Children’s Mental Health Matters

One result of the challenges our nation (and the world) has faced during the last two years, is that now, more than ever, we are aware of and concerned about our mental health – and the state of our children’s mental health.

In 2022, the National Federation of Families announced that National Children’s Mental Health “Awareness Week” (CMHAW) would become “Acceptance Week”.

Last month, the Surgeon General issued an advisory highlighting the urgent need to address our nation’s youth mental health crisis further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory stresses the urgency of our new campaign message – that it’s time to move beyond awareness and into acceptance – for multiple reasons.

To accept that 1 in 5 youth experiences a mental health challenge
To accept that mental health challenges must be met with understanding and support
To accept that bias and discrimination toward individuals who experience mental health challenges creates a barrier to seeking treatment – and it must be eliminated
To accept that our youth are facing serious challenges ahead that need to be addressed
To accept that the future wellbeing of our country depends on how we support and invest in the next generation

During Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week, May 1st – 7th, we will focus on the importance of this shift from awareness to acceptance. In the coming months, we will announce our activities for this week. We hope this year’s efforts will inspire new thinking, action, and change that help improve the state of mental health for our children and youth and their families.

Request Your Children's Mental Health Awareness Month Kit

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Mental Health is a Family Affair

Pay attention if you note the following in a child or adolescent:

Do you know the warning signs that may indicate emotional or mental health concerns in children and adolescents?

Troubled by Feeling

Excessively sad or tearful
Hopeless
Angry or irritable
Worthless or guilty
Unable to recover from a loss
Fearful
Anxious or worried
Overly concerned about physical appearance

Experiencing Big Changes

Is doing much worse at school
Loses interest in things he or she once enjoyed
Has changes in sleeping or eating habits
Avoids friends or wants to be alone much of the time
Feels life is too hard or considers suicide
Hears voices that can’t be explained

Behaves in Problematic Ways

Uses alcohol or other drugs
Constantly violates boundaries
Eats larges amounts of food and then throws up
Abuses laxatives to avoid gaining weight
Diets and exercises obsessively despite being thin
Is reckless in ways that could cause harm or death
Involved in multiple fights

Trust Your Gut

The bottom line is YOU know your child better than anyone! If you think there is a problem, trust your instincts. It’s very important to seek help as soon as possible. You can talk with your pediatrician or family doctor. You will be glad you did!