CINCINNATI — Area agencies say they’re seeing more kids diagnosed with mental illnesses. One group is pushing for more programming to help.

What You Need To Know

  • Therapists working in schools said they're seeing more kids suffering from mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression 

  • Beech Acres, a parenting resource group that offers programs for kids with mental illness, is pushing for more programs to help 

  • One mother whose daughter was diagnosed with ADHD said the therapy program has been helping her daughter work through mental health issues 

To mom, Sherry Daniels, her 8-year-old daughter, Morgan, is her miracle baby.

“They told me I would never have kids,” said Daniels. 

She said against all the odds, she had Morgan at 42 years old and her baby was healthy.  When her daughter started school, though, she said she noticed something wasn’t right.

“She does not stop. She is full force from the time she wakes up until 2, 3 in the morning. If you let her, she will stay up," said Daniels. “I would get emails and calls from school is what concerned me the most,” she said.

Her daughter was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD.

“I didn't want my child to be ADHD. I took it as a label. I took it as a negative thing," said Daniels. 

She said after other treatments didn’t work, she decided medication and therapy were the best options, and she didn’t have to go much further than to therapist Alex Sharkey.

Sharkey is a therapist with a program called "Beyond the Classroom" through Beech Acres, a group that provides mental health services for kids in schools.

“To put it in perspective, I work in a school at 'Our Lady of Grace,' and we have roughly about 350 students, and between two clinical providers, myself and Ms. Tina, we service about 70 kids. So, that's a large percentage of children with diagnosable mental health issues within a school setting," said Sharkey.

She said their services are needed more now than before.

“Anxiety, depression, the trauma that comes with that, all these behaviors we are seeing more and more of post-pandemic,” said Sharkey. 

That’s why she said Beech Acres has been working with state representatives to push for programs and forums that provide better access for mental health programs.

"We are partnering and working really hard to be a leader within the region and hopefully across the entire state in setting a precedent for what mental health access and availability looks like,” said Sharkey. 

At least for little Morgan, her mom said the programs are already making a difference.

“Oh my God, they have been a blessing. They have really challenged me as a parent to look deeper at her and help me understand. It's not a label; it's just who she is,” said Daniels. 

If you or someone you know needs help finding mental health services for children, you can click here for resources. 

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article attributed a quote to the wrong source. This has been corrected. (June 2, 2023)