May is Child Mental Health Awareness Month. The focus this year is suicide prevention.
Mental Health is the ability to identify, manage and regulate complex emotions. Children and teens need adult support to help develop these skills and use them in challenging situations.
Poor mental health can be brought on by social change, stressful family, work/school conditions, discrimination, social exclusion, unhealthy lifestyles, and/or exposure to violence and trauma. There are also psychological and personality factors that make people vulnerable to mental health problems and disorders. In addition, there are some biological causes of mental disorders, including genetic factors and imbalances in chemicals in the brain. When we, adults and youth, have mental health struggles, we need to have the courage to reach out for help.
Positive mental health can be fostered by addressing specific issues and using strategies to offset stress and maintain a healthy balance in life. In order to promote a state of well-being, suicide prevention needs to be comprehensive, age appropriate, and involve the school where children learn, the setting where families live, and the communities where people work and play. We all have a role to play in preventing suicide!
Please take the time to look over the information that most closely relates to your role in with children and young people.
Download these materials:
- DMH Newsletter Mental Health Awareness
- DMH Mental Health Awareness Flyer for Schools
- Child Mental Health Awareness
- Mental Health in our Native American Communities
- Mental Health in our Native American Middle Schools
- Mental Health in our Native American High Schools
Continue to check this site for information about Child Mental Health Awareness information and Events!
Sponsoring organizations in Vermont include:
