Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

APA is proud to be an official supporter of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, which promotes positive youth development, resilience, recovery and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs.

Help promote Children's Mental Health Awareness Day by sending an e-card to those in your community.

1. Integrating mental health and model resilience skills in every environment that has an impact on child development from birth.
2. Enhancing resilience and nurture social and emotional skills in young children from birth.
3. Providing information to the public and teach them to recognize the signs of traumatic stress.
4. Raising awareness that treatment for trauma is critical to achieving the milestones of a child's social and emotional development from birth.
5. Promoting trauma-informed services and supports in all child-serving settings.

With the theme of "Heroes of Hope," the national event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on May 9, 2012, at Lisner Auditorium. The event will feature young people in juvenile justice, child welfare and education systems who have demonstrated resilience from trauma. The national focus will also address strategies to assist military families in enhancing their resilience. Each youth will be asked to identify heroes who have supported them through their experiences. The event will feature performances in tribute to these "Heroes of Hope." Members of the 115 National Awareness Day collaborating organizations will support their affiliates and grantees across the country in organizing events to view the national webcast together and begin conversations about the importance of children's mental health.

Find out more at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website or email AwarenessDay2012.

If you live in the Washington, D.C., area and are interested in attending the national Awareness Day event, please visit SAMHSA for information about the event and to RSVP. If you don't live near Washington, D.C., you can watch the live Webcast on May 9, 2012 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. EDT.

Legislative Briefing in Honor of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

May 9, 2012
Location: Rayburn House Office Building, B-318
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m., breakfast briefing

Guest speakers include:

• Pamela S. Hyde, JD
  Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• Christine Marsh
  Director, Child Abuse and Trauma Services, Family and Children's Services, Tulsa, Okla.

• Anthony P. Mannarino, PhD
  Director, NCTSN Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.

• Jordan Geddes
  Youth Advocate, Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health

Community Events Planned for Awareness Day 2012

Each year, it is the communities' creativity and innovation that capture the essence of Awareness Day. See what communities are already planning for Awareness Day 2012.

Speak Up for Kids Campaign

APA is participating in the nationwide Speak Up for Kids Campaign in partnership with the Child Mind Institute, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and others. The campaign recruits psychologists and other mental health professionals to give presentations in their local communities about various mental, emotional, behavioral and learning disorders in children and teens. APA members will be making a difference in their own communities for children who may not be getting the mental health services they need. Learn more about what we will be doing with the Speak Up for Kids public awareness campaign.

You can also spread the word about how mental health matters and treatment works by sharing more public service announcements with your friends.

Speak Up for Kids related events:

• Monday, May 7:  Live Speak Up for Kids Facebook Event with Dr. Kurtz, "Is it ADHD or Just Inattention?" from 12:00-1:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, May 8:  Live Speak Up for Kids Tweet Chat with Dr. Steingard and Common Sense Media moderators, "Raising Healthy Children in a Digital World". #CMIchat, from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, May 9:  Child Mind Institute Reception for SAMHSA's Awareness Day Program honoring Cyndi Lauper from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Tonic restaurant (2036 G Street, NW) in Washington, D.C.

• Wednesday, May 9: SAMHSA Awareness Day Program from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. with Dr. Ravitz, "Raising Resilient Children" in partnership with Tuesday’s Children at The Conference Center, 130 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (Dr. Ravitz’s talk will be featured in SAMHSA's live program via satellite feed.)

• Friday, May 11:  Live Speak Up for Kids Facebook Event with Dr. Fernandez, "Managing Problem Behavior: Strategies for Parents and Educators" from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

APA is well aware of the impact of trauma and violence on children’s mental health and has a longstanding commitment to addressing issues of concern to practitioners, researchers, educators, and the general public. The following resources are dedicated to shedding light on these issues:

Children and Trauma: Update for Mental Health Professionals
Many children are exposed to traumatic life events, such as abuse, school violence, car accidents or terrorism. Short-term distress is common but most children and adolescents show resilience. This 16-page booklet provides a brief overview for mental health professionals on:

• What we know about PTSD and trauma in children and adolescents

• How you can help children, adolescents and their families cope and recover from trauma 

• What we still need to learn about the complexities of PTSD and trauma

• Additional resources for professionals

Children and Trauma: Tips for Mental Health Professionals
In their roles as clinicians, scientists, teachers and community members, mental health professionals can make a difference in the way our society responds to child trauma. This tip sheet serves as a practical guide for professionals on:

• Basic information every mental health professional should know about PTSD and trauma in children and adolescents

• How to identify PTSD and/or trauma and provide care to children, adolescents and their families

• Pitfalls to avoid when you encounter trauma and PTSD in children and adolescents

Child Trauma Fact Sheet (PDF, 126KB) 
Child traumatic stress occurs when children and adolescents are exposed to traumatic events or traumatic situations, and when this exposure overwhelms their ability to cope with what they have experienced. This fact sheet provides an overview of the kinds of traumatic events experienced by children.

Trauma and PTSD in Children and Adolescents Fact Sheet (PDF, 65KB) 
This fact sheet serves as a functional guide for policymakers on the following:

• Impact of exposure to trauma on children and adolescents

• The best approach to policymaking that will improve outcomes for youth exposed to trauma

• Recommendations in the areas of research, practice, education and training

ACT (Adults & Children Together) Against Violence Program
The ACT program’s mission is to mobilize communities and educate families to create safe, nurturing, healthy environments that protect children and youth from violence and its consequences. APA is committed to making psychological knowledge and findings on violence prevention available to mobilize communities, organizations and professionals to help families apply them in their daily lives. 

Report on Child Maltreatment Prevention in Community Health Centers
This report identifies and recommends public health strategies and interventions based on the best available science to prevent child maltreatment and to promote positive parenting practices within the context of behavioral health integration at community health centers.

• APA Resolution on Children's Mental Health

• APA Resolution on Psychological Issues Related to Child Abuse and Neglect 

• Speak Up for Kids 2012 
  The Child Mind Institute is standing up for children's mental health and treatment. Learn more about how to host, give or attend a talk on childhood mental health disorders and issues.

• Report of Healthy Development: A Summit on Young Children's Mental Health  (PDF, 1MB)

• Developing Psychology's National Agenda for Children's Mental Health (PDF, 520KB)

• Addressing Missed Opportunities for Early Childhood Mental Health Intervention (PDF, 205KB) 

• Disseminating Evidence-Based Practice for Children and Adolescents 

• Psychopharmacological, Psychosocial and Combined Interventions for Childhood Disorders (PDF, 1.3MB) 

• Resilience in African American Children and Adolescents