Abramson A. Children’s mental health is in crisis. APA. January 1, 2022. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-childrens-mental-health
3. NASP. Shortage of School Psychologists. NASP. 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.nasponline.org/research-and-policy/policy-priorities/critical-policy-issues/shortage-of-school-psychologists
