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Children’s Mental Health Matters

May 1, 2022

Children’s Mental Health Matters

“Echoing across my younger clients as well as the parents of children is just how hard everything has been. Whether it is grieving the loss of loved ones, grieving the loss of expectations or goals, or grieving the way things have changed, I have heard very few people report positive outcomes from the pandemic.
But I am hopeful for the younger generation. While change has been slow, the youth I am working with report improved moods. They feel more empowered with the tools gained in therapy and have begun to take control back of different things in their lives while appropriately grieving all they have gone through. While the effects of the pandemic are not over, those with the support and tools to get through this tough time can succeed and live a life worth living.”
-Thea, Arden Shore Behavioral Health Therapist

May 1-7 is Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week

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.
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 a 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.
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In December of 2021, the Surgeon General issued an advisory highlighting the urgent need to address our nation’s youth mental health crisis further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory stresses the urgency to move beyond awareness and into acceptance.
Investing in the health and resilience of children is crucial in the wake of the pandemic. A recent study by the CDC uncovered significant worsening mental health in high school students.
  • More than 50% of students reported emotional abuse by a parent or other adult in their home.
  • About 1 in 5 students seriously considered suicide.
  • About 1 in 10 students attempted suicide.
More than half of those on Arden Shore’s waiting list for mental health support services are children. By supporting Arden Shore, you are not only making it possible for Arden Shore to provide effective services that address the root causes of childhood trauma and help families heal, you are also telling children in need that they are a part of your community.