Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month

Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/01/2017 - 05/31/2017
12:00 am

May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month and Thursday, May 4, 2017 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This year’s national theme is “Partnering for Help & Hope.”

ACMH will be kicking off our celebration:

May the 4th Be with You!

Celebrating Youth/Family Strength and Voice, Raising Awareness,

Reducing Stigma and Building Partnerships

 

We will be joined by many of our ‘partners in help and hope’ including Michigan youth and families, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) , Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, MDHHS Director Nick Lyon, legislators, policymakers, and other honored guests.

We have come a long way in Michigan to support children and youth with mental health challenges & their families- but as the facts below illustrate we still have a long way to go!

The Facts:

• Of the over 2.5 million children in Michigan it is estimated that 1 in 5 experience some mental health challenges and more than 285,000 children have a serious emotional disturbance that significantly impairs their ability to be successful in their home school or community. Even though so many children & youth are affected; An estimated 75% of them will not receive the treatment they need!
• One-third of adolescents show symptoms of depression and 21% of youth aged 13-18 live with challenges that significantly impair their day-to-day lives.
• Over 50% of students aged 14 or older with severe mental health challenges drop out of high school. The highest dropout rate of any disability group.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 12-18 and 10-24 year olds.
• Awareness day is a great opportunity for us to join forces and share the message that

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day provides us with the opportunity to share that:

• Mental health is just as important to positive development as physical health;
• Mental health challenges in children and youth are real and treatable.
• With access to comprehensive, trauma-informed, coordinated services and supports that are family driven, youth guided and that address the unique culture of children and their families, children & youth are happier, healthier & have improved outcomes.
• Children live in families so improving children’s mental health, well-being and resilience relies on involving and engaging youth and their families!

The May 4th celebration is an opportunity to gather together and renew our commitment to building and supporting a system of services and supports that address children’s mental health and well-being.

If we can all Join Forces for children, youth and their families we will come closer to reaching our vision: That ALL Michigan children live in a safe, welcoming communities with access to needed services and supports!

Join us on May 4th or contact ACMH today to learn how you can be a force for children’s mental health!

Keep an eye out on our events section throughout the month of May for more information about state and national Children’s Mental Health Awareness events and activities!