El Paso, Texas — Today El Paso Mental Health Coalition announced that on May 9, 2012, it would join more than 1,000 communities across the country in celebrating the National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.
The celebration was created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health, and that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth. Last year, the Awareness Day focused on building resilience in young children dealing with trauma.
The regional celebration of the National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day will take place on May, 9, 2012 from 4 to 6 p.m., at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta. More than 300 recipients of mental health services and their families are expected to participate in this event open to the public. We will have entertainment, food, and informational booths from mental health agencies.
For the past six years, El Paso Mental Health Coalition has offered children and youth with mental health challenges the services and support they need to thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Research has shown that children as young as 18 months exposed to traumatic events can develop serious psychological problems later in life. Those problems include a greater risk of substance abuse, depression, and physical health issues. Integrating social-emotional and resilience-building skills into every environment can have a positive impact on a child's healthy development.
“Awareness Day is an opportunity for us to join other communities across the nation in showing how integrating positive mental health into every environment can have a beneficial impact in the life of young people,” said Esteban Zubia, Adult Services Manager for the El Paso County Department of Mental Health Support Services.
"When we focus on building resilience and social-emotional skills in children from birth, especially if they have experienced a traumatic event, we can help children, youth, and their families thrive," Zubia concluded.
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