Yesterday, we celebrated Labor Day. A day set aside to pay tribute to all those who work to make the world go round. A fitting time to shout out a heartfelt thank you to all of our partners and providers in children’s mental health who work tirelessly every day to support children and youth with mental health challenges. As well as the countless families across our state whose endless work supporting and advocating for their kids’ mental health needs and ensuring they have access to the services and supports they need often feels like or is a full time job…

Labor Day also marks the unofficial end to summer. A signal that fall is surely on its way. Many have already returned to the classroom and even the trees are starting to change. Fall 2022 is already looking like a busy, colorful and exciting time for all with a return to in-person learning and other spaces and faces we have all missed and most exciting for us the return of the ACMH Fall Conference which will be held November 9th at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Michigan State University.

This year’s conference theme is We Shall Overcome: Advocacy to Activism. Which seems a fitting call to action at this particular moment in time as we stand in the midst of a national crisis in children’s mental health. Indeed, the need to join together and act now to more effectively meet the needs of children, youth and young adults with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges is great in our state, currently ranked 27th in the nation for youth mental health by Mental Health America; Where historical barriers to access and capacity coupled with increasing numbers of children and youth with emerging or escalating mental health needs and 2+ years of pandemic related disruption to essential regular and preventive community based mental health care and school and community supports has flooded an existing gap between the number of children and youth needing services and those receiving it. Leaving countless youth and families struggling to get the basic care and support they need.

In fact, the majority of families of kids with emerging mental health needs contacting ACMH report being unable to locate available providers and parents of youth with existing needs including those who have received intensive home-based services in the past sharing they are now unable to access many of the critical supports they and their kids rely on, including those services they find most helpful to their ability to keep them safe and supported in their homes such as respite, CLS, crisis and home and community-based services. Inevitably these un-met needs, absent supports, or long delays getting connected often lead to escalating mental health challenges and increased need and demand for already scarce intensive or crisis services and/or inpatient care. And most recently we have begun to hear from some families of kids in crisis that instead of getting connected to mental health treatment or supports when they reach out for help, they are instead being advised to contact the police, CPS or directed to try the justice or child welfare systems as possible avenues to get their kids the support they need. Which should be simply unacceptable to us all and a sure sign it is time to make a change.

Indeed, the time to act is now! As we join together to address the increasing challenges we face, it is also important to remember that accessing mental health care or the level of services and supports their children need has been an ongoing challenge for many Michigan families for years. Even prior to the pandemic existing barriers such as inadequate resources, uneven service arrays, and severe shortages in behavioral health providers have left many without critical supports they need. These problems are not new and solving them will not be easy.

It will take time, dedication and perseverance of many and the expertise of all us especially that of youth and families whose lived experience likely holds the key to real and long lasting change!

Indeed the time to join together in advocacy and activism is now.  It will not be easy… but deep in our heart, we do believe ~ We Shall Overcome and Change is finally Gonna Come!

Other Events and Happenings During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month

Governor Whitmer Declares May 1-7 Mental Health Awareness Week for Children Youth and Their Families

The National Federation of Families is hosting a panel of young adults with lived experience who will reflect on what acceptance of their mental health needs would have meant to them as children and youth. We invite you to join us to hear their powerful stories and insights on Tuesday, May 24th from 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET and we encourage you to check out our latest infographics to learn more about this year’s Children’s Mental Health Acceptance campaign.

Want to Share Your Voice or hear from others about their mental health stories?

Check out Child Mind Institute’s Dare To Share Campaign.

The Dare to Share campaign kicked off last week with a very personal video from the fabulous P!NK and a powerful segment on CBS Mornings. The campaign features video testimonials from celebrities, public figures, athletes, and kids, opening up about how they found the courage to tell their mental health stories, and what we gain when we #DareToShare

Child Mind Institute also shared some great tips sheets to help kids ad families open up about mental health which you can download below or be visiting their event page here.

Coming Soon:

Resources to Support Your Kids Following Community Violence or Social Unrest

Resources to Help kids Talk About Race, Racism and Social Justice

Back-to-school was always a time of excitement and fresh beginnings for most kids and families, even for those who experience a little anxiety or have some trouble adjusting at first. Last year left many of us longing for those good old days and as it finally came to end the families we spoke to were overjoyed to be putting the 2020-2021 school year in the rearview mirror. Many had contacted us with concerns about what might have been lost over the last year including academic, social or mental health gains, but most were also looking ahead to getting a good plan in place for the upcoming school year and feeling somewhat hopeful that fall 2021 might just bring a bit of a return to normal. 

And boy did we need that! Being, raising or educating a kid during a  pandemic had been hard work and was incredibly stressful! With its ongoing isolation; ever-changing routines, expectations, realities, and especially the ongoing fear of what’s coming next. Knowing you could wake up on any given day with everything changed. This relentless uncertainty coupled with over a year of experience with sudden shutdowns, quarantine and the lack of access to peers, teachers and many or most of the activities and supports that we rely on was understandingly taking a heavy toll and for many kids, especially those with existing or emerging anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges was reaching a breaking point. So a fresh start was just what we needed! 

But as summer raged on – those of us floating around in our ‘things will surely be better next year bubbles’ started to feel the air leaking out….As the realization set in that this fall would likely return with some all too familiar challenges related to Covid-19 and perhaps even an additional layer of stressors to weather. 

So if you are visiting us today with the air drained from your back to school balloon…Worried what this school year will bring and how you will support your child and family to get through it…

Know that you are not alone! Kids and families across Michigan and the nation feel your pain and share your concerns. As a visitor to the ACMH website, you likely already recognize that supporting our kids mental health and emotional well being will be the key to their success this school year and are already ahead of the game, seeking out information, resources and support. 

Luckily there are many things you can do to help your child and yourself as you once again navigate a less than normal new school year and a lot of great resources out there to help!

We have been busy collecting and updating a variety of resources from trusted partners for ACMH’s Back to School 2021 Resource Page that address both the all too familiar stressors our kids will continue to face this year as well as, some new challenges we will all want to be especially mindful of as the new school year gets underway. We hope you find some tips, strategies and tools you can use! 

And even if this fall isn’t the new beginning we had all hoped for, we hope that it gets off to a good start for you child and family! If you have questions or need additional information or support please feel free to contact ACMH today.

The sun is shining, the air warming, the snow melting and the grass showing; And March 20 which marks the beginning of the season of renewal and new beginnings is less than 2 weeks away! Its arrival couldn’t come a day too soon for many of us here at ACMH…and probably most of you.

2021 has been off to a busy start at ACMH and information about recent happenings, new activities and family leadership opportunities on the horizon including an upcoming Parent Leadership Series in April can be found here on the ACMH homepage. We had hoped to start 2021 with a clean slate and an open door ready to resume in-person training and events. However due to current conditions related to Covid-19 we have joined other partners in making a decision to continue virtual events and trainings most likely through the remainder of 2021 unless conditions change. We are hopeful that in-person trainings will resume in full force in 2022 and look forward to seeing you all face-to-face once again in the future!

The early days of March have also been a reminder that it has been nearly a year now since we all first became immersed in the world of Covid-19. More is being learned and shared about the pandemic’s toll on the mental health of children, youth, young adults and families in Michigan and across the nation each day and much of it is concerning. A brief discussion of some of those adverse effects and the challenges recent trends in the data may pose for youth and families in our state are highlighted in the most recent edition of the ACMH Newsletter. As data continues to come out it is critically important for us all not only to be aware but more importantly to prepare.

ACMH has also been busy looking toward spring and formulating plans for new activities and events including Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month coming up in May. Details about events and activities planned to celebrate Children’s Mental Health Awareness will be shared here and throughout ACMH’s social Media and networks as they develop. Click here to learn what is planned so far.

Raising awareness about mental health and the real issues facing children, youth and young adults with mental health challenges and their families will be especially important this year. ACMH is looking forward to partnering with youth, families, local and state partners and other family and advocacy organizations to put a spotlight on these issues and work to help inform solutions. If you are interested in learning more or sharing your voice or experience to raise awareness and create positive change contact ACMH today!

We hope 2021 is off to a good start for you and your family and that the warm shine of spring has found its way to your door!

“Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.”  Anita Krizzan

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”  Lady Bird Johnson

The Association for Children’s Mental Health exists to provide help and hope to families by empowering them with the information, resources and support they need especially during times of crisis.  As a statewide family organization we know that supporting our kids & family’s mental health needs can be challenging even in the best of times and access to quality information is essential! Since we do not have health/mental health professionals on staff  to answer many of the questions that are coming our way, we have gathered the a list of links and information that have been shared by trusted resources and community partners and have shared them below. We hope you find information that is helpful as you work to keep yourself & your family safe and supported!

* NEW – Recently Added Resources *

School’s out for summer: How parents can support their kids’ mental health
Great article by Cat Rakowski who talks with two renowned mental health experts about the fallout of Covid-19 and how we can best set our children up for success for the next school year. Click here to check it out.

SAMHSA’s What To do If Your Loved One Is Suicidal – A Guide For Families And Friends

Child Mind Institute Crisis Resources: This week childmind.org will be sharing resources to help parents deal with psychiatric crises. Including what will happen when you get to the ER, and what can (and can’t) the ER do for your child? Similarly, if a child is admitted to in-patient psychiatric treatment, what can you expect, and what is your role? They’ve also shared new resources about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder  & borderline personality disorder in adolescents.   

A brand new school year usually brings to mind visions of sharpened pencils, fresh lined paper and a colorful rainbow of perfectly pointed crayons, sticking straight up in an un-tarnished box; A crisp new outfit, or backpack and the squeak of the soles of new shoes on freshly decorated hallways. Who would have ever dreamed we would be entering a school year where the scent of hand sanitizer overpowered that of freshly waxed gym floors – where masks were an essential part of our wardrobe – and the school day might begin in a socially distanced classroom or through a screen at the kitchen table.  

A new school year usually has a familiar feel, look and feel…but this year is different..And even though our back to school experiences might look a little different at any given time depending on our local area, current virus spread, or district or personal decisions, most of us are venturing way into the unknown, leaving many of us feeling stressed, un-equipped and even a little overwhelmed at times. All of this uncertainty and change in school settings, schedules and routines can be stressful for all of us and may be especially hard on our kids who struggle with anxiety or other mental health challenges. Luckily there are things you can do to help your child and yourself as you navigate all of the changes this school year brings and a lot of great resources out there to help!  We have gathered a collection of those resources from trusted partners that address the variety of issues families face this school year have shared them the ACMH  Back to School Resource Page  and also highlighted back to school in the Fall 2020 ACMH Newsletter . We hope you find some information, tips or tools you can use to make the best of this most unusual school year.

Fall also usually brings one other familiar site and ACMH’s biggest educational and networking events of the year, the ACMH Annual Conference. This year’s event was originally scheduled to take place in September at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, but like many other plans this year- Covid-19 caused us to change our course and adapt…So we shifted gears and began plans to host a week long virtual event later in the fall instead. We quickly realized after a low response from speakers and registrants alike that perhaps many of us are growing a little weary of trying to learn and connect through a screen. So after reflecting on the original purpose of the ACMH conference which was designed as a venue for youth, families and community partners to come together and learn aside one another -we realized that a virtual venue may not fufill that purpose or meet the current needs of our audience and have decided not to move forward with plans for a virtual event at this time. We do, however, plan to continue to our search for other ways and opportunities to ‘Come Together’  so be sure to stay tuned! 

ACMH wishes you and your family all the best as we close the door on this summer like no other!  Summer 2020 was certainly one for the history books filled with more than its share of challenges & uncertainty…but it also brought sunshine, warmth and opportunities for important conversations about race, culture, health, mental health, and the incredible importance of home, family and continued access to needed mental health supports and services. So, let’s keep the gift of those opportunities in mind and hope in our hearts as we enter the fall of 2020 and usher in the 2020-2021 school year.

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This year has certainly been a challenge so we thought we should also share some good news that came from 2020 which was shared by The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health -check it out below!

ACMH’s statewide staff recently had the opportunity to spend an entire day at Kalamazoo Nature Center learning about the important connection between nature and mental health from Dr. Brian Forist.

Staff also had the opportunity to work with artists from Treewhisperers an ongoing, international, multi-generational collaboration that allows participants to share their personal stories and connection to trees through art that is then part of a traveling exhibit.

The setting was beautiful the information was eye opening and the retreat was a great opportunity for all to learn and reconnect!