Sunday, July 10, 2005

Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign

Center for Mental Health Services
Division of Service and Systems Improvement
Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch
Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign

The Caring for Every Child's Mental Health communications campaign is a national public information and education campaign to:

Increase public awareness about the importance of protecting and nurturing the mental health of young people.

Foster recognition that many children have mental health problems that are real, painful, and sometimes severe.

Encourage caregivers to seek early, appropriate treatment and services.

The campaign helps families, educators, health care providers, and young people recognize mental health problems and to seek or recommend appropriate services. It also strives to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems.

The campaign is a technical assistance program for the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and Their Families. Its fundamental messages are:

Every child's mental health is important.
Many children have mental health problems.
These problems are real, painful, and can be severe.
Mental health problems can be recognized and successfully treated.
By working together, caring families and communities can help.
Information is available from SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center by calling 1-800-789-2647.