Thank you for running your investigative piece, "City violence can take hidden toll" (Dec. 14). Research has shown that trauma is the greatest environmental cause of mental health disorders in children, and neighborhoods with high rates of violence lead to serious trauma. In 2014, Maryland's public mental health system served almost 37,500 children aged 0-12. Yet while Maryland's public mental health system is considered among the best in the country, national data show that much more needs to be done. In any given year, only 20 percent of children with mental health disorders receive treatment.
Families need to know that help is available, and the earlier the intervention, the better. For assistance in getting help for their child, families can contact their Core Service Agency or call the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health at 410-730-8267.
Jane Plapinger, Columbia
The writer is executive director of The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health.