Children's Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Children's Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of mental health for our youngest community members. As parents, caregivers, educators, and community members, we play a vital role in supporting children's emotional well-being. For twenty-five years, the Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign has been a cornerstone of Maryland’s collective effort to prioritize and uplift the mental well-being of our youth.
In 2016, about half of the 7.7 million children with treatable mental health conditions did not receive adequate care, underscoring significant gaps in access to essential services. As the pandemic unfolded, support systems were disrupted and stressors rose, escalating the situation. Suspected suicide attempts surged in 2021, particularly among adolescent girls.
Amidst these sobering trends lies an urgent call to action. It’s imperative that we not only recognize the magnitude of the mental health crisis among our youth but also redouble our efforts to prioritize and address their needs with compassion, urgency, and effective interventions. Only through concerted, collaborative action can we hope to stem the tide of this growing crisis and ensure the wellbeing of our children and adolescents for generations to come.
During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, observed from May 5th-11th, 2024, communities across Maryland unite to amplify the importance of mental well-being for our youngest community members. The Children's Mental Health Awareness Campaign's online Resource Directory is a rich library full of curated toolkits, activity sheets, and information to support children of all ages and cover a variety of topics related to children's mental health.
The City's Department of Youth & Family Services uplifts the community through family and group counseling, outreach, and advocacy. All Prince George's County youth and families are eligible for services; priority is given to City of College Park youth and their families, as well as suicidal youth.
Commit to learning about mental health and healthy coping skills, finding tools to support a child you love and care about, and seeking support for your family or a family you know. When we invest in children's mental health today, we're investing in a brighter, healthier future for our community tomorrow.
