ABSTRACT
An integral part of the next generation of treatments for mental illnesses, addictions, and cognitive disabilities will be the incorporation of wellness and prevention tools (Oss, n.d.[b]). A recent report by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine, “Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities,” suggested that lack of prevention costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $247 billion. The report highlights a number of prevention initiatives, such as the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) and the Adolescent Transitions Program (ATP), which report an estimated savings of anywhere from $386 to $650 for every dollar spent on prevention (O’Connell, Boat, & Warner, 2009).
