Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day marked

Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed May 9 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Minnesota.  A copy of his proclamation is displayed in the lobby of the Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building along with other information to mark Mental Health Month, which is celebrated nationally each May. Staff of the Children’s Mental Health and Adult Mental Health divisions will be staffing the display throughout the month.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in 2012 continues to concentrate on trauma with added emphasis on children’s resilience. The purpose is to raise awareness about early traumatic experiences and the many ways adverse childhood experiences can disrupt children’s lives and healthy development.  This year’s awareness day is also a time to raise awareness of the many effective programs meeting children’s mental health needs and a time to promote resilience in children and youth.

More information is available on the Children’s Mental Health web page under “News and events.”