Essay
My bill, HF0905 gives minors age 16 or older authorized consent to nonresidential mental health services, and the consent of no other person is required. Nonresidential mental health services are outpatient services provided to a minor who is not residing in a hospital, inpatient unit, or licensed residential treatment facility or program. Outpatient services include clinical activities such as, individual, group, and family therapy; individual treatment planning; diagnostic assessments; medication management; and psychological testing. This bill is helpful and beneficial to minors for a plethora of reasons. Autonomy, accessibility, early intervention, and confidentiality are the main reasons I will discuss
At 16, plenty of minors are capable of making good, informed decisions about their health and well-being. Nobody knows their body or mind better than they do, so they deserve to have autonomy over those things. They are mastering abstract and critical thinking skills and also improving their reasoning and problem-solving skills. Allowing them to consent to mental health services without parental consent respects their bodily autonomy and ability to make personal decisions.
Mental health is a difficult thing for all parties. Some teenagers might not find help if they need to involve their parents. This could be due to issues of fear of stigma. Some parents may also not want to admit that their child has a problem due to the fear of the social stigma, and fear of how it may reflect on the family. They may lack awareness about mental health and their religious beliefs may lead them to wanting to handle it using alternative methods instead of getting their child professional help. Including parents in this will lessen mental health accessibility for minors and those mental issues will follow that child into adulthood.
Early Intervention is so critical when it comes to mental health in adolescence. Catching it early on can prevent it from snowballing and getting too big. Untreated mental illness in adolescence can lead to reduced academic performance, higher levels of anxiety, and depression. There will also be higher levels of alcohol and substance abuse which will probably follow them into their adult years. Addressing mental health issues early on in kids will help them develop healthy relationships, it will increase school performance, and it will help them navigate the challenges of life. This bill promotes early intervention.
This bill will also promote confidentiality. Ensuring confidentiality will encourage more minors to seek help. Knowing their sessions are private will provide them a sense of security and they might be more willing to discuss sensitive topics with a professional. Confidentiality will also help the minor build trust with the professional. It can reduce the fear of stigma and protect them from potential judgment from peers, or others around them.
This bill is a positive thing for minors. It makes them feel safe and brave enough to ask for help. It gives them autonomy and protects them from the stigma around mental health. It will build a generation of people who can admit that they have a problem and make them secure enough in themselves to get help. If my bill is passed this will be a win for all minors who reside in Minnesota.
References
The Power of Early Intervention in Mental Health: A Pathway to Wellness and Recovery. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. https://ppimhs.org/newspost/the-power-of-early-intervention-in-mental-health-a-pathway-to-wellness-and-recovery/
16-Year-Old Child Development Milestones To Look Out For. (n.d.). Parents. https://www.parents.com/16-year-old-development-milestones-8654712
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). The Teen brain: 7 Things to Know. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know
Sec. 245.4871 MN Statutes. (2024). Mn.gov. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/245.4871#stat.245.4871.29
HF 905 Status in the House for the 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024). (2023). Mn.gov. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF0905&b=house&y=2024&ssn=0
New. (2023, December 22). Benefits of Counseling for Children. New Directions Mental Health. https://newdirectionspgh.com/counseling-blog/benefits-of-counseling-for-children/
