National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

May 8, 2008 - Today, many people are celebrating National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day across the country.  The Awareness Day’s main goal is to raise awareness of effective programs for children’s mental health needs.  This year’s theme is “Thriving in the Community,” with a special emphasis on high school youth.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), when high school youth receive the services they need, they are more likely to have positive educational outcomes such as better grades and higher levels of education.  They are also less likely to have negative outcomes, such as involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems. 

Throughout Awareness Day, SAMHSA and the initiatives and communities it supports promote positive youth development, recovery and resilience, and show how children with mental health needs can thrive in their communities. 

To learn more about mental health programs for children and families throughout the U.S., please visit http://www.systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/ResourceDir/Comprehensivehome.aspx. To learn more about the importance of having counseling and psychological services as part of an effective Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP), please visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/CSHP/.

Source: “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day,” Systems of Care, SAMHSA website.