Challenges and strategies for improving the mental health of New Jersey children and adolescents.

Mental health issues facing children and adolescents in New Jersey are an under-recognized health care issue. Insufficient data are available to fully define the scope of the problem. Current resources for early diagnosis and treatment do not meet the need. In an era in which the usual stress of adolescence is compounded by violence in schools and the threat of terrorism, more needs to be done to ensure the mental health of all of our children and adolescents.