From my clinical experience, I would say the vast majority of those who have mental health problems are coming in with them . . . it’s not something that occurs within the juvenile justice system.

Arash Anoshiravani

Whether it’s the child who was physically abused and has PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) and ends up using drugs . . . or the one that started selling drugs to buy food and clothes for himself and his siblings after his ‘gang-banging’ father was deported . . . these kids have experienced a lot of loss and a lot of adversity, i think the issue for the kids who end up in our juvenile justice system is, why haven’t we been able to meet their needs in the community they’re coming from.

Arash Anoshiravani