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Shandra Summerville, Children’s Behavioral Health Committee Member- Champaign County Mental Health Board
In 2022, there was a major shift in Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week to Mental Health Acceptance to Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week. The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is the national leader for Children’s Mental Health. After 17 years they changed the “A” to Acceptance. Awareness is not enough. 1 and 5 Children are impacted are living with a mental illness. Changing the language to acceptance will help address the discrimination associated with mental health challenges. The 2023 campaign theme for this year is “Accept. Advocate. Act.” We want our children across the lifespan accepted – and that means systemic change in how children’s mental health is viewed. This year, Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week returns for the second year May 7th – 13th, 2023. Join the National Federation of Families to Accept, Advocate, and Act for children’s behavioral health. Here is a link to the video to share with your networks.
NFF Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week Video
The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is a family run organization that links over 120 state and local affiliates and national partners focused on the issues of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs and substance use challenges and their families. The organization was founded in 1989 in Arlington, Virginia. 18 families joined forces to build a movement that would start centering the “Family Voice”. The family voice was central to decision making in the behavioral health system. The entire family experience and their voice were missing from the conversation about youth and young adults serving systems for behavioral health.
May is Mental Health Month. Please learn ways your community can shift the language to become more inclusive about mental health. Your community will make a difference. Here are some links to share with your networks about Mental Health Month and how we can Accept, Advocate, and Act for Mental Health in our counties.
CMHAW Infographic Complete Set
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