Celebrate National Children’s Mental Health

Awareness Day with The Children’s Center

Calling all children’s mental health advocates! On Thursday, May 5, The Children’s Center will join 1,100 communities across the country in celebrating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day to raise awareness about the importance of positive mental health from birth. Show your support for young people and take part in this celebration by sharing the Facebook post and/or Tweet below.

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day highlights the unique needs of young adults ages 16—25 with mental health challenges. Young people can build resilience to these challenges through peer support, particularly among the four life domains of housing, education, employment, and health care access.

Awareness Day is SAMHSA’s annual observance of the importance of caring for every child’s mental health—and it provides an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact we can have on the lives of young people, and help end the stigma associated with mental illeness #OneChildAtATime.

What is Stigma?

• An attempt to label a particular group of people as less worthy of respect than others
• A mark of shame, disgrace or disapproval that results in discrimination
• Not just a matter of using the wrong word or action – it’s about disrespect

What does Stigma have to do with Mental Illness? Stigma leads to:

• Fear, mistrust, and violence against people living with mental illness and their families
• Family and friends turning their backs on people with mental illness
• Prejudice and discrimination

Discrimination against people who have mental illnesses keeps them from seeking help

• While 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental disorder, estimates indicate that nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, especially people from diverse communities. Lack of knowledge, fear of disclosure, rejection of friends, and discrimination are a few reasons why people with mental illness don’t seek help.

Discrimination against people with mental illness violates their rights and denies them opportunities

• Despite Civil Rights Law such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with mental illnesses often experience discrimination in the workplace, education, housing, and healthcare.

Ethnic and racial communities in the US face a social and economic environment of inequality that includes greater exposure to racism, discrimination, violence and poverty

• Mistrust of mental health services is an important reason for deterring people of color from seeking treatment. Their concerns are reinforced by evidence (both direct and indirect) of clinician bias and stereotyping.
• The cultures of racial and ethnic groups alter the types of mental health services used. Clinical environments that do not respect or are incompatible with the cultures of the people they serve may deter people from seeking help to begin with, adherence to treatment and follow-up care. Fighting Stigma.

Fighting Stigma

Use respectful language

Put the person before the illness – use phrases such as “a person with schizophrenia”. Never use terms like crazy, lunatic, psycho, retarded and correct people who do so.

Provide professional development opportunities for staff, regarding diversity, mental health issues, and fostering an inclusive work environment.

Include mental illness in discussions about acceptance of diversity, just as you would discuss cultural diversity, religious beliefs, physical disability, and sexual orientation.

Become an advocate

Create awareness by writing letters to newspapers and lawmakers. Speak out and challenge stereotypes portrayed in the media. Take it upon yourself to inform your community about the truth of mental illness.

Teach others about mental illness

Spread understanding that these are illnesses like any other.

Here’s How You Can Help Erase Stigma on

May 5

• 1. Click to download this blank Anti-Stigma Message Sheet.
• 2. With a large marker, write an encouraging word or inspiring message in support of children who are challenged with mental illness.
• 3. Have someone take a photo of you holding the sheet.
• 4.  Then post it on your Facebook page on May 5.
• Please tag “The Children’s Center of Wayne County”

Sample Facebook post to go with your photo

You can copy/paste the following (including link) or write your own post:

I’m helping to ERASE THE #STIGMA associated with mental illness. Please join me! Even if you’re not living with a mental illness, you can make a lasting impact by speaking up for those who do. Click link to learn how you can help! http://bit.ly/1mcMPWM

On Twitter?

Please copy/paste this tweet:

You can help end the #STIGMA associated with mental illness #OneChildAtATime. VIDEO: http://bit.ly/1mcMPWM #Detroit

To Access Our Services or Learn More

To access our services or learn more about how The Children’s Center is helping those children faced with mental or behavioral health challenges, please call 313.831.5535.