Mental health study targets Tennessee

Adolescents and teens with emotional and behavioral problems will receive treatment as part of a new study in eight of the poorest Appalachian counties in Eastern Tennessee.

Researchers will work with judges, school administrators, and community leaders to overcome barriers to mental health

The project is structured to ensure that successful therapies and partnerships with state funding agencies and organizations will continue after the study ends.

The five-year, $4 million grant to the University of Tennessee was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

"This study offers a solid team approach in addressing a major public health problem," said NIH Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni. "It is a great example of how the right partnerships can improve the health of children in local communities and across the nation."

The Rural Appalachia Project is a community development model for reducing the social and economic costs of juvenile delinquency in rural areas.

In Tennessee, 60,000 children are referred annually to juvenile courts for delinquency and other illegal acts.

Studies show that home-based, family-oriented health services for children referred to juvenile court can improve their behavior and keep them out of custody.

In addition to providing treatment, the study will work with a variety of opinion leaders to explain how early and effective intervention can improve lives and decrease the costs of incarceration and residential care in their state.