Mental health disorders are more common in young people than many realize. Many factors can affect a child's mental health, including physical and sexual abuse, domestic, school and community violence, natural disasters and terrorism, and life-threatening injury and illness. Two issues significantly affecting the mental health of children and adolescents today are the economic crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The recession is heightening the stress levels of many parents. Adults' financial concerns may also generate stress and anxiety in their children. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan can create emotional stress for children and adolescents whose parents or caregivers are deployed to war zones.

The theme of this year's Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is "Thriving in the Community," with an emphasis on high school students and related service systems. High school youth who receive effective mental health services are more likely to have positive outcomes such as better grades and higher levels of education, and less likely to have negative outcomes such as becoming involved with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

We hope that you will help us further our mission—"to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families, and communities throughout the United States"—through your participation in Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.

See helpful resources, listed below, related to children's mental health for educators, parents, caregivers, and professionals.

• Child Sexual Abuse Fact Sheet: For Parents, Teachers, and Other Caregivers (PDF)
  Debunks some common child sexual abuse myths, presents ways to respond to abuse disclosure, and provides tips to help protect children from sexual abuse.

• Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators
  A collection of fact sheets that provide school administrators, teachers, staff, and concerned parents with basic information about working with traumatized children in the school system. Also designed to increase awareness of the psychological, social, and academic impact of trauma on adolescents.

• Child Traumatic Grief Educational Materials
  Presents an overview of childhood traumatic grief, a condition that can occur following the death of a loved one in which trauma symptoms interfere with the child's ability to navigate the bereavement stages. Useful for medical and psychological professionals, parents, caregivers, educators, and others working with children who are experiencing intense grief responses.

• Recognizing and Responding to Childhood Traumatic Grief (2005) (Shockwave/Video)
  Interactive presentation that includes two digital videos and a printable (PDF) curriculum guide. A video designed for a wide range of professionals as well as the public, It's OK to Remember presents basic background information on childhood traumatic grief. The Courage to Remember is a training video for clinical professionals who work with grieving children and families. It is accompanied by a training curriculum guide.

• Understanding Child Traumatic Stress (PDF)
  Comprehensive explanation of the causes, nature, and treatment of child traumatic stress.
  >En Español [Entendamos el estrés traumático infantil] (PDF)

• Video clips of Gary Blau, PhD, chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, CMHS, speaking at the 2007 Children's Mental Health Awareness Day briefing on Capitol Hill.
  • Clip #1: Mental health is essential to overall health (MPEG)
  • Clip #2: Raising awareness about the importance of mental health services (MPEG)
  • Clip #3: The implementation of evidence-based practices (MPEG)
  • Clip #4: De-stigmatize mental health so people will seek help (MPEG)

• National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
  This section of the Systems of Care website contains an overview of Awareness Day 2009, FAQs, national and local activities, and planning materials in English and Spanish.
• Hear Me NOW: A Celebration of Resiliency Through the Performing Arts
  This Awareness Day national event will be held at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Center for the Arts on Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m. ET. Featuring co-hosts Sabrina Bryan of Disney Channel's "Cheetah Girls" and Solomon Trimble of the film "Twilight," the goal for the event is to inspire, and most importantly, to teach their peers and others that youth with mental health needs can and do thrive at home, at school, and in the community. The event will feature performances by Systems of Care youth from across the country.