Thank you for once again calling attention to the state’s desperate need for increased mental health services in the June 22 article “Violent, unstable, and wanting a gun.”

Pam’s family’s case is far from an isolated one: The Centers for Disease Control estimates that up to 1 in 20 school-age children has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – a range of physical, neurocognitive and behavioral disabilities due to prenatal alcohol exposure. Because FASD symptoms overlap with those of many more familiar diagnoses (ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, trauma, etc.), it can be difficult to diagnose. There is also a shocking lack of FASD awareness and training among providers. As a result, the vast majority of those with FASD go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and don’t receive critical early intervention. This commonly leads to a range of devastating secondary mental health disabilities, including depression, social isolation, school disruption, confinement, violence and aggression, and homelessness.

In addition to prioritizing services to help those like John, who already exhibit many of these secondary disabilities, I would offer that there are small actions we can all take to decrease the need for such services. Visit fasdmaine.org to learn more about FASD. Spread awareness by talking to those in your circles, especially those who are or might become pregnant (no amount of alcohol is known to be safe for developing brains). Encourage your providers to become FASD-informed. Support FASD legislation. These actions cost nothing and can have a huge impact on the well-being of our children and our society.

Dawn Yerkes
Portland