Children's Mental Health Matters

The Children's Mental Health Matters campaign is a comprehensive national grassroots initiative geared toward educators, primary care providers and families to increase their understanding that children's mental health disorders are real, common and treatable.

The campaign fulfills the following objectives through grassroots outreach, strategic alliances and media relations:

Increase public awareness of children's mental illnesses.
Combat the stigma and myths that surround these disorders.
Improve the detection and treatment of children's mental disorders.

Key Messages

Mental health is essential to children's overall health and well-being.
Mental disorders in children are real, common and treatable.
Early identification, diagnosis and treatment help children and families reach their full potential.
Left untreated, children's mental health disorders can lead to problems at home, trouble in school, substance abuse, and even suicide.
Children's mental health matters!

Children’s Mental Health Matters is an initiative of the Mental Health America’s Campaign for America’s Mental Health. This nationwide public education campaign is supported by a coalition of national organizations and state and local affiliates and their partners.

Together, they educate and screen diverse audiences, generate media exposure and advocate on behalf of people with mental illness. Mental Health America offers educational materials for children and their families on a variety of topics, including anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders (bipolar disorder and childhood depression), and mental wellness. Read our fact sheet on Promoting Children's Mental Health.

The Children’s Campaign Sponsors are ALZA Corporation; The E.H.A. Foundation, Inc.; and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Children's Mental Health Matters Campaign Partners

Alliance for Children and Families
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for World Health
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
American School Counselor Association
Capstone Institute/Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk, Howard University
Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health
Center for Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)
Center for Mental Health in School (UCLA)
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA)
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
Child Welfare League of America
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Generations United
Head Start Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses
National Alliance of Pupil Services Professionals
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of School Nurses
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
National Business Group on Health
National Education Association
National Medical Association
National Parent Teachers Association
New York University Child Study Center
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation
School Social Work Association of America
Society for Prevention Research