The AACAP supports Mental Health Month, an annual observance created to increase awareness about people living with mental illnesses and to educate communities about how children and adolescents’ mental illnesses affect families.

The AACAP strives to elevate understanding of children and adolescent’s mental illnesses and the need for increased access to quality, sustained mental health care.

5 Things You Can Do to Support Mental Health Month

1. Take on the Workforce Crisis
   Become a child and adolescent psychiatrist OR encourage a medical student you know to enter the field. When you do, you’ll make a real and lasting impact on the lives of families living with mental illnesses. For medical students, apply for AACAP’s New Summer Medical Student Fellowship Program today. 
2. Support Access
   Your tax deductible gift to the AACAP will help ensure that families have easily accessible information and resources to make the best decision for children and adolescents living with mental illness. Donate today.
3. Fight Stigma
   The fear of talking about mental illnesses is a roadblock to treatment. If you are a child and adolescent psychiatrist, combat stigma talking about mental illnesses with students of your local school. Emphasize that seeking help is a sign of strength. Use AACAP Facts for Families as resources and consider using this video clip on stigma as part of your presentation.
   De-stigmatize mental health so people will seek help (Gary Blau, Ph.D.)
   The challenges of stigma (Howie Mandel)
   Good mental health means good overall health (Howie Mandel)
   The sooner you get help the better (Howie Mandel)
   No one wants to be labeled (Howie Mandel)
   You are not alone (Howie Mandel)
4. Support Collaboration: Share Knowledge
   If you are a child and adolescent psychiatrist, support your partnership with your local pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, school counselors by sharing AACAP resources. Encourage your colleagues to attend AACAP continuing education events and share practical resources like AACAP’s Practice Parameters, our AACAP Facts for Families and our ParentsMedGuides.com.
5. Send a Message
   Work with the media to raise awareness of children’s mental health month. If you are a child and adolescent psychiatrist, contact your local media outlet and introduce yourself as a local expert on children’s mental health issues. Offer to conduct interviews on the warning signs of children’s mental health, or to serve as an expert as issues arise. Contact the AACAP’s Communications Department to get in touch with your local media: communications@aacap.org.