MHDD Services for Children and Youth

Early Intervention & Prevention Services

Prevention has been defined in a broad public health context, to include: primary prevention (avoidance of onset), secondary prevention (early intervention), and tertiary
prevention (prevention of relapse). Primary prevention is seen as an active process of creating conditions or personal attributes that promote the well being of people.

Early Intervention, or secondary prevention, is seen to include early detection and activities to keep beginning problems from becoming more severe. Newer terminology speaks of Universal, Selective, and Indicated preventive interventions.

TDMHDD's Prevention efforts are composed of "Universal" and "Selective" preventive interventions. Our B.A.S.I.C. program includes both Universal and Selective preventive interventions. "Universal" preventive interventions target the general public or a whole population group. Our school based BASIC programs target a whole school's population using mental health wellness activities. BASIC also uses "Selective" preventive interventions (or Earlyintervention/Secondary Prevention) to work with individuals or subgroups whose risk (based on biological or social risk factors) of developing mental disorders is significantly higher than average.

Another TDMHDD Early Intervention effort, RIP, would be subsumed under the "Indicated" preventive interventions. Indicated preventive interventions target children
who are identified as having signs or symptoms related to mental disorders, but who do not yet meet diagnostic criteria, such as children with early behavioral problems.

For further information regarding Early Intervention & Prevention Services associated with the TDMHDD Children & Youth Services, please contact Louise Barnes, Ph.D.