Submitted by Kimberly Newton, MS, LPE-I & Chair of LDA Mental Health Committee

Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent

ACCESS Evaluation and Resource Center Director

Since 1949, May has been the designated month for Mental Health Awareness. Each year LDA joins the movement to help fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for individuals with learning disabilities who also struggle with mental health issues. 

We know that learning disabled children are at risk for behavioral and emotional problems. These students have a greater chance of developing an anxiety disorder and are generally more anxious than their typical peers. Further research has found that children with mathematic and spelling difficulties are even still more inclined to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Additionally, adolescents with significant reading problems are at higher risk for behavioral and emotional problems. Furthermore, studies found that students with learning disabilities expressed more loneliness, more victimization, and are less social than their non-learning disabled peers.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 96% of students with learning disabilities are falling behind their classmates without disabilities. Research indicates that academic failure often leads to impairments in psychosocial functioning. Individuals with specific learning disabilities often have perceptual and processing deficits which result in feeling overwhelmed by the environment and misinterpreting verbal and nonverbal cues (facial expressions and body language). This manifests as awkward interactions and poor social skills leading to a lack of social connectedness, alienation, and feeling isolated and alone. Subsequent anxiety and self-esteem issues tend to arise and these individuals often have difficulty trusting others. Frequently, as a result, anxiety and depression are commonly diagnosed.

Now more than ever, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families have experienced or are experiencing significantly more stress at home with the disruption in routine, change in learning platforms, and economic hardship, in addition to experiencing the death of friends and family members. Over the past year, we have witnessed the profound impact this pandemic has had on the mental health of people of all ages. According to the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), researchers found an increase of 36.4-41.5% in adults with symptoms of anxiety or depression. Worse yet, numbers show an increase of approximately 10% in individuals not receiving care for their mental health needs. Therefore, it is paramount that we end the stigma around mental health issues and encourage individuals and families to seek help.

What can you do?

  • Educate yourself and your children about mental health. Knowing the facts can help you teach others and eliminate stigmatizing stereotypes. Learn warning signs and symptoms. Each mental health condition has its own symptoms, but common signs, among others, include:
    • Excessive worrying or fear
    • Feeling excessively sad or low

o   Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning

o   Changes in school performance

o   Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria

o   Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger

o   Frequent temper tantrums in young children

o   Avoiding friends and social activities

o   Difficulties understanding or relating to other people

o   Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy

o   Frequent nightmares

o   Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite

o   Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs

o   Thinking about suicide

o   Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress

  • Share real-life examples of people with a mental health disorder. Living with a mental health condition can be difficult, and the tendency to isolate and self-blame that is exacerbated by this stigma can be an obstacle in getting the needed support and help. It is imperative that individuals struggling with mental health problems know that they are NOT alone. Sharing stories not only provides support and encouragement, but also helps foster empathy and understanding.
  • Take action! Far too many people do not have access to mental health care. We have the power to affect change and improve the mental health status of our nation. Reach out to policymakers for better legislation and policies addressing mental health care. Advocate for prevention and early intervention.

About Kimberly Newton, MS, LPE-I

Kimberly Newton, MS, LPE-I, independently licensed psychological examiner for ACCESS®, has been working with children and families for just over 20 years. She performs comprehensive psychological and psycho-educational evaluations at the ACCESS Evaluation and Resource Center (AERC) for children, teenagers and young adults diagnosing disabilities such as attention deficit disorder(ADHD), specific learning disorders (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia) and autism spectrum disorders. Kim is the outgoing president of LDA Arkansas and currently serves as the Chair of the Nominating Committee and co-chair of the Mental Health Committee for LDA of America.