National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Youth Panel

After 17 years, we’ve re-defined the CMHA campaign! Previously, Children’s Mental Health Awareness, the “A” now stands for Acceptance.

One positive impact of a pandemic that has challenged everyone’s mental health is that now more than ever, people are talking about it and know it’s important. So, it’s time to move beyond the term awareness. This significant shift to “acceptance” speaks more directly to the goal of the National Children’s Mental Health Week campaign – to eliminate prejudice and discrimination that individuals with a mental illness diagnosis or symptoms experience.

We believe the term acceptance more directly combats prejudice. Mental health exists on a spectrum and almost everyone experiences challenges at some point in their life. Recognizing that our mental health is just as important as our physical health and accepting individuals who struggle for a period – or for their lifetime – is critical to reducing the fear, worry, blame, and shame that families and their loved ones experience – and increases the likelihood that those who are in need will seek the support and treatment they deserve.

In recognition of CMHAW, The National Federation of Families is hosting a powerful youth panel of young adults with lived experience who will reflect on what acceptance of their mental health needs and challenges would have meant to them as children and youth. Please join us in this national dialogue. It’s time to move beyond awareness and into acceptance, to face the serious challenges our youth are facing, and to invest in the next generation for the wellbeing of our country.

Visit the CMHAW website to learn more about the meaning behind this year’s CMHAW campaign. Check out these recently published infographics and feel free to download them to help promote acceptance in your community.